Lenehan Musgrave’s First Annual “Soothe the Winter Blues” Networking Event

Lenehan Musgrave is proud to have hosted our first annual “soothe the winter blues” networking event on February 23rd, which saw a nice cross section of local business people attend.

Guests enjoyed themselves over delicious appetizers, a few cheers, and good conversation with other business people in the community eager to create reciprocating goodwill and support each other’s growth.

We appreciate those who took time out of their busy lives to attend. We also want to give a special thanks to our caterer, Kitchen Door Catering, who added an air of elegance to the evening with their exceptional hospitality.

Now more than ever it’s important for us to put down our smartphones and do business the old fashioned way - face to face communication. Lenehan Musgrave is pleased to have provided such an opportunity and we look forward to providing similar opportunities in the years to come. We have already begun planning next year’s networking event, which will take place on Thursday, February 21st.  So save the date!

Deducting Your Legal Fees: A Guide this 2018 Tax Season

As tax season approaches, it is beneficial to be aware of what expenses you may be entitled to claim as deductions.

If you incurred legal fees for the purpose of collecting, receiving, or securing child support or spousal support, you can claim those legal fees as a deduction at line 221 of your income tax return. It’s important to note that only the receiving parent or spouse can claim their legal fees as a deduction.

The tax deductible legal fees may relate to collecting late support payments, establishing an amount for support payments, or efforts to vary support to a higher amount. Unfortunately, legal fees paid to get a separation or divorce, or to establish custody of or visitation arrangements for a child cannot be claimed at line 221.

Every January we review our clients’ accounts and determine the percentage of time and effort spent on their file that relates to their claims for child and/or spousal support.  We then send our clients who qualify for a deduction letters outlining our opinion of the percentage of their legal fees they are entitled to deduct. The client can provide their letter to CRA as a receipt.

We offer these letters free of charge to our clients because we believe that individuals and families should enjoy the maximum income and benefits available to them through law.

Further information can be found on Canada Revenue Agency’s website: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/tpcs/ncm-tx/rtrn/cmpltng/ddctns/lns206-236/221/menu-eng.html.

Happy Holidays!

During the holiday season, the lawyers and staff at Lenehan Musgrave look forward to working with Phoenix House Centre for Youth in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and coordinating an office donation drive to donate from the Phoenix holiday wish list.

This year injury lawyer, Sean Layden, Q.C., joined our staff members to deliver our donations to the Coburg Road location, and meet with Case Manager, Andy Langille, Housing Support Worker, Marsha Tanner and Coordinator, Michelle Poirier. This year may have been our biggest haul yet!  

At Lenehan Musgrave, we understand foundations and not-for-profits such as Phoenix House play a crucial role in giving back where our community needs it most, starting with our youth.

Marsha Tanner, Andy Langille and Sean Layden, Q.C. with the Lenehan Musgrave holiday donations

To our colleagues, clients, and community members, happy holidays from the lawyers and staff of Lenehan Musgrave LLP! 

Dalhousie Law Class of 1987 Reunion

On Saturday, October 14th, Jane Lenehan and Diana Musgrave were pleased to host their classmates for the Dalhousie Law School Class of 1987 reunion.  A  good time was had by all as the photographs demonstrate! 

Supporting Trans* and Gender-variant Clients

The team at Lenehan Musgrave is committed to all facets of access to justice. Our commitment to access to justice is shown in part through the flat rates we offer for certain family law services, and the low contingency fee rates we offer our personal injury clients. Our commitment to access to justice is also shown in our ongoing efforts to learn how to best serve and support our community, which includes clients of diverse backgrounds.

As a part of Pride this year, associate lawyer Daniel Wood attended a workshop held by the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society called “Supporting Trans* and Gender-variant Clients, Colleagues and Employees.” The workshop included an introduction to transgender issues, providing an understanding of proper terms and definitions, and discussions on how to be respectful when assisting transgender clients. The workshop also highlighted some of the unique challenges transgender people face in the legal system.

An example of a challenge transgender individuals have faced in the family law context is the other party attempting to use an individual’s gender transition as a reason to deny or reduce custodial rights and/or parenting time.

Litigants have made negative allegations about transgender parents despite the fact that the law recognizes that transgender parents have the same parental rights, and that a parent being transgender does not negatively impact the best interests of the child(ren). In Forrester v Saliba, 2000, CanLII 28722 (Ont. Ct. J.), which has been referred to by the Nova Scotia Family Court, Justice Wolder on the Ontario Court of Justice stated:

“[T]ranssexuality, in itself, without further evidence, would not constitute a material change in circumstances, nor would it be considered a negative factor in a custody determination.” [para. 19]

In all situations, our role as lawyers is to be a staunch advocate for our clients’ rights and interests, as well as ensure that our clients feel supported throughout their legal disputes. When representing a transgender client this may require us to educate the court about our client’s circumstances to fight unfair stigmas and show that a parent’s Trans identity has no negative effect on their children.

At Lenehan Musgrave we welcome the opportunity to serve members of the Trans community, as well as other members of the LGBTQ+ community.

We hope that everybody enjoyed a safe and happy pride this year!

Welcome Amber Penney as our new Associate Lawyer

Lenehan Musgrave LLP is delighted to announce that Amber Penney has joined our firm as a senior Associate Lawyer.

Amber articled in Newfoundland, was called to the Newfoundland and Labrador bar in June of 2012 and called to the Nova Scotia bar in July of 2012. Since that time, Amber has been practicing family law with the following areas of focus:

• Separation and any resulting agreements;

• Divorce – both contested and uncontested proceedings dealing with custody, access, child and spousal support, and property issues;

• Cohabitation Agreements and Marriage Contracts;

• Child Protection Matters; and,

• Adoptions.

In and out of the Court room, Amber serves as a grounded and respected family law lawyer. To learn more about Amber, please view her bio in the Our Team section of our website.

Deducting Your Legal fees: A Guide this Tax Season

As tax season approaches, it is beneficial to be aware of what expenses you may be entitled to claim as deductions.

If you incurred legal fees for the purpose of collecting, receiving, or securing child support or spousal support, you can claim those legal fees as a deduction at line 221 of your income tax return. It is important to note that only the receiving parent or spouse can claim their legal fees as a deduction.

The tax deductible legal fees may relate to collecting late support payments, establishing an amount for support payments, or efforts to vary support to a higher amount.

Every January we review our clients’ accounts and determine the percentage of time and effort spent on their file that relates to their claims for child and/or spousal support.  We then send our clients who qualify for a deduction letters outlining our opinion on the percentage of their legal fees they are entitled to deduct. The client can provide their letter to CRA as a receipt.

We offer these letters free of charge to our clients because we believe that individuals and families should enjoy the maximum income and benefits available to them through law.

Further information can be found on Canada Revenue Agency’s website: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/tpcs/ncm-tx/rtrn/cmpltng/ddctns/lns206-236/221/menu-eng.html.

Our Artwork

You may have noticed that our lawyer profile pictures feature artwork in the background. At Lenehan Musgrave we are proud to celebrate and support local talent and all 23 paintings contained within our office are original pieces by Nova Scotian artists. In particular, we have works from such artists as Jeremy Vaughan, Leya Evelyn, Kelly Mitchelmore, Jim Darley, Sarah Conklin, Lynda Shalagan, and Louise Baker, among others.

We are always pleased to show clients, friends and family our collection of art and welcome the opportunity to discuss our artwork and our desire to support local artists and entrepreneurs. Our commitment to showcasing the paintings is reflected in the careful placements selected by our interior designer, Carey Morris, and in the lighting specifically designed to highlight the artwork done by Steven Meiklejohn of Halifax Lighting Solutions.

Lenehan Musgrave Now Offers Limited Legal Services

Lenehan Musgrave is now offering limited legal services in addition to our traditional full service. Our team at Lenehan Musgrave has been working hard to create opportunities for all clients to access family law services with prices and options that best suit their needs.

 We are pleased to offer the first of a number of services we are developing, that will be offered for a set price, inclusive of fees, disbursements and HST.

Our first set price service is an Application for Child Support, when parenting is not an issue for the all-inclusive price of $747.50.

 We understand that parents are often capable of starting the Application for Child Support on their own, but want to ensure that their documentation is completed properly, and wish to avoid the long wait for appointments with an intake worker at the Supreme Court (Family Division).

In addition, we recognize that some clients also want to be able to do specific tasks on their own, and may require assistance from lawyers on a limited basis only. At Lenehan Musgrave we are pleased to offer limited retainer services that are tailored to you.

In tailoring a retainer to you, we discuss your needs, what services you require to ensure your needs in the process are met, and we then arrive at a fee for those services. This allows the client to determine exactly the services they need and the level of involvement they want from their lawyer, while ensuring the same quality of representation as hiring a lawyer to deal with all matters.

Should you have any questions in regards to our services, please contact us at 902-466-2200 or reception@lenehanmusgravelaw.ca to see what ways we can assist you in determining what services best suit to your needs.

Our Open House was a Big Success!

We would like to thank everybody who joined us in making our open house a great success! On Thursday, June 16 we opened our doors and welcomed friends, family and members of the legal community to tour our new office space and meet the members of our growing team here at Lenehan Musgrave LLP.

We enjoyed a wonderful evening of networking and great food provided by local catering company “Kitchen Door Catering”. Again, we would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to all who were in attendance, and we look forward to working with you in the future.

Please enjoy some photographs of our event taken by local photographer, Judith Morris, below!

$70,000.00 Cost Award!

Lenehan Musgrave LLP is pleased to report that a client of the firm has received a $70,000.00 cost award. Cost awards are ordered to contribute to the successful party’s legal fees and disbursements.  Costs are in the discretion of the Court, but a successful party is generally entitled to a cost award.

Trial lawyers Diana Musgrave and Daniel Wood achieved a successful result for their client after an eight day trial, which was heard in May, June and August of 2015.  Justice Jollimore of the Supreme Court (Family Division) considered the complex nature of the case when deciding that a $70,000.00 award would do justice between the parties.

The trial decision is linked below:

https://www.canlii.org/en/ns/nssc/doc/2016/2016nssc74/2016nssc74.pdf

Lenehan Musgrave LLP Welcomes Sally Faught to our Family Law team

Lenehan Musgrave LLP is thrilled to welcome Sally Faught as Senior Counsel  to our growing team.

Sally has been practicing family law locally for over 30 years and has been a part of the evolution of family law in the Province. She has served on various panels and boards with judges and senior lawyers in Nova Scotia to establish policies and programs that have enhanced the practice and accessibility of family law in Nova Scotia, including the Parenting Information Program.

To learn more about Sally, please view her team profile.

Lenehan Musgrave LLP - Our New Office!

We are excited to announce the relocation and expansion of our law firm to:

101-67 King’s Wharf Place, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B2Y 0C6

As our clients know, Lenehan Musgrave LLP provides individuals of the Halifax Regional Municipality and surrounding areas with quality, personalized legal representation in all areas of family law.

We are a service oriented law firm committed to excellence. Our commitment to our clients inspired us to transform 3142 square feet of raw space into a tailor made family law firm, specifically designed by the lawyers of Lenehan Musgrave LLP along with local stylist Carey Morris and two local intern architects to maintain and expand our capabilities and expertise to better serve our clients.

Through upgrading technologies, creating large open areas for administrative staff to work effectively and efficiently, and the addition of associate lawyers Tandiwe Nyajeka and Daniel Wood, Lenehan Musgrave LLP looks forward to continuing to serve individuals throughout the Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford, Sackville and all of Nova Scotia with exceptional legal services. 

In addition to our long standing service in family law, associate lawyer Daniel Wood is pleased to announce that he has expanded his practice to offer services in injury and insurance law. Daniel’s focus is on allowing his clients to concentrate on rehabilitation while he works on their behalf to get them the compensation they are entitled to. Stay tuned for a future blog post regarding Daniel’s personal injury practice.