DM CONNECT: THE FUTURE OF DIVORCEMATE'S CLOUD PLATFORM IS INCREDIBLE
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ISSUE #81 MARCH 2021
DM CONNECT: THE FUTURE COMING SOON! Converting DM Cloud Forms to Word:
OF DIVORCEMATE’S CLOUD We are building in the ability to convert your DM Cloud
forms to Word. We have often been asked by our DM
PLATFORM IS INCREDIBLE Cloud users for this feature and we are now building
it into the software. This will give you added flexibility
We are getting close to releasing the next phase of our when working with our forms in DM Cloud.
DivorceMate Cloud platform. We call it DM Connect.
It’s our new collaborative software platform that will
allow family law professionals to connect not only with
their clients, opposing counsel, and other family law DM DESKTOP COMING TO
professionals (including mediators, arbitrators and AN END JULY 1, 2022
eventually the court), but also with prospective clients.
It will improve access to family law professionals for It’s time to start thinking about moving your practice
the public, while also facilitating improved efficiencies, out of the DivorceMate desktop software and into the
communication and better client service for existing DM Cloud platform. We will officially stop supporting
relationships. The first release of this platform is coming the desktop software July 1, 2022. At that time you
in July. Here’s what you can expect: will still have access to your client files and documents
created, however there will be no more updates or
Exchange documents: Family Law professionals will be
able to share copies of documents with their clients and technical support available.
other family law professionals in our safe and secure Take a breath. There is no need to panic. It won’t
DM Connect portal. These documents can be sent back
happen until summer 2022, and so you will have time
and forth for reviewing and editing. Our new messaging
centre will keep a log of the communications sent and to develop a strategy for moving to DM Cloud. Once
received. you begin the transition you will see that it is a fairly
simple and straightforward process.
Highlight feature in Forms: We are building in the ability
to highlight input sections of forms. This will come in DM Cloud is easy to use and navigate. And because
handy when you send a form to a client and ask them to much of the application shares similar design features
“fill out or review the highlighted sections”. as the desktop, there will be a limited learning curve.
For example, you will be immediately familiar with the
Have your clients fill out basic intake information and DM Cloud Tools program as it closely resembles the
more: Invite your clients to the DM Connect portal to desktop Tools aside from a few minor differences and
fill out basic intake information like names, important enhancements. The financial forms are easy to use and
dates, children’s info, birthdays etc. This enables the much more robust than the desktop. The day-to-day
client’s often limited resources to be directed to aspects
court forms and Precedent agreements have many of
of the case most deserving of your professional skill and
expertise. the same toolbar features as the desktop version. Plus,
you’ll soon have the added flexibility of converting
And your clients can go beyond just filling out simple your DM Cloud court forms to Word as an option, as
intake information. You can also have them input you can already do with the Precedent agreements in
financial information like incomes, assets/debts, and the cloud.
monthly expenses. This information will then be used to
populate your financial forms for a first draft, ready for There is no additional cost for DM Cloud. If you have an
review and editing as necessary. Your days of sending Annual Subscription, we will provide you with as many
a blank financial statement to a client and then re- cloud licenses as you have desktop licenses. If you are
inputting all of the information into your DivorceMate a Pay Per Use user, you will pay the same cost per file
are over. Plus with our guidance and help built into the as the desktop software.
client portal, the information you get from your client will
be much improved and more complete. Stay tuned for Stay tuned for details on available info sessions and
more information over the next few months! webinars.
ISSUE #81 | WINTER/SPRING 2021 | PAGE 1
FUTURE VISION OF NEW USER PRICE INCREASE
DM CONNECT & COMING SOON TO ALBERTA
MYSUPPORTCALCULATOR.CA The cost to purchase an original Annual Subscription
licence of DivorceMate is going up in Alberta. On May
One of the main goals of our DM Connect platform is
1st, the cost of an original licence will be increasing
to create a future marketplace for family law services.
from a discounted rate of $600 to $900 per year. Why
We have over 4,000 family law and professional
the price increase? Our software now includes our
offices across Canada using DivorceMate, and we
incredible forms package, allowing you to easily and
provide family law information and simple support
quickly create day-to-day professional-looking court
calculations to over 700+ Canadians per day who
forms, including financial forms. Forms automatically
visit MySupportCalculator.ca. We have the attention
merge repetitive information (names, birth dates, etc),
of both sides of the equation and it just makes sense
total all math, and allow unlimited expansion in the
to connect these groups. Our DM Connect platform
input fields, plus more.
will greatly improve much needed access to family
law professionals for the public, while simultaneously
Click here for more information, or to order, or sign up
improving communication and client service.
for a 30 day trial. Take advantage of the discounted
pricing of $600 if you order before May 1. We also offer
We are going to make it easy for family law
Pay Per Use plans. Please contact Steve for more info:
professionals to market their services and for the
1.800.653.0925 ext. 407, skrieger@divorcemate.com.
general public, with the click of a button, to purchase
those services. And it goes beyond that. Some of the
key efficiencies in the DM Connect portal will relate
to workflow, document exchange, collaboration and RECENT DIVORCEMATE UPDATES
improved communication between professionals and
clients. Tools Update: All Provinces (January 2021)
• Updated EI premiums / updated CPP contributions to
Our new DM Connect platform will also facilitate account for new 2021 contribution rate, including new
a variety of arrangements, whether it’s full “enhanced” portion.
representation or some type of limited scope retainer • Updated all relevant federal/provincial tax credits/
like drafting/reviewing documents, coaching etc. This brackets to account for 2021 indexation factors.
will be Canada’s family law marketplace, where the Software Update re: Divorce Act Amendments
public will go to find family law professionals for their • We did a major software update regarding new
needs. Stay tuned for more information. Divorce Act amendments that came into effect March
1, 2021. Read our article in Law Times to learn more.
Consider a Premium Profile right now in the •
MySupportCalculator Professional Directory Forms Update DM Cloud/Desktop: ON/BC/AB
for $359.95 per year - it’s the best use of your • We amended over 25+ court forms in ON, 15+ court
advertising dollars! Contact Don at 1.800.653.0925 Forms in BC, and 15+ AB forms (Cloud Only)
ext. 409 or dshully@divorcemate.com. • We also updated forms F3, F4, F5 and F8 pursuant to
Order in Council - B.C. Reg 05/2021. (BC Only)
Precedents Update DM Cloud/Desktop: ON/BC
BREAKING NEWS: The dates and location of the • Significant changes to Separation Agreements to
National Family Law Program for 2022 has been reflect new “Divorce Act” and related provincial
released! It will take place in Whistler, BC, from July legislation
25 to 28, 2022. The NFLP is a great opportunity • Complete overhaul, reorganization, new and amended
to learn and stay current with the law and also a clauses in Parenting Section & Child Support Section
fantastic chance to catch up with colleagues across • New execution clause re: signing in counterpart &
Canada, especially considering our current situation! electronic signature/delivery
Click here for details. Tools Update DM Cloud/Desktop: All provinces
• Updated “help” sections of the Tools software to
comply with the new language.
ISSUE #81 | WINTER/SPRING 2021 | PAGE 2THE “SEQUEL TO D.B.S. the calculation, inputting the parties’ incomes at the time, the
- MICHEL v. GRAYDON child’s age, any applicable special or extraordinary expenses
incurred on behalf of the child that year, and any related tax
CLARIFIES THE RULES deductions or credits in place during that year. Watch for
ON RETROACTIVE CHILD future training sessions for more details. To read the full case
commentary, click here.
SUPPORT ORDERS
On September 18, 2020, the highest court in Canada made PAY PER USE PRICE INCREASE
it clear that payor parents cannot dodge their past child COMING JULY 1, 2021
support obligations, simply on the basis that the child is an
adult at the time of the application and no longer eligible for We will be increasing the cost of Pay Per Use files effective
support. July 1, 2021. The new cost per file in Ontario and BC (Tools,
Forms & Precedents) will be $150/file (taxes included), and
In the case of Michel v. Graydon, 202 SCC 24 (CanLII), the in AB (Tools & Forms) $115/file (taxes included). For the
parties had a child during their common law relationship. rest of Canada (Tools only), the cost will be $100/file (taxes
At the end of the relationship, they entered into a consent included). The great thing about Pay Per Use is that you can
order for child support based on what later turned out to be bill the fee as a disbursement to your client.
understated income of the father. Ms. Michel subsequently
This increase will allow us to continue to develop and support
applied under the B.C. Family Law Act (“FLA”) to
our new DM Cloud cutting edge software. We have incredible
retroactively vary child support for the duration of the 11 year
plans for the future (see page 1) and we look forward to
order. The lower court found that Mr. Graydon owed $23,000
providing you with groundbreaking software that will
in retroactive child support. The provincial appellate courts
fundamentally change the way you work and communicate
overturned the award as the child was now over the age of
with your clients.
majority and therefore no longer a “child of the marriage”
as seemingly required for historical child support in the We truly thank you for being a loyal customer to DivorceMate
SCC’s decision D.B.S. v. S.R.G., 2006 SCC 37 (“D.B.S.”), at over the years. Your satisfaction is very important to us,
paragraph 89. and we hope we have been successful in providing you with
excellent software and customer service. The increase will
On appeal to the SCC, a unanimous court rendered its happen automatically in July and will not require any action
decision from the bench – reinstating the trial judge’s order by you.
of $23,000 in retroactive child support, citing statutory
interpretation and policy considerations for its decision:
“[s]training to read jurisdictional impediments into s. 152
IMPORTANT: NEW ONTARIO
that would prevent a court from ordering retroactive child RULE 1.2 REDACTIONS &
support in circumstances in which such an order is warranted
would defeat that legislative purpose and create a perverse
OMISSIONS
incentive for payor parents to avoid their obligations” (para. On August 1, 2020, a new rule came into force under the
28). Family Law Rules (ON). Rule 1.2 dealing with Redactions
and Omissions provides that “all identifying financial
While one could argue that the repercussions of this case account numbers and personal identification numbers” are
are narrow in scope, limited to an interpretation of B.C.’s to be redacted or omitted from any filed document, such
provincial legislation on variation of child support, the as a financial statement or net family property statement.
“message” in the judgment appears much broader reaching Examples of information to be redacted/omitted includes
– unmet child support obligations are a debt to be paid social insurance numbers, bank or investment account
and payor parents will no longer be granted immunity from numbers, credit card account numbers, and account
paying this debt simply because the child has reached numbers for mortgages, lines of credit or other loans. It
adulthood. is important to note that the served version of any such
document must, however, include all of the information; it is
Retroactive calculations of child support (and spousal only the filed document that is to be redacted/omitted. The
support) can be easily done using DivorceMate’s Tools complete, unredacted document must also be accessible in
software. A series of calculations for past years as far back every hearing and conference, and provided to the judge if
as 2010 can be undertaken simply by changing the year of requested.
ISSUE #81 | WINTER/SPRING 2021 | PAGE 3TAX TIPS 2020 RE: HOME ‘I have personally worked with the eState Planner people
and their software and believe eState to be a perfect
OFFICE EXPENSES add-on opportunity to a busy Family Law practice.’
- Mark Harris, Chair and Founder, DivorceMate Software
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented Inc.
numbers of people working from home. Thankfully,
the CRA has made a number of policy changes to eState Planner was created by the leading estate
help simplify claiming home office expenses on your specialists at Hull and Hull LLP. The software enables
tax return for 2020. You are eligible to claim home you to create professional and comprehensive wills and
expenses if you worked at home (either by choice or powers of attorney in a matter of minutes.
required by employer) at least 50% of the time over
any four week period during 2020. There are several Even if you are not an expert in wills, eState Planner
paths to claiming home office expenses depending on is easy to use, and guides you with comprehensive
your individual circumstances. planning checklists, Advisor Insights and is supported
by a friendly and knowledgeable team. With built-in
The Simplified Method is a new temporary flat rate automated ePlans, you can create the most common
deduction of $2 per day that may be claimed up to a wills plans with one click. And like DivorceMate, eState
maximum of $400 for the year (You can claim for all Planner is cloud-based and can be used anywhere at
days worked at home during the tax year, not just the any time and on any device.
4 week period).
DivorceMate Exclusive Offer: try eState Planner free for
The Detailed Method can be used by people who want 30 days and DivorceMate users get exclusive discounted
to claim more significant home office expenses such pricing. Click here and someone from eState Planner will
as rent, internet access fees (new for 2020), utilities, be in touch, or visit www.e-stateplanner.com.
and maintenance/minor repair costs that relate to your
workspace. You cannot claim mortgage payments Click here to book a demo www.e-stateplanner.com.
(interest or principal), furniture, capital expenses or
wall decorations. Once you have added up all the
expenses, you claim a portion of the total based on the
square footage of the workspace relative to the size of
LUNCH ON US CONTEST
the home as well as the number of hours worked per
week. CRA provides a calculation tool for you, as the “Work from Throne” was Carol
formula can be a bit tricky. Iwaniuk’s winning caption for the
image here on the left.
Depending on your tax bracket and province of Congratulations Carol of
residence, this reduction in taxable income could Cambridge, Ontario! We hope
result in significant tax savings! The savings should be that you enjoyed a meal on us
enough to cover your Netflix subscription, plenty of with your Uber Eats gift card!
sanitizer and perhaps even a few deliveries from your
favourite local restaurants! For your chance to WIN an Uber Eats gift card valued
at $150, have a good look at the image below and
Click here for more detailed information. email your caption(s) to info@divorcemate.com by
Friday, May 28, 2021.
INCREASE YOUR REVENUE Your caption(s) will be
judged based on creativity
PROVIDE UPDATED WILLS & and relevance so think
POWERS OF ATTORNEY outside the box and have
fun being creative! The
selected winner will be
Up-to-date wills are imperative for your recently
notified by Friday, June 4,
divorced or separated family law clients... why not
2021. Good luck!
provide them another valued-added service... an
updated will! Introducing eState Planner... More than one caption can be submitted per person.
For contest rules and regulations, please contact us.
ISSUE #81 | WINTER/SPRING 2021 | PAGE 4You can also read
