Press | Ilana Tamari | Accredited Mediator | Toronto, ON

QUOTED AND WRITTEN ARTICLES

Coronavirus pandemic adds complexity to parental-access battles Dave McGinn and Colin Freeze, Published April 3, 2020, Globe and Mail

For the full article click here: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/authors/dave-mcginn/

So far, most of these disputes concern who gets access to the children. Judges, lawyers and mediators all say that, barring exceptional circumstances, divorced couples and former common-law partners must abide by the agreements they had in place before the pandemic.“Our phones are ringing off the hook,” says Ilana Tamari, a Toronto-based divorce mediator and parenting coordinator. Most parents are fighting over who gets to have the kids, Ms. Tamari says. Many worry their former spouses won’t respect social distancing. But she says some people may be lying about being exposed to COVID-19 with their children to keep the other parent away for at least two weeks. “We’re talking about being malicious,” she says. Last week, Ontario Superior Court Justice Alex Pazaratz released a decision in a case brought by a mother who wanted to deny her former spouse access because she worried he would not respect social distancing while looking after their child.“In many respects, we are going to have to put our lives ‘on hold’ until COVID-19 is resolved. But children’s lives – and vitally important family relationships – cannot be placed ‘on hold’ indefinitely without risking serious emotional harm and upset,” he wrote.

At its crux is the question of how far parents should go to protect kids from COVID-19. Court filings spell out arguments the father made in mid-March. Saying his ex-wife’s hospital workplace could be “potentially exposing the child to a deadly virus,” he insisted that their child stay in his care “until the coronavirus pandemic resolves.”

“Divorce is ugly, and during this kind of time it gets uglier,” says Diane Horsman, a Toronto-based family mediator and consultant. It is likely to get even uglier as people who are renegotiating agreements wait to see judges. “The court is expecting lawyers to work this out,” says Russell Alexander, a family lawyer whose eponymous firm has locations throughout Ontario. “Family lawyers are trying to figure out exactly what matters courts will hear and whether or not it’s urgent or an emergency,” he says. If someone has proof that his or her former spouse is not abiding by public-health guidelines, that would likely count as an emergency, Mr. Alexander says. But suspecting the other parent is letting the kids go to the playground or otherwise putting them at risk of exposure to the coronavirus probably doesn’t. That hasn’t stopped clients from asking Mr. Alexander if they can deny a former spouse access. The next big wave will likely be disputes over support payments, as people who have been laid off or are otherwise unable to work try to renegotiate terms with their exes.

Ilana Tamari was a guest speaker on Ask Andrew S3E9

Andrew Feldstein Family Lawyer regarding custody evaluations, mediation and parenting coordination, June 21, 2018, YouTube, https://youtu.be/bv7Ulxcftlg

Ilana Tamari was a guest speaker for Hilary Linton

Domestic Violence and Power Imbalance Screening at Riverdale Mediation, which can be found here- at this link, https://www.riverdalemediation.com

Ilana Tamari and Dani Frodis co-authored an article

Published in The Jewish Review June 2016 Edition Tamari – Resolving Legal Conflicts April 22

Ilana Tamari and Dani Frodis coauthored an article

Father’s rights and their relationship with their daughters, 2016, please see attached link Jewish-Review-from-Tender-Years-to-Fathers-Rights

Ilana Tamari and Dani Frodis co-authored an article

Published in The Jewish Review Winter 2016 Edition. Is Facebook More Dangerous Than Ashley Madison RS Jan 12, 2016 (1) (1)

Ilana Tamari Authored an article

The Jewish Review titled: Marriage: The End of the Story or the Beginning. In the prestigious Jewish Review Spring-Summer issue of 2015 (page 15) at http://www.Jewishreview.ca

Ilana Tamari wrote an article

Prestigious Jewish Review, Fall 2015 Edition, titled “Marriage: The End of the Story or the Beginning.” Please see the article on Page 15. Ilana Tamari’s Article in Spring-Summer 2015 Edition, Providing Divorce Mediation, Mediator Toronto, Mediator

Please find below three articles from GLOW magazine

Parenting challenges in the 21st century. Ilana Tamari was interviewed for a number of articles that were published in GLOW magazine.

An article about challenges associated with being a celebrity parent. Aiming for an A-List life An article about fads, trends, and parenting a child.

Facing Fads as a FamilyGLOW article on how to best navigate mother-daughter relationships.“Hi mom, can we talk?”

Ilana receives Award

Ontario Association of Consultants, Counsellors, Psychometrists and Psychotherapists Award: Specializing in S30, Mediation, and Arbitrations.