Challenging a Finding of Incapacity: A Caregiver’s Guide to Form A

Understand what happens when a patient is found incapable and files a Form A.

What Caregivers Need to Know About Form 1

Understanding the Form 1 is a critical first step for family caregivers during a mental health crisis, providing the legal authority for a physician to authorize a 72-hour psychiatric assessment to ensure a loved one’s immediate safety.

Ontario Surrogacy in 2026: New Funding & Legal Rights

Discover 2026 updates on the new fertility tax credit, job-protected surrogacy leave, and a new pregnancy loss leave for federal employees.

Ontario Updates Dementia Care in Long-Term Care: What’s Changing?

When a Loved One With Dementia Refuses Help

A parent refusing home care, bathing, or fall prevention can feel impossible. Learn practical approaches that often work better than confrontation, plus how Powers of Attorney and guardianship fit in under Ontario law.

Did You Receive a Letter from Service Canada About the Canada Disability Benefit? Here’s What It Means

Received a Service Canada letter saying “We can’t confirm you as their legal representative”? Learn what proof is needed for the Canada Disability Benefit.

How to Get Power of Attorney for a Parent with Dementia

Wondering how to get Power of Attorney for a parent with dementia in Ontario? Learn your options - and what happens if they no longer have capacity

What happens after a baby is born via surrogacy in Ontario?

This video explains what happens after a baby is born via surrogacy in Ontario.

Are Surrogacy Expenses Tax Deductible?

It's tax time! Here's what IPs pursuing surrogacy should know.

Tax Court Upholds Confidentiality in Surrogacy Agreements

A recent Tax Court decision confirms that strict confidentiality provisions in surrogacy agreements are legally enforceable.

Ontario is Taking Dementia Seriously: Let's Hope They Get It Right

Ontario has introduced new legislation with a focus on dementia.

Patient Received MAiD on a Psychiatric Leave

A man at a psychiatric facility left the hospital on day pass and ended his life via MAiD. Now the family is suing.

Who Can Inherit Your Eggs/Sperm? Health Canada is Asking for Input

Who Should Inherit Your Genetic Material? Health Canada’s review of reproductive rights sparks debate.

How to Donate Eggs in Canada: A Guide for Potential Donors

An overview of the process of egg donation in Canada.

(Another) AI-Powered Advocacy for Family Caregivers Webinar

A webinar about how caregivers can leverage artificial intelligence

Surrogacy Jargon Explained

Let's review some common jargon used in the context of surrogacy.

Refusal to make findings of incapacity: a concerning trend

A concern about litigation has led to absurd and often dangerous failures to make findings of capacity.

Legal Decision on Frozen Embryos: Malone v. Cappon

This blog explores the legal intricacies of the Malone v. Cappon case, specifically focusing on the challenges surrounding frozen embryos, jurisdictional issues, and the intersection of family law and reproductive technologies.

AI-Powered Advocacy for Family Caregivers (Webinar)

A webinar about how caregivers can leverage artificial intelligence

Potential new benefits for intended parents

People who become parents through surrogacy and adoption get less EI than other parents. That might be about to change.

Unraveling the Abortion Debate in Canada: Shared Values and Nuanced Perspectives

In Canada, the perception of a heated abortion debate is challenged upon closer scrutiny. With minimal abortions occurring beyond 21 weeks and only 8% of Canadians opposing abortion entirely, Canadians are actually more aligned than we might think.

What happens after you sign the surrogacy agreement?

The ink on the contract is still wet. Now what happens? Watch to find out!

MAID and Mental Illness Webinar

Join us on February 16, 2023

Kinkeeper™ wins an Innovation Award!

We are proud to share great news with you!

What is a Form 2?

If you have a loved one with a serious mental illness, you HAVE to watch this video. It is about the primary legal tool to get a person to the hospital for an assessment.

Proposed law could force patients into long-term care without consent

The government is currently debating a bill that could force people to long-term care without consent, even if they are mentally capable of making their own decisions.

What happens if a guardian dies?

Parents becoming guardians of their adult children often fear what will happen when they are gone.

What happens if a substitute decision-maker lacks capacity?

A substitute decision-maker must be "capable" of making treatment decisions. What happens if they're not?

Joint Guardianship: Pros and Cons

In this vlog Lisa reviews three (3) pros and three (3) cons of becoming guardian with another person.

Upcoming Webinar: Should I Become Guardian of the Person?

On July 21, 2022 we will be hosting a free webinar about guardianship of the person.

3 ways to save money during surrogacy

If you are considering surrogacy, check out this video that provides 3 ways to save money during surrogacy.

What Can Be Reimbursed to Surrogates?

In Canada it is against the law to pay a surrogate, although reimbursements are legal. But which reimbursements are lawful?

6 Week Course: Guardianship in Ontario (for parents who have an adult child with disabilities)

Our 6 week guardianship course starts this week!

What is a Management Plan?

What is a Management Plan? Hint: It relates to guardianship of property.

Why would I need to become guardian of property?

Join us on April, 28 at 6pm (Ontario time) for a free webinar where we dive into the question, why would I need to become guardian of property?

Announcing our online "shop"!

We now sell digital downloads through our online shop!

What is a Management Plan?

A guardian of property must complete, and follow, a Management Plan. Learn more here.

Three Things to Discuss With Your Surrogate

3 things people considering surrogacy should discuss with a potential surrogate

Where Does a Surrogate Give Birth?

Does the location of the birth really matter? (hint: yes, yes it does)

What Happens When Substitute Decision-makers Can't Agree On a Decision?

Sometimes 2+ people have to make health care decisions for someone else (e.g. 2 parents deciding for a child, 3 adults deciding for a parent with dementia). In this vlog we answer the question: what happens if those decision-makers can't agree?

What is a Mature Minor?

Find out what "mature minor" means in Ontario.

Who consents to the Covid-19 vaccine? (5-11 year olds)

Who consents to children receiving the Covid-19 vaccine? The child? The parents? The government? The answer is complicated.

Should You Have a Contract With Your Donor?

It is really necessary to have a contract with a egg, sperm or embryo donor?

What Happens After Surrogacy?

The baby is born: now what?

What Does a Guardian of Property Do?

A guardian of property can do almost anything - except make a Will! Learn more in this blog.

What is Capacity?

When discussing a patient or resident's capacity, it is important to be specific. Simply stating that a person is "incapable" is generally incomplete.

Informed Consent

What is a capable person entitled to know before they consent or decline to consent to a proposed treatment?

Can Donors Decline Reimbursements?

Once in a while a client who is donating genetic material to a friend or relative has asked us, do I have to accept the reimbursements? They aren't sure if refusing to be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses could somehow affect the legality of the agreement.

What is The Consent and Capacity Board?

A brief overview of the Ontario Consent and Capacity Board.

3 Considerations When Choosing Whether to Donate Eggs Anonymously

Deciding to donate eggs is a big decision. The second biggest decision? Whether to do so on a known or anonymous basis.

3 Tips For Caregivers

Family caregivers do not necessarily anticipate being thrust into the role of an advocate, yet this is what happens all the time.

How do you know who a patient's substitute decision-maker is?

Who makes decisions if a patient is unable to for themselves?

What Does the Public Guardian and Trustee (PGT) Do?

The Public Guardian and Trustee (PGT) is an agency that plays a role in many matters involving consent and capacity.

3 Reasons to Have a Surrogacy Agreement

3 reasons why having a surrogacy agreement is SO IMPORTANT!

Mismanaging Property Mini-Series (Part 4 of 4): ODSP

In the fourth video of four part mini-series on mismanaging property, I discuss ODSP. The series is for family caregivers who have a loved one with a mental illness who is mismanaging property.

Mismanaging Property Mini-Series (Part 3 of 4): Joint Accounts

In the third video of four part mini-series on mismanaging property, I discuss joint accounts. The series is for family caregivers who have a loved one with a mental illness who is mismanaging property.

Mismanaging Property Mini-Series (Part 2 of 4): Guardianship

In the second video of four part mini-series on mismanaging property, I discuss guardianship of property. The series is for family caregivers who have a loved one with a mental illness who is mismanaging property.

Mismanaging Property Mini-Series (Part 1 of 4): Powers of Attorney

In our 4 part mini-series on mismanaging property, I discuss powers of attorney for property. The series is for family caregivers who have a loved one with a mental illness who is mismanaging property.

What is a Form 3?

A Form 3 is a legal tool completed by a physician that requires a person to stay at the hospital as an involuntary patient in a psychiatric unit.

What is a Form 1?

A Form 1 is a legal tool completed by a physician that allows a person to be detained at a hospital for up to 72 hours so that their mental health can be examined.

Long-term care residents can now hug their essential caregiver - if both are fully vaccinated.

Close contact now allowed between residents and their essential caregivers provided the parties have received both doses of their vaccinations.

An app for parents who have children with developmental disabilities

We made a tool for parents of children (of any age) with developmental disabilities who are unable to make medical decisions for themselves.

Webinar Announcement: Debriefing "I Care A Lot" and "The Guardians"

We are debriefing the films "I Care A Lot" and "The Guardians".

Online Courses for Caregivers About Mental Health Law

We're excited to announce 2 online courses we’ve made specifically for families who have a loved one with a mental illness.

Caregiver Day T-Shirt Giveaway

We have a giveaway for Family Caregiver Day! And I want to explain why.

How Canada's Medically Assisted Death Laws Have Changed (Hint: Eligibility Has Expanded)

MAID is no longer available exclusively for individuals who are dying.

Can Someone Use Your Egg or Sperm After You Die to Have a Baby?

Can someone retrieve your sperm or egg from your body after you die - and use it to have a child? The answer is complicated.

What's the latest on medical assistance dying in Canada?

We are on the verge of MAiD becoming lawful for Canadians whose death is not reasonably foreseeable.

Do Surrogates Get Paid?

Do surrogates get paid? What can be reimbursed? How do reimbursements work? This video has the answers!

Is the law changing to permit physicians to remove ventilators?

Media is reporting that the government is considering removing the right of substitute decision-makers to consent to withdrawal of ventilators.

What happens during the surrogacy process?

In this vlog, the surrogacy process is demystified.

An Overview of the Embryo Donation Process

In this video I provide an overview of the embryo donation process.

What I Want Egg Donors to Know Before Our Meeting

Information for egg donors to consider before they meet with a lawyer for independent legal advice.

An Introduction to our DIY Guardianship Course

We created an online DIY guardianship course to assist individuals to become guardian of property for their loved one - without hiring a lawyer! This video provides some context about why we made the course and who it is for (and not for!)

When do I need a surrogacy lawyer?

Intended Parents often call us at the very beginning of their surrogacy journey. While we're happy to chat, the actual legal work does not begin until later in the process.

How has Covid-19 impacted surrogacy in Canada?

Three ways Covid-19 has impacted surrogacy.

Don't Abandon Your Surrogate!

Some non-legal advice for intended parents about surrogacy.

Britney Spears' conservatorship

In November 2020 Lisa Feldstein was quoted in The Province in an article by Laura Hensley entitled "The 'extraordinary' case of Britney Spears' conservatorship".

# 1 Tip for Intended Parents

Find out our #1 tip for intended parents considering surrogacy.

What does a surrogacy lawyer do?

At the highest level, surrogacy lawyers do 2 main things: (1) help with the surrogacy agreement (drafting it and/or providing legal advice) and (2) ensuring the intended parents' names are shown on the birth certificate.

Launching our first online course!

We've been planning it for ages and we're thrilled to announce that our first online course is officially available!

Long-term care visitor policies: what to expect in the second wave

On October 7, 2020 the Ministry of Long-Term Care released a new COVID-19 Visiting Policy.

B.C Court rules against physician advocating for private health system

A B.C. Court has upheld parts of the law that, if dismantled, could open the door to a two-tier health care system in Canada.

#1 Reason Surrogates Need Their Own Lawyer

Why is it so important that intended parents and surrogates have their own lawyers? Find out here!

Is surrogacy legal?

Our vlog answering the question: is surrogacy legal?

We've started a YouTube channel!

After dabbling with videos on our Facebook page during COVID19, we've decided it's time to get a little more serious...

Changes to the Law: Reimbursement of Surrogates and Donors

Since 2004 we've been waiting for the Assisted Human Reproduction Act to tell us what expenses can lawfully be reimbursed to donors and surrogates. Finally, the time has come. Mostly.

No-visitor policy challenged during COVID-19

A brief summary of the first case in Ontario challenging a hospital's no-visitor policy during COVID-19.

How does COVID-19 affect medical assistance in dying (MAID)?

With an ongoing pandemic, and the pressing need to practice physical distancing, finding a witness for MAID just got a whole lot harder.

Lisa Feldstein Law Office will be working exclusively out of the office on account of COVID-19

Effective Monday, March 16, 2020 Lisa Feldstein Law Office will be working exclusively out of the office.

What legal duties and risks must travelers accept during the Coronavirus outbreak?

Mitigating the spread of a communicable illness is a responsibility we all share. No government can do it effectively without the cooperation of its citizens. But they can make it unappealing to break the law and tempt our fate.

Canada is about to change who is eligible for medically assisted death

After consultation with stakeholders, commissioning of expert reports, and some lawsuits stating that aspects of the current law are unconstitutional, the time to update Canada's MAID laws has finally arrived.

What goes into an embryo donation contract?

Embryo donation agreements all have one thing in common. Can you guess what?

Safety of Sperm and Ova Regulations

We've been getting lots of questions about Health Canada's new regulations relating to donating genetic material...

What is a Power of Attorney for Personal Care?

Find out what a POA for Personal Care is (hint: it's different than a Will) and what goes into one.

Holidays and POAs: 4 things to consider when gift-giving on behalf of a person with dementia

It’s holiday time and questions often arise about whether gifts can be given on behalf of a person who, legally, isn’t capable of managing property.

3 Things You Should Know If Your Parent Has Dementia

Have a family meeting. Sign the legal documents. And, by the way, your siblings are probably suspicious of you.

Is it legal to retrieve sperm from a dead man – and use it to have a baby?

Is it legal to retrieve sperm from a dead man – and use it to have a baby? The short answer is exactly what you’d expect from a lawyer: it depends. The long answer, for Canada at least, is that it depends on whether the deceased man put his wishes in writing and who would be using the sperm.

Can you commit someone with a Fortnite addiction to a psychiatric facility?

There are parents who describe their teenagers as “addicted” to video games. They might be right. On their path to seek help for their kids who seem lost in another world, could they have their children committed to a psychiatric facility? Perhaps.

Can your doctor record your appointment on video?

A Toronto clinic violated Ontario's privacy laws by having video cameras placed throughout the premises without obtaining patient consent.