The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

5 | The IFP -H alton H ills | T hursday,July 23,2020 theifp.ca LITIGATIONlegal matters I am married and we have a home together. Can I stay in the home without my spouse there? The advice offered in this column is intended for informational purposes only. Use of this column is not intended to replace or substitute any professional, financial, medical, legal, or other professional advice. Q A ASK THE PROFESSIONAL Todd C. Hein Partner Family/Divorce Lawyer Proud member of B2C Halton Hills OFFICE LOCATIONS GEORGETOWN 8 Guelph Street 905 452 7400 BRAmPTON OFFICE (main) 350 Rutherford Road S., Suite 320 905 452 7400 CALEDON EAST 15955 Airport Road, Suite 201 905 584 4545 The home in which married spouses live is called the "matrimonial home". It has special status as both married spouses have a right to "possess", so occupy the matrimonial home. Generally speaking, one spouse cannot block or forbid the other from being at the home. However, under certain circumstances one spouse can seek to have "exclusive possession" of the matrimonial; so, to effectively have the home to him/herself alone. A spouse would have to bring a motion before the court asking for an order that (s)he be granted exclusive possession of the home. The court will give consideration to a number of issues when deciding whether to do so or not, including: the best interest of the children, any existing orders, the financial position of both spouses, any written agreements, the availability of other suitable and affordable accommodations, and whether there has been violence committed by a spouse against the other spouse or against the children. If a spouse is granted exclusive possession, (s)he may also be ordered to pay for things related to the occupation of the home, for instance the mortgage or rent, property taxes, property insurance and/or utilities. We do a lot of family/divorce law across our three offices, including 8 Guelph Street, Georgetown, in the Lounsbury Life & Group Insurance Benefits building. I am happy to have a Zoom meeting with you for a free consultation. Stay well and safe, and have a great weekend. Empowering Clients. Enriching the Community. Summer Homeowners guide WINDOWS & DOORS VISIT OUR SHOWROOM: 11 MOUNTAINVIEW ROAD N., GEORGETOWN, ON L7G 4T3 905-873-0236 www.buy-wise.ca + + 905-877-8500 •www.devereauxcemetery.ca A Final Gift to Your Family Main Office: 600 Spring Gardens Road, Burlington Owned & Operated by The Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of the Diocese of Hamilton in Ontario Cemetery Address: 12337 17th Side Road, Georgetown Prearranging your burial or cremation is the last gift you can give your family. It releases them from having to quickly make decisions in their time of grief. It also frees them from the need to pay costs associated with your cemetery arrangements. Contact one of our family counsellors to discuss your wishes and options. James Kirkwood said he would have been happy with $75. Instead, he walked away with $75,000. Kirkwood purchased an Instant Hidden Gems tick- et at Quik Pik Variety on Miller Drive and took it home. He gave the ticket to his wife the day before Mother's Day. "She uncovered the tick- et and said, 'I think we've won $75,000!'" he said while picking up his prize at the Ontario Lottery and Gam- ing Corporation prize cen- tre in Toronto. "This was amazing. I can't believe $3 turned into $75,000." The 78-year-old retired machine shop manager said he will put the money in the bank for now while deciding how to spend his winnings. "I'm in disbelief about $75,000," said the father of two and grandfather of three, who won the game's top prize. The OLG has reopened its prize centre in Toronto for in-person prize claims for winners of $50,000 or more. Claims can be made by appointment only. $75,000 LOTTO WIN FOR SENIOR James Kirkwood won $75,000 playing Instant Hidden Gems. OLG photo NEWS