B.A. (Hons.), LL.B., LL.M., C.S.
John Schuman is an experienced lawyer within the Appellate Advocacy group. He is certified as a specialist in family law. He is an experienced and respected family lawyer, education lawyer and children’s rights lawyer. John Schuman is the partner heading the family law group at Devry Smith Frank LLP and he has earned the respect of his clients, judges, mediators and arbitrators for his sensible approach to resolving family law issues, his concern for children, and his understanding of complex financial matters.
John Schuman received his Honours B.A. from Queens University in 1994. He obtained his EMCA (paramedic designation) in 1995. John attended Law School at the University of Windsor, graduating in 1998. He then went on to complete his LL.M. in child and family law at Queen’s University in 1999. John’s thesis on questioning child witnesses was published that same year and remains a frequently cited authority on the proper way to obtain the evidence of children.
John Schuman has always practised in the areas of family law and children’s rights. He articled at a prominent Toronto litigation firm. After John was called to the bar in 2001, he practised at a firm known for its work in children’s legal issues and family law. He was also counsel for a children’s aid society before joining a prominent Toronto family law litigation boutique. He joined Devry Smith & Frank in 2009.
John P. Schuman has litigated before every level of court in Ontario, several tribunals, Family arbitration, and the Supreme Court of Canada. Several of John’s cases have been reported in law reports. John’s cases involving children’s rights have been reported in the national media. John has earned the respect of the judges, mediators and arbitrators before whom he appears. In a recent court decision, Justice Sherr wrote “Mr. Schuman’s conduct, in this case, is an example of what lawyers are supposed to do in difficult cases.”
John has published articles in referred legal journals on the questioning of child witnesses, allegations of abuse when parents have separated, the role children should place in the court process and the rights of children to direct their own medical treatment. John P. Schuman is also the editor of the “Child in the Courtroom” chapter of Wilson on Children and the Law. He is co-author of the Child Protection Proceedings Chapter in Evidence in Family Law. John’s book “Guide to the Basics of Family Law” is available on Amazon – click here or here.
John is a member of the Law Society of Ontario, the Ontario Association of Family Mediators, the ADR Institute of Ontario, the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, Collaborative Practice Toronto, the Ontario Paramedic Association and he is on the board of directors of York Collaborative Practice. Outside of the practice of law, he is an avid swimmer, paddler and cyclist and retains an interest in pre-hospital emergency care.
John has authored the following papers:
Consent to Treatment and Parenting
Allegations of Sexual Abuse When Parents have Separated
When Worlds Collide: The Legal Rights
Developmentally Appropriate Questions for Child Witnesses
I Want My Partner to Sign a Marriage Contract – How Can I Make Sure This Will Stand Up in Court?
Provincial Nominee Program: How it Works and Who can Apply
What Parents Need to Know About Private Schools and Education Law – Before Signing Their Kids Up
Big Family Court Costs Award
If I Don’t Have Money, Will I Lose in Family Court?
Student Rights During a Teacher Strike
Sharing The Holidays After Separation
Can I Be Summoned to Pay My Fiancé's Child Support in Ontario?
Separation Calculation of a Defined Benefit Plan
COVID-19 – Family Law Property Scam
17 year old, Driven to Therapy Without Parents’ Consent
What Happens When Ex-Spouses Have Opposing Views On Whether Or Not To Vaccinate Their Children?
Our Child Has Come to Live with Me, How Do I Stop My Child Support Payments to My Ex?
After the Family Court Changes a Final Order, is the Original Order Still Enforceable?
My Child Has Been Suspended From School. Do I Have the Right to Appeal This Decision
My Estranged Wife is Denying Me Access to Our Baby. She Refuses to Communicate With Me and I am Yet to Meet Our New-Born Child. Is there Something I Can Do?
My Ex-Spouse Refuses to Amend the Schedule and Allow Me to Take Our Child on Vacation. What Can I Do?
How Can I Obtain Custody of the Family Pet in My Divorce? – My Soon to Be Ex-Husband is Keeping My Pet Away From Me
I Want to Move Provinces However, I am Aware That I’d Need the Permission of My Child’s Father to Do So. But, Can My Child’s Father Move Without My Permission?
What Does The Court Decision On the Repeal Of The Sexual Education Curriculum Mean?
I Owned the Home Before We Married – Why Does My Spouse Get a Share of It?
Is it Illegal For A Teacher To Secretly Film Their Students’ Cleavage?
What The Death of Riya Rajkumar Means For Family Law Custody Cases
Is There Such A Thing As “Spousal Abandonment” in Canada?
I Have Children From a Previous Relationship. I’ve Since Remarried and Have Children with My Current Wife. How is Child Support Calculated for My Eldest children?
Changing Weekend Visitation
What Happens When Your Child’s School Registration Form Contains False Custody Information?
Can My Parents Take A Condo From Me That They Purchased Under My Name?
Public Schools Cannot Just “Kick Kids Out” – They Must Have A Full Expulsion Hearing
How is the Money from the Sale of a House Divided in a Divorce?
Am I On the Hook to Pay Child Support Retroactively?
Am I Liable For My Ex-Wife’s RRSP Losses?
Determining Summer Custody Schedules with Your Child(ren)’s Best Interests in Mind
Do Ontario Private Elementary Schools Have to Follow the Same Laws and Standards as Public Schools?
Help! Will My Foreign Divorce Be Recognized in Canada?
Is My Acceptance of a Separation Agreement over E-Mail Valid, Even Without My Signature?
Can I Kick My Abusive Husband Out of the Family Home?
My Boyfriend Has Been Denied Access to His Son. Can He Fight for More Rights to Him?
Important Tax Information for Parents with Shared Custody
Caught My Spouse Recording/Spying On Me!
What Marriage Contracts or Cohabitation Agreements Cannot Do
Does Child Support Affect Child Custody or Access?
Legal Advice Needed About Child Custody
How Do You Give Money To Your Child, But Not Their Spouse?
Do You Need An Emergency Temporary Custody Order?
Very Distressed Child Asked for Advice in Upcoming Child Custody Case
Reilly v. Zacharuk 2017 ONSC 7216
Appellant v. TDSB
S.H. v. T.Y.
Asiya Aliyeva, applicant and Seymur Aliyev, respondent
CCAS v. R.D.S.
C v. H
C v. H (Costs)
L.v.L.
Martinez v. Basail
D.S. v. Children’s Aid Society of Toronto
R. v. E.B.J.
Bott v. Bott
Bell v. Bell
Kroupis-Yanovksi v. Yanovski
John regularly contributes to the DSF Blog.
John regularly contributes to the DSF Podcasts.
He is also very often a guest speaker at the various events, commercials and shows. You can access these videos by visiting our Family Law Videos.
John was interviewed on Divorce Source Radio about children in separation and divorce.
1. Introduction - John P. Schuman (00.00) 2. Equalization of "What?" - Property Division on Marriage Breakdown - F. Timothy Deeth (02.40) 3. Equalization of net family properties and Common Law Couples - Michelle Farb (16.07) 4. Weird and Archaic Solutions to Bad Financial Separations (Trust Claims) - John P. Schuman (17.10) 5. Immigration Consequences of Relationship Breakdowns - Asher I. Frankel (36.57) 6. Bad Ideas in Custody Cases "Outside the Box" Strategies that People Use - Rachel Healey (51.20) 7. Difficult Spousal Support Issues post "Guidelines" - Kerri Parslow (1.08.58) 8. Keeping Your Scary Spouse Away with a Restraining Order - Sarah Falzon (1.19.48) 9. Why going to Family Mediation Without Consulting a Lawyer is like Playing Dodgeball Blindfolded - Todd E. Slonim (1.26.08) 10. How to Keep Yourself from Getting Played - The Benefits of a Marriage Contract or Cohabitation Agreement - Julie Tyas (1.35.15) 11. Questions and Answer Session (1.45.11)
Presentation Handouts - Common Legal Mistakes in Separation / Divorce
Recorded January 20, 2015
Details
Of interest to:
Therapists, social workers, mediators, non-family law lawyers, marriage counselors, accountants, financial planners, doctors or anyone who might have questions regarding any family law related issues. We will be presenting basic family law and common family law “misconceptions” for helping professionals to understand how things might work out for their clients.
Topics:
To view presentations from our recent Family Law Seminar or any other seminars we organized in the past, please visit Presentations page.