Jackie Porter Live: Divorce Planning in the Pandemic - Featuring Olivia D'Ammizio

During the pandemic, many families found that everyday stressors became harder to manage, and for some couples, the pressure led to separation. In an interview with Jackie Porter Live, Olivia D’Ammizio, Associate Lawyer at Shulman & Partners LLP, shared what she has been seeing in separations during this period and how COVID-related changes affected parenting, support, and day-to-day decision making. She explained that while the underlying issues in family law files often remain the same, the pandemic intensified financial strain, disrupted schedules, and created new points of conflict around children’s activities and safety. The conversation offered practical context for parents trying to make decisions amid changing public health guidance while keeping children’s best interests at the forefront.

“We would definitely tell them to always keep in mind the best interest of the child.”
— Olivia D'Ammizio, Associate Lawyer at Shulman & Partners LLP

In the interview, Olivia discussed how the pandemic affected relationships and family law issues for couples who separated during this period. She described a common pattern: many relationships already had underlying strain, and when lockdowns began, couples were suddenly confined at home with fewer outlets. With workplaces, gyms, and social activities closed, people had less space to decompress. Olivia noted that being under the same roof for extended periods put additional pressure on relationships and contributed to more separations.

She also explained that separations during the pandemic often involved familiar legal issues, such as property, support, and decision making for children, but the circumstances around those issues shifted. On parenting, Olivia highlighted that disagreements started to arise around children’s safety and participation in activities as reopening began. Parents did not always see risk the same way, and she emphasized that the guiding principle should be the best interests of the child. She noted that, in practice, courts were generally following government guidance and public health practices when assessing what was considered safe for children.

Olivia also spoke about how pandemic-driven schedule changes created the need to revisit older parenting arrangements. Agreements made before COVID were often based on work schedules that no longer applied. With more people working from home and having greater flexibility, some parents sought changes to better reflect their new availability. She emphasized the value of parents trying to work together to adjust agreements and maintain a child-focused approach.

On the financial side, Olivia discussed how job loss and income disruption affected support. When a person’s employment situation changed, support calculations might need to be revisited so they reflect current circumstances. She also noted that domestic abuse became more prevalent in some situations because people were stuck at home with limited options for getting space or support.

Throughout the discussion, Olivia returned to practical guidance for people considering separation. She described the importance of narrowing the issues, creating a plan, and gathering financial disclosure where needed. She emphasized managing expectations, keeping an open mind about settlement, and considering a separation agreement to resolve issues without automatically turning to court. She acknowledged how exhausting separation can be, and underscored that the goal is to move through it in a way that stays focused on children’s needs and workable outcomes, even as conditions continue to change.

Watch the full Jackie Porter Live interview here. 

This media appearance is part of Shulman & Partners LLP’s ongoing contributions to Canadian family law discussions. Explore more of our media features in our In the Media  archive.