About

CommonLawRelationships.ca is a guide to all the major family law and estate law legal issues relating to common law relationships in Canada – including child custody, child support, spousal support, property division, wills, and more.

It is written by Jeffrey Behrendt, BA, JD, LLM a family law lawyer in Ottawa.  Its philosophy is based on the fact that knowledge is power and that people should not be forced to pay huge legal fees to learn the basics of the law that applies to their situation.  Its aim is to explain the law regarding common law relationships in Canada clearly, in terms that non-legal people can understand.

Comments, Questions, or Concerns?

We are always happy to hear from you. You can reach us on our contact page via email or telephone us at 613-519-0320.

Meet Family Law Lawyer Jeffrey Behrendt, BA, JD, LLM

Jeffrey Behrendt is the founder of Behrendt Professional Corporation, the law firm in Ottawa that runs CommonLawRelationships.ca. Jeffrey lives with his son, Emet.

Jeffrey Behrendt attended the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario on both a Descartes Scholarship and a Canada Scholarship. In 1993, he graduated on the Dean’s Honour’s List with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics. In 1996, he graduated with a Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law in Toronto. While in law school, Jeffrey Behrendt was an Associate Editor of the University of Toronto Law Review. Jeffrey Behrendt continued his education in England, graduating with Merit in 1998 with a Master of Laws Degree from King’s College London.

Jeffrey Behrendt has a wide range of experience. He has inside knowledge of how courts work from doing two judicial clerkships, one at the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and one at the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He has worked at law firms in both London, England and in Toronto.

Jeffrey Behrendt’s practice is devoted entirely to family law. He focuses on helping his clients reduce the pain and expense of their divorces.

Jeffrey Behrendt has advocated for his clients in the Superior Court of Justice and on appeals at the Divisional Court. He is experienced in negotiating and litigating the contested issues of support, child custody and access, and division of property.

Jeffrey Behrendt has been interviewed several times on TV, by both CJOH and the New RO. He has been interviewed on radio by CJOB and by Peter Warren on CKNW. He has been quoted in an article in the Canadian Bar Association’s National Magazine. He has published numerous articles in Law Now Magazine. He has been quoted in the newspaper Xtra. He has given talks on family law at various locations. He teaches at the Paralegal program at Herzing College.