---
title: "Constitutional & Appellate Litigation ✦ Goldwater Droit"
meta:
  "og:description": "We handle appeals when courts misapply the law, ignore key evidence, or were affected by lack of full and frank financial disclosure, concealment of assets, or other appealable reasons. We also bring Charter challenges when legislation violates fundamental rights, violate constitutional separation of powers, or discriminate unjustly.
"
  "og:title": "Constitutional & Appellate Litigation"
  description: "We handle appeals when courts misapply the law, ignore key evidence, or were affected by lack of full and frank financial disclosure, concealment of assets, or other appealable reasons. We also bring Charter challenges when legislation violates fundamental rights, violate constitutional separation of powers, or discriminate unjustly.
"
---

#### *Our Services*

### Constitutional & Appellate Litigation Lawyers in Montreal

When the court gets it wrong, we make it right. We handle urgent appeals, challenge discriminatory laws, and reopen judgments obtained through fraud or procedural violations. Whether correcting legal errors, protecting Charter rights, or adapting orders to life changes, we navigate Quebec's appellate and constitutional litigation with precision and strategic vision.

### The system can get it wrong. We make it right.

[**Book a Consultation**](https://goldwaterdroit.com/en/our-team)

### Our Clients

##### Parents With Outdated Orders

Job loss, relocation, or your child's changing needs made current custody or support arrangements unworkable. We modify orders when life circumstances make existing judgments impossible to follow.

##### Those Affected by Legal Errors

The judge misapplied the law, ignored key evidence, or procedural mistakes affected your case outcome. We appeal judgments where legal errors cost you what you deserved.

##### Victims of Concealment and Fraud

Hidden assets surfaced after your judgment, income was understated, or documents were falsified. We reopen closed cases when fraud prevented fair division of property or support.

##### Those Challenging Unequal Treatment

Quebec law may sometimes treat certain groups differently based on marital status, religion, or other protected grounds in an unjustified manner. We launch Charter challenges when laws or court practices violate fundamental rights.

##### Support Payors Facing Financial Crisis

Unemployment, disability, or business collapse can destroy your income while support obligations continue. We file urgent modifications when SARPA doesn't apply or emergency relief is needed.

### Our Experience

Common-law spousal rights

challenging Quebec's exclusion of common-law spouses as Charter discrimination (Eric v. Lola)

Child support inequality

Supreme Court charter challenge to Quebec's unequal child support tables

Religious freedom protection

Supreme Court victory defending religious rights against Get-based damages (Bruker v. Marcovitz)

150+ judgments obtained

from the Quebec Court of Appeal across all areas of family law, spanning divorce, custody, and support

Active constitutional challenge

against Quebec's new Unified Family Tribunal, protecting judicial independence and access to justice (2025, ongoing)

Post-judgment modifications

successfully revising judgments for changed circumstances

### Our Services

#### Emergency Support Modifications

- Job loss modifications
- Disability adjustments
- Retirement transitions
- Children aging out
- University expense additions
- Emergency medical needs

#### Custody & Access Changes

- Relocation applications
- Safety-based restrictions
- Teenager preference recognition
- Capacity improvements
- Schedule modernization
- Decision-making updates

#### Constitutional & Charter Challenges

- Religious discrimination claims
- Gender equality violations
- Language rights protection
- Access to justice barriers
- Systemic bias challenges
- Precedent-setting appeals

#### Court of Appeal Litigation

- Legal error identification
- Notice of appeal filing
- Appellate brief drafting
- Oral argument preparation
- Stay applications
- Expedited hearings

#### Judgment Reopening & Fraud Claims

- Asset concealment discovery
- Income fraud exposure
- Document falsification
- Procedural violation claims
- Default judgment reversals
- Retroactive adjustments

### Our Approach

#### Rapid Case Assessment

Appeals have a 30-day deadline. Modifications need immediate filing to stop accumulating debt. We review your judgment within 48 hours, identifying grounds for appeal, modification potential, or reopening possibilities. Quick assessment prevents lost opportunities.

#### Strategic Threshold Analysis

Not every unhappy outcome is appealing. We honestly assess whether legal errors exist, if changes are "material," or if fraud can be proven. When thresholds aren't met, we explore alternatives: negotiations, payment plans, or waiting for stronger grounds.

#### Procedural Precision

Post-judgment proceedings have rigid rules. One missed deadline or improper filing kills your case. We navigate notice requirements, service rules, filing procedures, and hearing protocols that trap self-represented litigants. Technical compliance preserves substantive rights.

#### *Book with the right lawyer for your appeal or Charter matter*

### Meet the lawyers handling constitutional and appellate litigation

Connect with litigators who regularly handle appeals, post-judgment strategy, constitutional challenges, and urgent review proceedings across Quebec.

[![Anne-France Goldwater](https://goldwaterdroit.com/_vercel/image?url=%2F_composites%2Fv1%2Fprofile%2Fanne-france-goldwater%2Fportrait@2x.webp&w=1024&q=100)

[*Anne-France Goldwater*](https://goldwaterdroit.com/en/our-team/anne-france-goldwater)

Founding Partner

[Email](https://goldwaterdroit.com/mailto:afg@goldwaterdroit.com) [Download vCard](https://goldwaterdroit.com/_content-assets/profiles/anne-france-goldwater/attachments/me-anne-france-goldwater.vcf) [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-france-goldwater-a66a8411/)

[View Profile ](https://goldwaterdroit.com/en/our-team/anne-france-goldwater) [**Book Now**](https://book.goldwaterdroit.com/v2/#book/service/1)

[![Émylia Morin](https://goldwaterdroit.com/_vercel/image?url=%2F_composites%2Fv1%2Fprofile%2Femylia-morin%2Fportrait@2x.webp&w=1024&q=100)

[*Émylia Morin*](https://goldwaterdroit.com/en/our-team/emylia-morin)

Associate

[Email](https://goldwaterdroit.com/mailto:em@goldwaterdroit.com)

[View Profile ](https://goldwaterdroit.com/en/our-team/emylia-morin) [**Book Now**](https://book.goldwaterdroit.com/v2/#book/service/48)

[![Eric Kirshner](https://goldwaterdroit.com/_vercel/image?url=%2F_composites%2Fv1%2Fprofile%2Feric-kirshner%2Fportrait@2x.webp&w=1024&q=100)

[*Eric Kirshner*](https://goldwaterdroit.com/en/our-team/eric-kirshner)

Partner

[Email](https://goldwaterdroit.com/mailto:ek@goldwaterdroit.com)

[View Profile ](https://goldwaterdroit.com/en/our-team/eric-kirshner) [**Book Now**](https://book.goldwaterdroit.com/v2/#book/service/46)

[![Ian Solloway](https://goldwaterdroit.com/_vercel/image?url=%2F_composites%2Fv1%2Fprofile%2Fian-solloway%2Fportrait@2x.webp&w=1024&q=100)

[*Ian Solloway*](https://goldwaterdroit.com/en/our-team/ian-solloway)

Of Counsel

[Email](https://goldwaterdroit.com/mailto:ims@goldwaterdroit.com)

[View Profile ](https://goldwaterdroit.com/en/our-team/ian-solloway) [**Book Now**](https://book.goldwaterdroit.com/v2/#book/service/47)

[![Natalie Shelkovsky](https://goldwaterdroit.com/_vercel/image?url=%2F_composites%2Fv1%2Fprofile%2Fnatalie-shelkovsky%2Fportrait@2x.webp&w=1024&q=100)

[*Natalie Shelkovsky*](https://goldwaterdroit.com/en/our-team/natalie-shelkovsky)

Associate

[Email](https://goldwaterdroit.com/mailto:ns@goldwaterdroit.com) [Download vCard](https://goldwaterdroit.com/_content-assets/profiles/natalie-shelkovsky/attachments/natalie-shelkovsky.vcf) [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-shelkovsky-38ab6419b/)

[View Profile ](https://goldwaterdroit.com/en/our-team/natalie-shelkovsky) [**Book Now**](https://book.goldwaterdroit.com/v2/#book/service/26)

#### *Tell us what decision, ruling, or constitutional issue you need reviewed and what deadline is approaching.*

### Inquire about your case

### Areas served

**We represent clients across Greater Montreal and throughout Quebec.**

Our service area includes Westmount, Côte-des-Neiges, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (NDG), Outremont, Plateau, Downtown Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, Brossard, LaSalle, Verdun, Pointe-Claire, Dorval, Kirkland, Beaconsfield, Vaudreuil, Saint-Laurent, Dollard-Des-Ormeaux, Saint-Léonard, Rosemont, and Villeray.

We also appear regularly in courthouses across Quebec, including Montreal, Saint-Jérôme, Terrebonne, Valleyfield, Joliette, Granby, Saint-Hyacinthe, Sherbrooke, Drummondville, Trois-Rivières, Gatineau, and Quebec City.