Emotional support meets legal guidance Divorce. Just the word itself conjures negative connotations; bitter custody battles, financial disputes, lengthy litigation and emotions ranging from fear to anger. In essence, a bitter divorce trial can pose as the battleground for your legal rights; child support, spousal support, visitation rights, and the division of property. The only viable option may seem to
The financial implications of divorce are oftentimes black and white. A divorce costs money and takes time – two variables that are sometimes unpredictable. The emotional and psychological upheaval associated with divorce and separation is also a process. It will take time to emotionally digest everything that is going on in your family. But one of the core aspects that
Collaborative family law is an effective approach to creating a win-win settlement If you are hoping to maintain a civilized separation and use an approach that will help minimize the hostility associated with divorce then yes, collaborative divorce is right for you. Negotiated divorce such as collaborative divorce can save separating partners time, money and additional emotional stress. Divorce proceedings
When couple’s therapy sessions or trial separation fails to rekindle a marriage, divorce may be the appropriate solution to marital conflict. If this is the outcome, it is likely that both partners will spend a great deal of time and energy processing not only emotions but also divorce forms and applications to initiate the process. In Ontario, there is a
Knowing a relationship must come to an end for the well-being of either partner or a family, is overwhelming. A marriage is predicated on a perceived level of permanency; the ending of which has inherent ramifications on partners and family life. While legal separation and legal divorce sound similar, it is important to understand that unlike divorce, legal separation does
Are you living in the same house as your spouse, but considering a legal separation? You may think that it’s impossible to separate while still living together, but there are actually several options available. In Ontario, couples can be legally separated without having to move out of their home. Moreover, marriage contracts can also be put in place so that
By law, you aren’t required to hire a divorce lawyer in either contested or uncontested divorces. However, there are certain instances where having professional assistance can be beneficial. A good lawyer will read through all relevant documents to ensure they’re valid and that nothing is missing. A great attorney will also explain all legal protocols regarding the divorce, so that
An Ottawa businessman’s plans to outsmart his ex-wife and the court went up in flames, as the man admitted to burning over $1 million dollars in an attempt to circumvent his ex-wife’s equalization (a division of property) and support claims. Bruce McConville told an Ottawa Court that he sold a number of his properties and businesses, withdrew the money, and
Most parents who separate or divorce make decisions on how to care and raise any children involved. Things like where the child will live, how much time children will spend with a parent and who makes the main decisions relating to the child. These matters relate to custody and access. Family judges favour joint custody arrangements, as they prefer both
It’s becoming more and more common for couples decide to forgo marriage and instead live as common-law partners. A common law relationship is defined as one where the couple has lived together intimately for a least 3 years, or who have had a natural or adoptive child together and have lived together for 1 year. The legal system has adjusted
It’s no secret that discussions about politics can get pretty heated. Not seeing eye-to-eye with your estranged uncle during Christmas dinner or arguing with the neighbour down your street is one thing, but having political differences with your marriage partner could be a recipe for disaster. Of course, it isn’t a guarantee that couples with different political leanings are destined
There are times when the actions of one party or the other in a couple make it very clear that it is time for a divorce. Whether the result of substance abuse, physical or mental abuse or infidelity, these cases are clear-cut examples where an application for divorce would be accepted in the court system without a second thought. However,
If you are divorced, you may have concerns about maintaining relationships with your children. Upon deterioration of such relations, a parent may consider counselling as an opportunity to mend the issues at hand. However, problems arise if the former spouse disagrees with counselling as a remedy to the situation. In this event a court order may be obtained to compel
Back in May of this year, the Federal Government introduced Bill C-78, which proposed a number of changes to the current family law system. These amendments will be the first significant update to the legislation in over 20 years. Make sure to read through the list of key changes in order to be aware and informed of how this could
Heading into a divorce without a solid plan and understanding of the process can be a recipe for disaster. After all, a divorce means that there will be significant changes in your life — not least of all to your financial situation. Fortunately, with a little bit of foresight and with help from a family lawyer, you can navigate through
If a divorce seems imminent there are some important steps that you should take right away to ensure that you can make it through the process without sacrificing your future. You need to make a plan for how to budget for the various expenses during the divorce, as well as, begin to prepare for handling your financial obligations in the
You’ve just gone through a lengthy divorce and it’s finally over. Working together with your family lawyer, you made compromises in certain areas in order to come to an agreement with your former spouse; but after everything is said and done, you can’t help but get the feeling that you were taken advantage of, and your former spouse isn’t holding
For some people, it can be difficult to end a relationship, even if it is causing unhappiness or if there are more significant concerns. Even a troubled relationship can give a sense of stability that isn’t easy to abandon. Taking the steps to get a divorce certainly come with their fair share of emotional stress, but the option of working
These days it’s becoming more common for married couples who are over the age of 50 to divorce. It has even been given its own name: the Gray Divorce. While many of the legal implications remain the same, there are a number of specific things to consider for someone who is considering a divorce at this stage of their life. Will
Misinformation travels fast online. The best way you can be sure that those “helpful” tidbits of advice that you read about on your favourite blog are actually true is to consult with an experienced family lawyer. The last thing you want is to make important decisions based on information that simply isn’t correct. 8 commonly believed myths about divorce: 1.
Unfortunately, children can have some very negative experiences in some divorce cases. From younger children who may not understand why their parents are fighting, to older children who feel like they are being used as pawns in a chess game; there are a lot of ways that families can get pulled apart during an already tense situation. Unless there is
The aftermath of a divorce is a time of change. Regardless of whether the divorce was amicable or not, chances are that you will be looking for a bit of breathing room so that you can get a new lease on life – separate from your ex. For some newly divorced couples, this might mean packing up their bags and
This is a question that a person in a troublesome relationship may ask. Maybe things aren’t working out and neither partner still feels a connection … or maybe things are even more serious and there is a pattern of verbal or physical abuse. In either case, it can be difficult to make a decision that could lead to financial uncertainty,
Getting a divorce often means that you can expect to face significant financial upheaval and uncertainty. This can be made even more serious if your ex is involved in financial infidelity – hiding a portion of their assets so that it isn’t rightfully divided up during the divorce proceedings. Though this is against the law, it’s important to be aware
Following a separation or divorce, it may happen that the parents decide to transfer custody of their child or children. There could be many reasons for why the parents agree to this – perhaps one is moving away but the child wants to stay in the current jurisdiction, or maybe life is simply are better for the child to be
Wills & Estates Lawyers No one likes to think about their own death – or that of a loved one. But having a Will, or determining a Power of Attorney are important ways to care for yourself and your family should the unthinkable occur. At Epstein & Associates, you will always meet with a lawyer to discuss your estate planning.
In Ene v. Ene the parties were married in 1990 and separated in 2014. There are two children of the marriage, two daughters, aged fifteen and four. Following the separation, the Mother moved out of the matrimonial home and took the youngest daughter with her. The older daughter, continued to reside in the home with the Father. The Mother retained
Ontario couples who are seeking a divorce may be interested in some information about what requirements must be met before ending a marriage. In addition to the marriage issues, the application requirements can be different depending on the filing location. Generally, three requirements must be met before a couple can get a divorce. First, they must be legally married,
