Divorce Resources for Toronto, Ontario
Getting information on divorce is no simple task – where do you start?
A good place for Divorce information is:
- Attorney Generals website – www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca. Basic information on the process for getting a divorce is included here. Other helpful sites include
- Community Legal Education Ontario – www.cleo.on.ca
- Department of Justice (info on Federal Child Support Guidelines and Divorce Act) – www.canada.justice.gc.ca
Once you have some basic information, you will need to decide on how to proceed. There are a few options to consider here, each one having it’s advantages and disadvantages.
No Children
There’s no children, no assets, you and your spouse John have agreed on all issues. Do it yourself.
The Attorney Generals office announced on May 3rd , 2010, some law reforms to assist people in using the courts for family law matters. The forms required to be filled out by someone wanting to proceed with their own divorce are available at
https://formsassistant.ontariocourtforms.on.ca
Using lawyers to file and assist you in understanding your rights is highly recommended.
Have Assets
You want to divorce but know that you do not always come to agreements on things. You have many things that you need to decide on, including parenting issues, the home, the business, your investments and other issues. Trying to work things out between yourselves may create huge conflict and tension. One of you has never dealt with the financial side of the business, so for a decision this big, you want the comfort of having someone assist you. You both agree that you can deal with each other respectfully. Both of you feel you can bargain in good faith and trust each other.
- Option 1 – Collaborative Law
- Option 2 – Mediation
Depending on your needs, either option can work.
| Collaborative Law | Mediation | ||
| Pros | Cons | Pros | Cons |
| Lawyers | Lawyers | Creativity possible | Independent Legal advice needed |
| Non-adversarial | If can’t resolve, then litigate – new lawyers | Non-adversarial | |
| Preserve relationships | Cost | Preserve relationships | |
| Avoids court | Time | Cost | |
| Time | |||
| Educational | |||
| Avoids court | |||
To Death Do Us Part!
You and your spouse cannot agree on anything. You cannot agree on what time it is. You are very angry and you want wants to make your spouse suffer and you want to make them pay. You are going to take them to the cleaners if it kills you. Then this is a case for the lawyers. This couple would not be able to negotiate in good faith, and are clearly not interested in an amicable resolution.
Having made your choice, remember that staying positive is important. People that see divorce as a loss tend to remain unhappy longer. Those that see divorce as a new beginning with opportunity and adventure, will move on to a better situation sooner.
If can get a along long enough to go through divorce mediation then give us a call!
