The room went silent. Anxiety slowly built. No, more accurately, it mushroomed to fill all the crevices and corners of the small room. The client carefully announced that one of their goals to achieve in the collaborative approach was to apologize for an action they had taken some time ago. The apology was ready to
Top 10 Characteristics of a Collaborative Family Law Lawyer Competence: Your lawyer of choice sufficiently skilled, intelligent, and flush with analytical skills, she is also cognizant of her weaknesses. She knows when to turn to a trusted colleague practicing in a complementary field of law to offer assistance. Your lawyer will be enrolled in professional
The online kits available to write your separation agreement look quite appealing. It’s quick and inexpensive. You can select whatever clauses catch your eye. Leave behind the small print and whatever seems overly complicated. Agree, print and sign. Not so fast. The headaches you’ll face by drafting such an important personal document on your own
Whether your children are newborns or young adults, they have an undisputed legal right to be nurtured, fed, protected, appropriately disciplined, and guided through life’s joys and difficulties. Parents and caregivers are obliged to act in each child’s best interests. For the parents and partners acting as a parent to a child in a new
What about the Adult Children when the Parents divorce? Left Behind or Fully Involved? Young adults often are excluded from conversation or ignored as the parents move from a partnership to separate independent households. Whether the changes the family undergoes, as a private family matter or played out publicly, whether seemingly without a hassle or
An empty nest peaceful for the past six years. Looking down the road towards a well-deserved retirement in the fall. The phone call that changed it all. The middle son lost his job and is asking to come back home to live with his parents. My client is asking what his financial obligations will be
Posted
November 19, 2013
|
by
Lorisa Stein
|in Cohabitation Agreements, Collaborative Approach, Consultations, Divorce, Family Business, Independent Legal Advice, Marriage Contracts, Negotiation, Property Division for Married Couples, Property Sharing for Common Law Partners, Separation Agreements, Silver Separation - Grey Divorce
When a new client arrived for our initial consultation he seemed sullen and distracted. I asked what he was thinking about. He sighed and explained how he always believed that what was held by his company belonged to the company and what was used by the family were family assets. He had a group of
It’s a nerve-wracking experience to walk into a lawyer’s office to begin the journey of sharing your intimate marital or common law history. There was no Separation 101 course available in high school and seriously, the thought of ever going through this had not crossed your mind. After a good discussion of the different ways
Posted
November 5, 2013
|
by
Lorisa Stein
|in Child Support, Cohabitation Agreements, Collaborative Approach, Collaborative Divorce & Toronto Family Law, Consultations, Divorce, Family Business, Independent Legal Advice, Marriage Contracts, Negotiation, Property Sharing for Common Law Partners, Separation Agreements, Silver Separation - Grey Divorce
Parents who solely own a house or cottage think about changing the ownership of these assets to include their children. While there may be sentimental or economic reasons for doing so, care must be taken to understand the full consequences of such a decision. Loss of critical tax credits for both the parent and child
Posted
October 29, 2013
|
by
Lorisa Stein
|in Cohabitation Agreements, Consultations, Divorce, Family Business, Independent Legal Advice, Marriage Contracts, Mediation, Negotiation, Post Separation Changes, Property Division for Married Couples, Property Sharing for Common Law Partners, Separation Agreements, Silver Separation - Grey Divorce, Spousal Support
A business owner was discussing seeking legal advice with Sandra, his high school sweetheart, about the impact his flourishing import/export corporation may face once they married. Jacques and his business partner, Sam, started seven years ago what is today a successful international company. There are four divisions employing 38 people; each with a family of
Posted
October 22, 2013
|
by
Lorisa Stein
|in Arbitration, Child Support, Cohabitation Agreements, Collaborative Approach, Consultations, Custody & Access, Divorce, Family Business, Independent Legal Advice, Marriage Contracts, Mediation, Negotiation, Post Separation Changes, Property Sharing for Common Law Partners, Separation Agreements, Silver Separation - Grey Divorce, Spousal Support
One of my best friends, Jim, is facing what he sees as a tough road ahead. It’s not that he and his wife are separating; it’s the unwelcome help he’s receiving from his gym mates. One soccer buddy boasts that Jim must lead the troops and show the rest of the guys what we’re made
Posted
October 15, 2013
|
by
Lorisa Stein
|in Cohabitation Agreements, Collaborative Approach, Consultations, Divorce, Family Business, Independent Legal Advice, Marriage Contracts, Mediation, Negotiation, Post Separation Changes, Property Division for Married Couples, Property Sharing for Common Law Partners, Separation Agreements, Silver Separation - Grey Divorce, Spousal Support
For senior adults stepping into their second marriages, the tough conversation is often about the marriage contract. Not so long ago, this discussion would have been a nonstarter and certainly a deal-breaker. Feeling personal betrayal during this honeymoon phase, a tough discussion about money seems to come from nowhere. The spouse being asked to sign
