Litigation: In the Ontario family courts provide a stepped process that is neither cost nor time effective. Mediation programs offer litigating parents an attempt to find common ground before a judge determines the parenting arrangement for them. Some mediation programs are geared to income making them accessible to all parents. Other tools available to the
1. The darnedest habits get in the way Were the little idiosyncrasies the traits which attracted you in the first place? Can those now annoying and irritating peculiarities be handled in a non-confrontational way to refresh the relationship? 2. It’s a forest and trees problem: Friends and family may not be aware of what’s going
Sharing the setting of school routines: delegating incremental responsibility as your child grows by working together to set house rules and standards of acceptable behaviour. By enjoining each child, they learn about decision making, family values, and accountability to themselves and to each person in the family. Blended and stepfamilies may have different schools or
Making a house a new home by putting your personal stamp on it. You’re no longer negotiating the colour of the walls, style of the furnishings, or dishes you want. Keep the children involved so they know and feel they are an important part of this move. Keep the kids involved in seeing the new
Being a client in search of legal advice made for an interesting role reversal. Here’s what happened. How Many Form Emails? I completed and submitted an online request form for legal services. I completed a multipage from about my identity, the identity of the person with whom I had the legal problem, and outlined the
Understand the value to you and your family’s wellness to manage this conflict to a peaceful resolution Deescalate the tension by offering an invitation to talk in a private setting Keep interference from extended family and friends at bay to ensure privacy and focused communication between the co-parents Initiate the conversation to limit the negative
Build new personal relationships slowly. When I graduated from law school a few decades ago, it was ‘common knowledge’ that a person leaving a significant relationship will be ‘healed in about 6 months’. The new guideline is two years. It’s a more realistic fencepost and if you’re not feeling like yourself by that time, consult
Your choice: You have the right to select your own attorney, in most circumstances. If you are from a small town or using a community funded legal services program, it is likely that there will be a smaller circle of available qualified lawyers from which to make your selection. You may reject an attorney chosen
Simply, at the first meeting, it’s premature to be able to predict the final cost. There are unknown roadblocks such as the inability to recover important older bank documents which may cause delays, to be able to foresee the inevitable twists and turns which life brings to each of us. Consider the impact of the
Certainly! Silver separation or a grey divorce is common now as baby-boomers decide for many reasons such as economic and personal independence, belief in a better life ahead, or anticipating a long life yet to live as their parents are experiencing that it is time to strike a new path. For some it is the
Family Businesses are not only the lifeline for a family; they often integrate family members from both sides who perform a wide array of valuable responsibilities keeping the business profitable. Developing a shared understanding of how the business will operate during the family’s transition to two households is essential to keep positive cash flow. For
What we don’t know about can be frightening. Share good memories about the time when a difficult decision was made with a great result because of the help of trusted friends and knowledgeable professional. Consider the emotional tailspin you spouse may be in. Acknowledge that it may not a good time for your partner to
