Posted March 27, 2018 | by Lorisa Stein |in Collaborative Approach, Collaborative Divorce & Toronto Family Law, Divorce, Domestic Contracts, FAQ, Legal Advice, Mediation, Negotiation, Separation Agreements

Collaborative Separation Agreements: Pros + Cons

How you proceed forward once the decision to separate has been taken by one spouse requires some consideration. The values, work ethics, and best practices of the lawyer you retain are just as important as the forum in which you proceed. It is also important that you and your lawyer see eye to eye on

Posted February 7, 2018 | by Lorisa Stein |in Arbitration, Child Support, Cohabitation Agreements, Collaborative Approach, Collaborative Divorce & Toronto Family Law, Divorce, Family Business, Marriage Contracts, Mediation, Negotiation

Why Ask a Family Law Lawyer for Advice?

Transitions in our personal lives signal a new journey tumbling with emotion, stress, and at times overwhelming our daily lives. Families aren’t predictable. Alliances are dynamic and change over time. Emotional responses interrupt our brain’s natural ability to think clearly, analyze data, and make plans appropriate to the situation. Some of that emotional stress interrupts

Posted December 11, 2017 | by Lorisa Stein |in Domestic Contracts, Financial, Legal Advice, Marriage Contracts, Mediation, Negotiation, Prenups, Property Division for Married Couples, Property Sharing for Common Law Partners

5 Basic Legal Rights When Given a Family Law Contract to Sign

Independent Legal Advice: You have an inalienable legal right to seek to independent legal advice from a lawyer of your choice before you sign a prenup, marriage contract or separation agreement. If the person telling you that you don’t need a lawyer, don’t sign the document. Free will and the ability to understand the proceeding:

Posted May 28, 2015 | by Lorisa Stein |in Collaborative Divorce & Toronto Family Law, Family Dispute Resolution, Family Issue Resolution, Legal Advice, Negotiation

Succeeding at Negotiation: 3 Strengths to Resolve Problems

The welfare of the family may be financially dependent upon the health of the family business. In most cases, the collective goal of the family is to keep that enterprise thriving, growing, and profitable. When a family is going through a tough separation or divorce transition, there will be parallel and often intersecting interests: family

Posted December 3, 2013 | by Lorisa Stein |in Negotiation

Adult Children in Family Transition

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

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

A CORPORATE RETREAT, OR MATRIMONIAL HOME?

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 were used by the family were family assets. He had a group of

Posted November 12, 2013 | by Lorisa Stein |in Cohabitation Agreements, Collaborative Divorce & Toronto Family Law, Independent Legal Advice, Marriage Contracts, Negotiation, Post Separation Changes, Separation Agreements, Silver Separation - Grey Divorce

The First Joint Collaborative Meeting

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

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

Two sides to Joint Ownership of the House with the Children

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

Family Business Valuations and Marriage Contracts

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

Customizing a Private Approach or Going Public

One of my best friends, Jim, is facing what he sees 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 of.

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

Betrayal or Good Economic Sense?

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

Posted October 8, 2013 | by Lorisa Stein |in Cohabitation Agreements, Collaborative Divorce & Toronto Family Law, Divorce, Family Business, Independent Legal Advice, Marriage Contracts, Mediation, Negotiation, Post Separation Changes, Silver Separation - Grey Divorce

3 Tips from Experienced Clients on Picking the Right Lawyer

There was no course in school where you learned how to select the right family law lawyer. And, you probably didn’t need one back then. Now, you’re considering making a transition from being in a relationship to going solo or, from being solo to being a couple. It’s a good move to understand what legal