How to Plan For Your Future When You’re Getting Separated or Divorced in Ontario!
There is no better time to start planning for the future than when you’re starting the separation and divorce process.
Hi, my name is Thomas O’Malley. I’m an experienced family lawyer in Durham Region and the GTA.
Here’s some key ways to plan for the future when you are dealing with the end of your marriage or common-law relationship:
1. Understand the Divorce and Separation Process
I have mentioned in a few videos now the importance of understanding and knowing your family law rights as well as the separation and divorce process in Ontario.
You can definitely get a solid understanding by reading blog articles and watching videos on the websites of experienced family lawyers. You can find an excellent summary of the separation and divorce process and your family law rights at my website, www.canadiandivorcelegaladvice.com.
Then you need to get the advice of an experienced family lawyer. Your lawyer will help you decide what is best course of action for you to take in your separation or divorce.
You need to decide whether it’s better to try to negotiate a separation agreement with your former spouse or go to family court. Your lawyer will guide you on the best way to go based on the facts of your situation.
2. Create a Financial Plan
You need to start figuring out your financial situation when you’re getting separated or divorced.
You need to figure out where you will live. What can you afford to pay for monthly expenses? What is your monthly income?
Do you want to keep your home? If you do want to keep your home, you have to determine whether your can buy out your former spouse’s interest in the home.
How will you pay for your children’s expenses? Will your former spouse contribute to these expenses?
You also have to determine how you will pay off any long-term debts you owe, such as student loans and lines of credit.
3. Decision-Making and Parenting Time For Your Children
You must give some careful consideration to creating a detailed parenting plan for your children.
Who will make the key decisions for your children respecting their education, medical issues and extra-curricular activities? If you and your former spouse can co-operate, you would usually make these important decisions jointly about your kids.
How much time will the children spend with you and your former spouse? Increasingly, children spend half of their time with you and the other half with the other parent.
Often, you have a “week-about” parenting schedule which means that the children spend one week with you and the following week with the other parent on a rotating basis.
You have many important decisions to make as you plan your future in the face of your separation or divorce.
Make sure you spend some time with your family lawyer discussing these important issues in your separation or divorce.
If you have any questions about your separation, divorce or family law case and you would like our help, there’s a few ways to contact our office. You can leave a message on my Facebook law office page, visit my website at www.canadiandivorcelegaladvice.com, or call me directly at 905-434-8837. We would be happy to speak to you.
Oh, by the way, did you know you can protect your family law rights and get essential information on settling your family law issues with your former spouse with the daily indispensable family law advice and tips at my FREE Facebook group?
Click here to find out more: Durham Region Separation and Divorce Legal Support Group
Thanks for watching this video.
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