Kitchener family law lawyers you can trust to help you
move forward and on to the next chapter in your life.
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Separation is often one of the most difficult transitions for an individual or family. Decisions about parenting, support, property, the family home and financial arrangements can have significant long-term consequences. Getting legal advice early can help you understand your rights and obligations and make informed decisions about how to move forward.
For over 40 years, clients have been turning to Sherman Law LLP for strong advocacy and dispute resolution. Sherman Law LLP provides experienced family law advice and representation to individuals and families dealing with separation throughout Kitchener-Waterloo, Waterloo Region, Cambridge, Guelph and surrounding communities. Our lawyers help clients resolve separation related issues through counsel-assited negotiation, family mediation, collaborative divorce, and when necessary, litigation. We will help you and your family to move forward with your separation, not by closing the book, but by starting a new chapter. |
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What Issues Need to Be Resolved When You Separate?
Every separation is different. Every family is unique.
Depending on your circumstances, you may need to address several important legal and financial issues, including:
Parenting and Decision-Making If you have children, separation requires important decisions about parenting arrangements, decision-making responsibility and parenting time.
A Parenting Plan should focus on the children's best interests while providing a practical framework for both parents.
We assist with Parenting Plans and disputes involving:
Child Support Parents generally have financial obligations to support their children following separation. The amount of child support depends on a variety of factors including income, the children's circumstances and the parenting arrangement.
Our experienced family law lawyers will help you understand child support obligations, address changes in circumstances, and resolve disagreements concerning child support.
Spousal Support Separation may give rise to questions about entitlement to spousal support, the amount of support and how long support should continue.
Spousal support can be affected by a number of factors, including the length of the relationship, the roles of the spouses during the relationship, their respective incomes and their financial circumstances following separation.
Property Division and Equalization Separating spouses often need to determine how property and debts accumulated during the relationship will be addressed.
For married spouses in Ontario, this may involve the equalization of net family property.
Property division issues can become particularly complicated where there are significant assets, businesses, corporations, pensions, trusts, investments or other financial interests.
The Matrimonial Home The family home can be one of the most important issues to resolve following separation. Questions may arise concerning possession of the home, ownership, mortgage obligations, sale or transfer of the property and its treatment under Ontario family law.
Our lawyers can help you understand the legal and financial issues surrounding the matrimonial home and work toward an appropriate resolution.
Separation Agreements A Separation Agreement provides a written framework for resolving the legal, parenting, and financial issues arising from a relationship breakdown.
Depending on your circumstances, a Separation Agreement may address:
A carefully prepared separation agreement can provide certainty and reduce the risk of future disputes. We can advise you about your rights, negotiate terms on your behalf, prepare or review a separation agreement, and help ensure that the agreement appropriately reflects your circumstances.
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Can You Separate Without Going to Court?
Not every separation needs to result in a court proceeding.
Depending on the circumstances, separating couples may be able to resolve their issues through negotiation, mediation or collaborative family law. These approaches can provide greater flexibility and allow couples to maintain more control over the decisions affecting their families.
Counsel-Assisted Negotiation Learning how to successfully negotiate your dispute is one of the most important aspects of any separation or divorce. Our team of highly skilled Kitchener family lawyers assist clients who wish to have legal representation during the negotiation, drafting, and final revisions of a private settlement, written agreement, or at any stage of a litigated family law proceeding.
Family Mediation Mediation provides a structured process in which a neutral mediator assists separating couples in discussing and resolving their issues. Mediation can be particularly useful when both parties want to reach their own agreement. Rather than focusing only on legal positions, interest-based mediation helps families identify their underlying goals, priorities, and concerns to develop practical and lasting agreements.
Collaborative Divorce and Family Law Collaborative family law provides a structured and cooperative approach to separation and divorce with the support of a neutral professional team of family professionals and financial professionals. The parties and their lawyers work together in Collaborative Divorce to resolve parenting, financial and other issues without going to court.
Litigation & Court Proceedings Some disputes cannot be resolved through negotiation or alternative dispute resolution. Where court proceedings are necessary, our experienced family lawyers provide representation and strategic advocacy throughout the litigation process.
Common-Law Separation The legal consequences of separation differ depending on whether you were married or lived together in a common-law relationship.
Common-law spouses may have different rights and obligations concerning property, support and other issues than married spouses. If you are ending a common-law relationship, it is important to obtain legal advice before making significant decisions about property, finances or a separation agreement.
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Why Obtain Legal Advice Before Signing a Separation Agreement?
A separation agreement can have significant and lasting legal consequences. Before signing an agreement, you should understand how its terms affect your parenting arrangements, support obligations, property and future financial circumstances.
If your former partner has asked you to sign a separation agreement, we can review the proposed agreement with you and explain its potential implications.
Independent Legal Advice will help you understand your rights and obligations and identify issues that may need to be addressed or negotiated before an agreement is signed.
Separation Lawyers Serving Kitchener-Waterloo and Surrounding Areas
Whether you are just beginning to consider separation, have already separated, are negotiating a separation agreement or are involved in a dispute concerning parenting, support or property, obtaining timely legal advice can help you understand your options.
Sherman Law LLP assists family law clients dealing with separation and related family law matters in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, Stratford and surrounding communities.
Our approach is tailored to your circumstances. Where appropriate, we seek practical solutions through counsel-assisted negotiation, family mediation or collaborative family law. When litigation is necessary, we provide experienced representation in family court.
Contact Sherman Law LLP to discuss your separation and learn how we can help.
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For over 40 years, clients have trusted in our ability to explain more than simply their legal rights and obligations in a separation or a divorce. We focus on collaboration that leads to creative solutions and consensual dispute resolution. We are confident that you will appreciate our professionalism and personalized service. To benefit from our knowledge and experience, please give us a call at 519-884-0034 or send us an email. We assist clients in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, Stratford, Hamilton, London and surrounding areas.
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