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Kids, Dogs and Divorce

Webmaster Blog, Uncategorized

Written by Melissa Lafreniere, MA,RP, QFAS As a parenting mediator and psychotherapist, I help separating couples make agreements that prioritize their children throughout the separation and divorce process. I recently had a couple approach me with this exact question. Before making the difficult decision to separate, they had recently added a fun loving golden retriever named Scout to their family. To complicate matters, they also had 3 beautiful children who were absolutely in love with …

Facing divorce? Consider taking a team approach

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Despite how common divorce is today, most people will not know what to do to navigate the divorce process. If you have not been through the process yourself, it can be overwhelming, confusing and intimidating. Because of this, it is crucial to know that no one needs to go through a divorce alone. In fact, you could have a team of people helping you through this process. So, who should you have on your team? …

Leaving a job to stay at home? 3 things to discuss first

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Staying at home to raise your children and maintain a home is a full-time job. As such, many parents ultimately leave another job to do this. Whether leaving the workforce is something you want to do or must do, it can be a big change. In fact, it may likely trigger some critical conversations with your partner. Below are a few specific things you may want to discuss before leaving a job. Financial support Losing …

5 missteps that can derail a peaceful divorce

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Divorce can be a painful enough process without the complications that litigation can present. As such, many people pursue more peaceful dispute resolution methods like mediation. However, there are some missteps people make that can derail the mediation process. These mistakes are generally avoidable, especially if you know what they are from the beginning. Releasing your anger on social media – Venting frustration about a divorce or your ex online can seem cathartic. However, if …

What is Mediation?

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Mediation is a legal process that allows two parties to resolve a conflict on their own. Each party may have their own legal counsel to advise them on how to position their needs or goals, but the process itself is usually between a meditator and the two parties. It’s a form of alternative dispute resolution, which means that the discussions and negotiations happen outside of a courtroom. If you have a list of items that …

Workplace issues during Ontario separation and divorce

Webmaster Blog, Separation and divorce, Uncategorized

Some people work to live, while others live to work. With 24/7 access to work tasks that modern technology provides, more Canadians spend more time working than ever. Whether this is a rational way to live is debatable, but when Ontario couples are undergoing separation and divorce while also working, stress levels can lead to burn-out. It doesn’t have to be that way. Many employers have employee assistance programmes (EAP) which include counselling and legal …

The ins and outs of family law mediation for divorce

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When you and your spouse decide to separate, there may be concerns you have about various issues pertaining to certain things like child and spousal support, dividing your property, and how to parent your children. If one or more of these things present themselves as contentious issues, you may find that mediation can help you come to a positive solution both you and your spouse can agree on. Family mediation can be used as a …

Could negotiation be the right approach for your divorce?

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On behalf of Alt Divorce posted in blog on Monday, November 27, 2017. Once you and your spouse decide that your marriage is over, there are ways to make the divorce process less stressful. One of those ways is by negotiating the legalities. It’s likely an emotional time for you both with perhaps some less-than-positive emotions. However, by communicating your wishes to each other — either face to face, on the phone or through emails …

A happy divorce: An oxymoron no more

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Divorce has never been synonymous with happiness, but the process has undergone some evolution over the last few years. After saying their “I do’s”, few couples ever anticipate that one day they’ll be calling it quits and finding themselves fighting over who gets the Martini glasses and who gets the microwave. Yet, when it’s over, it’s over. Fortunately, in the legal landscape of divorce, there is an alternative that can make the separation process if …

Dividing property during divorce doesn’t always have to get ugly

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Certain environments bring out the competitive nature in some people. It could be a hockey game at the rink or a video game between friends. It’s not hard to see how a courtroom divorce could trigger that same response. Litigation seldom brings out the best in people and what could be a simple process may become hotly contested, stressful and time-consuming. The division of property during a divorce, in particular, can turn into a bitter legal …

Tricked into parenthood?

Webmaster Blog, Collaborative family law, Uncategorized

A handful of clients have come into my office with statements such as: “she told me she was on the pill”, “she told me she could not get pregnant”, “I clearly told her I did not want children”, and the classic “she told me that if she ever got pregnant, she would take care of the child on her own”. The follow-up question is often “do I still have to pay child support?”. The answer …