With years of experience in the legal industry, Chapman McAlpine provides highly sought-after lawyer advice in Barrie, Ontario.
Our goal is to help you find practical solutions for any legal issue you may face. Your situation will be different from anyone else’s, which is why we take pride in our ability to tailor our approach to meet your specific needs and circumstances. We’re also happy to speak with you over the phone if there’s anything else you’d like to ask. Get in touch today!
Legal Separation Lawyer Advice in Barrie
What is a separation agreement?
A separation agreement is a written contract between two spouses who are separating or have separated. The spouses can agree on issues such as custody and access to children, child support and spousal support, exclusive possession of the matrimonial home, division of property and pensions, debt payments, and payment of legal fees. A separation agreement can be used if you want to live apart from your spouse but do not want to end your marriage or domestic partnership.
How is a separation agreement different than a divorce?
When you get divorced all issues relating to your marriage must be resolved through the courts or through negotiation by lawyers before an order may be granted dissolving the marriage. However, with respect to a judicial separation (discussed in further detail below) or a separation agreement, many of these same issues can be decided by you without having recourse to the courts.
How do I get a separation agreement?
To get a separate and binding legal document that sets out the rights and obligations arising from your separation you need to negotiate with your spouse/partner through either family law lawyers or other counsel (or self-represent if one cannot afford it). If you reach an agreement, it will then need to be formalized as a legally binding contract which is usually done in writing in accordance with provincial requirements for such contracts.
What are some benefits of negotiating this way? There are many benefits of negotiating through this method including: if both parties agree there is no need for court proceedings; it can reduce stress on both parties; there is more flexibility in terms of what parties can decide since they make their own agreements rather than leaving it up to Courts; self-representation will also save costs associated with resolving matters through litigation; each party has control over their own destiny rather than leaving it up to chance during litigation.
Barrie Child Custody and Access Lawyer Advice
If you are a parent or grandparent, child custody is an important factor to determine following a split with the other parent. Often referred to as access, it is the right of a person with no custody rights to spend time with their child. The reason for this is that there are only two options for custody in Ontario: sole custody and joint custody. Sole custody means that one parent has all the decision-making power, while joint custody means that both parents must come to an agreement on issues relating to the children. Access involves letting a non-custodial parent have time with their children in order to maintain a relationship between them even if one or both parents decide not to see each other anymore.
A court may award visitation rights for any number of reasons including but not limited to:
- Grandparents who have been denied access by one or both parents;
- Parents that have had their access repeatedly violated by either spouse; or
- Parents whose divorces require them not to see each other anymore because it would be detrimental to their children’s wellbeing (for example if there are allegations of abuse).
Spousal Support Advice in Barrie
Children are not included in the calculation of spousal support, but if you’ve agreed to pay child support, it’s important to remember that there is a big difference between paying child support and receiving spousal support.
Spousal support is a highly complex area of law, and the only way to know for sure what you’re entitled to is to talk to a skilled family lawyer.
The Chapman McAlpine team can do just that. We’ll assess your situation and tell you exactly what your spousal support rights are. We’ll even help you negotiate a fair agreement out of court.
If you need to head to court, we can help there too. Our experienced lawyers have been fighting for the rights of our clients for years, ensuring that they receive a fair settlement every time.
We’ll fight for your rights in court.
While negotiation is almost always better than litigation, there are times when you may need an advocate in court. If that’s the case, Chapman McAlpine can help you out there too.
Our team has decades of experience helping people with spousal support agreements all over Lawyer Advice in Barrie and we have the knowledge, skills, and expertise required to make sure your case gets heard by the right people and understood properly by the judges who will be ruling on it.
Barrie Marital Agreements Lawyer Advice Services
Marital agreements are placed in the category of estate planning documents because this type of agreement has become a necessary tool for many couples to protect their assets, separate debts, and liabilities, and provide financial security for children from previous relationships. However, they can also be used by common-law couples as well. Marital agreements should not be confused with separation agreements which usually deal with child support and spousal maintenance issues.
It is important to obtain proper legal advice concerning these matters before entering into any marital agreement. A barrie family lawyer should review any proposed agreement to ensure that it complies with the law; otherwise, it may not be legally binding or enforceable.
Barrie Lawyer Advice on Divorce
The best way to protect yourself and your family is to get good legal advice. Your lawyer can help you to understand your rights. Knowing your rights will make the process less stressful because you will know what is going on. Your lawyer can help you to make a plan that makes sense for you, including:
- what will happen with the children,
- who stays in the house,
- how much support each person needs, and
- what happens with your assets and debts.
Domestic Violence Lawyer Advice in Barrie
If you’ve been injured by a family member or partner, it’s important that you get help from experienced Lawyer Advice in Barrie with years of experience. They will make sure your case is handled properly and sensitively.
When do I need help?
You may need help if:
- You’ve been physically abused (hit, pinched, burned) by a close family member or partner.
- You are being emotionally abused (yelled at, put down).
- You fear for your safety or the safety of someone else.
What should I do?
First, get to a safe place away from the abuser as soon as possible. Then call an experienced domestic violence lawyer who can explain your options and give you advice on how to proceed.
You need to get expert legal advice on your situation.
The first step of getting legal advice is knowing the facts of your situation. It’s vital that you find a divorce lawyers who is the right fit for you and your situation.
At Chapman McAlpine, we can help you navigate your legal matter with ease. Before meeting with our lawyers, it’s important to prepare all the questions you have about the process.
Once you have met with our representatives, you should fully understand their advice before deciding on how to proceed further. We will be working on your case from start to finish so that no details are missed or forgotten along the way. Besides, we will work to develop a trust-based relationship with you because we can only provide sound advice if we know all the facts!
