A divorce is never easy to deal with. But if you have an experienced Ontario divorce lawyer on your side, you are better equipped to navigate the processes and requirements involved in divorce proceedings.
More importantly, having a lawyer gives you a better chance of resolving any dispute or issue that may arise, like spousal support, debt allocation, property division, child support, or child decision-making responsibilities.
To gain tips on how to choose the right divorce lawyer for you, read on.
What Is A Divorce Lawyer?
If your marriage is ending, you need the services of a divorce lawyer to provide legal guidance, not only regarding your rights, but your obligations as well.
Apart from legal advice, your divorce lawyer can also represent you and protect your interests. They can negotiate or mediate on your behalf, and legally represent you in court. More specifically, your divorce lawyer can:
- Explain the laws, rules, and methods involved and ensure that all necessary documents are completed and filed with the court.
- Provide legal advice if your divorce case involves complicated issues like:
- Major property disputes
- Substance abuse
- Child abuse
- Spousal abuse
Why Do You Need A Divorce Lawyer in Ontario?
Families dealing with these kinds of cases often wonder whether they should hire an Ontario divorce lawyer and if they need one. In dealing with complicated issues and lots of paperwork, people often hire experienced divorce lawyers even if they’re not required.
Here are some ways in which an experienced divorce lawyer can help:
- Inform you of the processes or stages involved in divorce cases, including court appearances, mediations, etc
- Prepare and file all paperworks involved, such as the separation agreement which outlines the terms of settlement by the parties, and other pleadings.
- Negotiate on your behalf when there are disputes over property or child decision-making responsibilities
- Represent you in court proceedings
Things to Consider When Choosing Your Ontario Divorce Lawyer
If you need a divorce lawyer in Toronto, you’re probably dealing with a pretty stressful situation. It can be overwhelming to look for the right lawyer, especially if you’ve never had to hire one before. Here are some helpful factors you should consider when you’re picking a divorce lawyer to assist you.
Legal Expertise
It’s important to consider the overall experience of the attorney or family law firm before hiring them. You might find it helpful to ask about how long they’ve been in the business, as well as how long their team has been practicing. You should ask them if they have experience in litigation and negotiation.
Free Consultations
Free consultations often mean that the divorce lawyer is confident enough to offer initial legal advice free of charge. This should work to your advantage and give you the opportunity to gauge a lawyer’s capabilities without spending any money.
Reviews
It’s always a good idea to check reviews from past clients. It’s also a good way to look for previous cases similar to yours, and should give you some confidence that the lawyer indeed has the needed experience to handle your case.
Referrals
You can also ask referrals from friends, family, and colleagues if they know of any divorce lawyer they can recommend.
Know the requirements of your situation
Each case needs a different level of expertise. Your attorney should have the skill to determine the basic needs of your case based on the details you’ve provided. Other issues may be resolved in a courtroom, but others require mediation. You can pick a Toronto divorce lawyer that best fits your needs by knowing what your situation is.
Types of Divorce Application in Ontario |
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| Simple Uncontested Divorce | Uncontested divorces are one where you don’t expect your spouse to disagree with any aspect of the proceeding or when they don’t respond to the court papers served on them. In these cases, you can represent yourself, but a lawyer is still helpful to ensure the protection of your rights and to have independent legal advice. |
| Joint Uncontested Divorce | Joint uncontested divorce is a procedure in which both sides file for divorce jointly without any respondent. |
| Divorce with other contested relief | Divorce with other contested relief is when your spouse disagrees on anything in the case, such as spousal and/or child support, child decision-making responsibility, the property division, and the divorce itself. It’s more complicated than an uncontested divorce. It’s best to let a divorce lawyer help you with a contested divorce. |
If you are going through a divorce, you’d want to reach a resolution sooner rather than later. A lawyer who has the time to devote to your case can help you achieve it. Contact our Ontario divorce lawyers at Gelman & Associates today!
Pro Tip
All the research in the world is no substitute for meeting a potential lawyer in person. Don’t hesitate to ask for a free consultation.
Get In Touch With Our Divorce Lawyers in Ontario
Divorces change a person’s legal status. It doesn’t deal with the division of property, spousal and child support, child parenting time and decision-making responsibility, and other corollary issues that you should consider when filing for divorce. At Gelman & Associates, we offer legal representation during divorce and separation, tailored to our client’s unique circumstances. We’re understanding when representing our clients but also strict when necessary. Contact us today at 844-769-0737.
Tips for Choosing A Divorce Lawyer in Ontario FAQs
Tips for Choosing A Divorce Lawyer in Ontario FAQs
Usually, a simple divorce will take four to six months when matters such as property division are not claimed or when custody hearings are not involved. However, complicated and contested ones that involve courtroom litigation can take longer. It’s helpful to hire a divorce lawyer so that your interest is protected. If you’re basing your divorce on the grounds of abuse and adultery and the court is satisfied that the grounds exist, then your divorce can be granted immediately.
Full disclosure isn’t always helpful, but you should be transparent about everything if you’re discussing your case with your lawyer. Keeping information from your divorce lawyer may even cause a negative outcome to your case. Before deciding to withhold information from your lawyer, bear in mind that your appreciation of a certain information may differ from the appreciation of your lawyer on a legal standpoint.
You can be confident that anything disclosed by you to your divorce lawyer is protected under the solicitor-client privilege.
In separation, no document is needed as long as the parties both agree to live separate lives. However, it is recommended that the married spouses execute a separation agreement. Separation can be done by married or unmarried couples. As for divorce, it is the legal process of dissolving a marriage, and thus, can only apply to married couples. To effect the dissolution, a court decree is required.
