During your divorce, you or your spouse—or both of you—will end up leaving your marital home. Your Mississauga divorce lawyer can help you determine whether you should offer to move or ask your soon-to-be ex-spouse to pack up and ship out. Based on the unique circumstances surrounding your case and applicable laws, your lawyer will probably even make a recommendation about when the move should take place.
Showing Your Spouse the Door
While it might be tempting to toss your ex and all his or her belongings out the front door during your divorce, your Mississauga divorce lawyer will most likely advise you not to. In fact, your lawyer will probably ask you and your spouse to try to reach an agreement on your own before the court is forced to step in (this approach can also be beneficial to both parties when it comes to the normal distribution of property, as well).
If you and your spouse can’t agree, the court will have to decide what happens next.
Changing the Locks
Your Mississauga divorce lawyer will probably tell you that you can’t just throw your ex in the street and change the locks; generally, that’s not permissible under the law. If you and your ex have extenuating circumstances, such as a history of domestic violence, let your lawyer know. He or she will be able to provide you with the most accurate legal advice that pertains to your situation; in the meantime, don’t do anything that could negatively affect your case.
Harassment, Domestic Violence and Other Issues
In some cases, an unhappy ex uses bullying, intimidation or harassment to try to “win” in the divorce. Your Mississauga divorce lawyer needs to know right away if your ex tries to gain an advantage over you by using underhanded tactics like these. If you feel that your safety or your children’s safety is in jeopardy, call the police and get to a safe location; once you’re safe, get in touch with your lawyer.
How Your Mississauga Divorce Lawyer Can Help
When domestic violence is an issue, your Mississauga divorce lawyer can help you get a restraining order, ask your judge to issue a peace bond or determine whether a court can grant you exclusive possession of your family home. Each of these measures is designed to keep you and your children safe. Your lawyer can also point you toward helpful resources, such as the Victim Support Line. They can be reached at (888) 579-2888 or (416) 314-2447 from the Greater Toronto area.
Your Mississauga divorce lawyer’s primary focus is on protecting you and preserving your rights under the umbrella of the law. As long as you provide your lawyer with accurate, up-to-date information and make sure you’re not violating your ex’s rights, you can count on a fair and just conclusion to your divorce proceedings.
