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The family is the rock on which you build your life. You do everything you can to protect your family, and it seems nothing else can be more important. When everything is going well, your family is the source of all your happiness.
When you first commit to a relationship, whether in marriage or a common-law partnership, the last thing you think about is divorce or separation. You might be justified because statistics for 2016 show that the divorce rate is dropping from 10 to just 6 for every 1,000 marriages in Canada. On the other hand, there is reason to believe that this is probably because more people are deciding against getting married.
Still, when a relationship has gone on for a long time, you have certain rights under Canadian law that a family lawyer in Oakville will be able to explain. More importantly, an Oakville family lawyer can help you with the complex process of divorce and separation.
Highly Experienced Oakville Divorce and Separation Lawyers
In an ideal world, a couple seeking divorce or separation will be able to agree on everything, from property division to child custody. Unfortunately, that is seldom the case, especially with long-term relationships.
The process of divorce and separation is not only emotionally draining but financially exhausting as well. Without an Oakville family lawyer watching over your rights, you could end up with the short end of the stick and financial difficulties. At Gelman & Associates Family Law Lawyers, we fiercely advocate for our clients while shielding them from unnecessary stress and emotional turmoil during the process. Lisa Gelman insists on complete commitment to and transparency with all her clients, which has made Gelman Law a byword in Oakville for trust and reliability.
Parenting Order Assistance in Oakville
While divvying up property and assets can be contentious, the process itself is clear-cut in many cases, and the arguments tend to be logical. However, the situation is more complex when it comes to parenting rights and decision-making responsibilities for children.
Parenting orders in Oakville can be straightforward if only one parent has sole custody of the children, which means that parent has the authority to make all decisions for the children. However, it can become quite complex when parents have joint or split custody of the children.
- Joint physical custody – Under the Divorce Act, joint physical custody (shared parenting) is an arrangement where children live with each parent at least 40 percent of the time, meaning the children have two residences. However, because shared parenting requires parents to work closely together, your lawyer or the court might not recommend this arrangement if the divorce or separation has been less than amicable.
- Split custody – In cases when there is more than one child, the parents may agree to take physical custody of one or more children. However, the courts tend to discourage splitting up siblings.
When parents disagree, the court often decides on these issues because prenuptial, postnuptial, or separation agreements cannot dictate parenting time and decision-making responsibilities. Gelman Law understands the emotional toll that a divorce or separation can have on children. Hence, our family lawyers make every effort to avoid the expense and time of a court case through mediation and arbitration.
However, if it comes to that, our divorce lawyers in Oakville have the experience and knowledge regarding custody law in Ontario to ensure the best outcome for the children and the parents when it comes to child access and parenting time. We will advocate for our clients, help them make informed decisions, and ensure favourable parenting orders.
Oakville Family Law Lawyer Services
Even if you do not expect any disputes or issues with your spouse or partner regarding divorce or separation, it is always a good idea to get legal advice. An Oakville lawyer can help you navigate the complex processes associated with them and ensure there are no loopholes. A divorce lawyer in Oakville can help you with the following:
- Uncontested divorce
- Contested divorce
- Same-sex divorce
- Mediation and arbitration
- Property division
- Spousal support
- Parenting time
- Decision-making responsibilities
- Child support
At Gelman Law, we also offer other family law services such as paternity issues, father’s rights, estate planning, adoption, annulments, cohabitation agreements, sealing orders, and wills, among many others.
Qualities to Check on Your Family Law Lawyer in Oakville |
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| Integrity | You want a family lawyer in Oakville who will tell you the realities of your divorce or separation case. It is always best to know the situation going in, so you don’t want a lawyer who will make grand promises just to get your retainer. |
| Diligence | Each divorce or separation case is unique, so you want someone with diligence. Your family lawyer should take the time to learn all the facts of your case and explain the issues and law to you personally before talking about money. The care and persistence you need in a divorce lawyer in Oakville should be evident from the start. |
| Patience | Family law cases, especially contested divorces, can be long-drawn-out and contentious affairs. You want the quality of patience in your family lawyer in Oakville because you need them to be calm when emotions get high and to stick to the facts of the case. |
If you’re in Oakville and you need family law assistance, contact the expert lawyers of Gelman and Associates today.
Pro Tip
“When facing a family law dilemma, you should make an effort to work with your partner or spouse to ease the process.”
– Gelman and Associates
Family Law Lawyers in Oakville
Gelman & Associates Family Law Lawyers in Oakville have successfully handled thousands of divorce, separation, and other family law matters. There is nothing about Ontario family law that a family lawyer at our Oakville firm does not know or any issue that they cannot handle.
You want an experienced, knowledgeable, and compassionate Oakville family lawyer to protect your rights and help you settle family disputes or issues. When it comes to divorce or separation, you will need Gelman Law on your side.
If you need help with a family matter in Oakville, reach out to Gelman & Associates and book an initial appointment or call (416) 736-0200 or 1-844-736-0200.
Oakville Family Law Lawyers FAQs
You want to delve deep into the length of experience of the family lawyer in your particular type of case and their success record. Don’t be content with generalizations. Be specific about the issues you face and how the lawyer handled them in the past.
If your partner is abusive towards you or a family member, you should leave. If you cannot leave, call 911 immediately and make noise to alert neighbours if your partner is actively abusing you or your children. If a child is the target of physical or emotional abuse, report it to the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies.
You must apply for a variation of an existing order with the court and prove that there has been a significant change in circumstances that warrant the change. However, courts tend to discourage changing existing orders to avoid overburdening the judicial system, so you must have an excellent reason for making the application. Consult your lawyer before making an application to change parenting orders to avoid wasting time on one that will not meet the standards imposed by the court.
