WHEN TO HIRE A FAMILY LAWYER

If you are dealing with family matters such as issues concerning a separation agreement, child support, or custody, it is important to work with an experienced family lawyer. A lawyer can help you navigate the various rules and regulations during a stressful and emotional time in your life.

Divorce and Separation

When a couple dissolves their marriage contract, it can be an emotional time for everyone involved. Even if you believe that the process is going to be a straightforward one, it rarely is. Working with an experienced family lawyer such as those at our firm, will help keep you grounded through the process and ensure that your rights are protected.

Fortunately, when you hire a lawyer early in the process, matters concerning divorce, division of property, and spousal support rarely ever go to court. Our legal professionals are skilled negotiators and will represent you well during mediation – and if necessary, they will also fight for you in court. Our lawyers focus on what our clients desire and work hard to reach our clients’ goals.

Common Law Separation

There is sometimes a misconception that a common law separation is treated in the exact same manner as a divorce, but this is not true. In Ontario, there are very specific statutes that outline what happens when a common law couple separates.

For example, the rules concerning child custody are the same as that of a married couple, but the rules concerning property rights and the division of assets are much more different. Unlike with married couples, there is no special provision for common law relationships in terms of the matrimonial home or a partner’s estate. This could lead to a situation where one partner puts a significant amount of money into their common-law home and is left with nothing after the separation. In this scenario, working with an experienced family lawyer in our firm is your best method of protecting your personal finances and assets.

Child Custody and Support

Perhaps the most emotionally charged issue that family lawyers encounter is that of child custody and child support. Except in cases where there is abuse or neglect, Ontario family courts tend to rule that it is in the best interests of the child for him/her to have access to both parents.

Nevertheless, coming to an agreement on custody arrangement and co-parenting can be difficult. An experienced family lawyer can help you come to an agreement with your child’s co-parent on important issues such as time sharing, parenting issues, child support and much more. And again, in most cases, these issues can be solved without going to court.

Resolving Disputes

In some cases, you may have had a separation or child custody agreement in place for many years, but then there is a disagreement between ex-partners, or one partner no longer is fulfilling their obligations under these contracts. Perhaps it is you who can no longer fulfill your contractual obligation due to a job loss or some other circumstances. If this is the case, don’t just ignore your obligations – as this can get you in trouble with the courts and can become messy. Rather, contact a family lawyer from our experienced law firm who can help you renegotiate the terms to meet your desires.

It is also crucial to understand that matters that go to court can be very expensive and can take significantly long periods of time. Hiring a lawyer to negotiate out-of-court agreements, settlements and contracts can be a much more inexpensive and quicker way of reaching your personal goals.

Contact Minhas Lawyers Today

If you are looking for an experienced family lawyer in Mississauga or in the GTA, contact Minhas Lawyers today to schedule a consultation.