October 09, 2019
Hiring a lawyer to represent you in a family law case can be expensive – we get it. Below we offer some tips on how to save legal fees when working with a lawyer in a family law case: WORK WITH A MEDIATOR BEFORE HIRING A LAWYER You should meet with a lawyer for a consult at least prior to mediation (that way you get a sense of the legal issues and your rights/obligations prior to mediation). A mediator is a trained independent person who can help you and your…
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June 25, 2019
There are numerous law firms advertising on television, radio, internet, and elsewhere that claim, “our lawyers only get paid when you get paid” or “no fees unless we win”, or otherwise offer some arrangement where the lawyer’s fees are taken out of any settlement or court judgment obtained. These fees are referred to as “contingency fees”, since the amount payable to the lawyer is “contingent” (that is, it depends) on winning and, typically, also on the size of the settlement or judgment (since contingency fees are often a percentage of…
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May 17, 2019
Just as there are many “do-it-yourself” kits for Wills and Powers of Attorney available, there are a number of websites that offer templates for Separation Agreements. Often these are advertised as being free to use and some claim to take only 5-10 minutes to complete. Just fill in the blanks and in a few minutes, you’re good to go – with no legal fees and no delay. With such a minimal investment of time and money involved, it may be tempting to rely on one of these templates. There are,…
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April 25, 2019
For many clients, the thought of producing financial disclosure in a family law matter is overwhelming and kind of a pain. Nevertheless, financial disclosure is the most important part of the process when dealing with issues of child support, spousal support and property division. What is Financial Disclosure? In any family case involving financial issues, both parties should exchange full financial disclosure. The basics of this are: A sworn and completed financial statement (whether in court or not). A blank financial statement can be found here at http://ontariocourtforms.on.ca/en/family-law-rules-forms/. Please note…
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