Separation and Divorce - What to do to Prepare

For many couples, separation and divorce bring on a host of emotions, including fear, anger, and uncertainty about the future.

Be Certain You Want to Separate or Divorce

This may seem counterintuitive in an article like this! But there is an adage that applies to both entering and exiting a marriage, “Don’t make promises when you are happy. Don’t make decisions when you are angry”.

Because it is hard to reconcile with your spouse after you have initiated a separation or mentioned the “D-word”, be sure about your decision before you do. Before committing to starting the divorce process, talk it through with a family or marriage counselor.

Gather All Necessary Financial Documents

Gathering the divorce paperwork you will need will keep you busy. Financial disclosure and analysis is required by law before division of property and negotiating spousal support or child support. The better prepared and more organized your financial information, the easier the next steps will be.

From tax returns, mortgage statements, and bank statements, to insurance plans, stock portfolios, and real estate appraisals ensure you have everything on hand and make sure the values are accurate.

Develop A List of Your Assets and Debts

In conjunction with the financial documents you have gathered, draw up a balance sheet listing your assets and debts:

• Mutual funds and brokerage accounts
• Real estate
• Retirement accounts
• Vehicles
• Credit cards and other debts
• Mortgages
• Other general information about your financial status.

Take Household Inventory

Certain possessions are not included on a personal balance sheet, but they most definitely have value and need to be noted in your divorce documents. The safest option is to document all household and family belongings with photographs or a video. Create a household inventory listing all major items, for example furniture, appliances, artwork, jewelry, and so on.

Carefully Consider Your Goals for Child Custody

Of great concern in most divorces is the wellbeing of your children.

As of March 1, 2021, the terms “child custody” and “access” are no longer used in Canada’s Divorce Act. While the terms have been changed to include decision-making responsibility, parenting time, and contact, the fact remains that positive co-parenting ensures that your kids are not the victims of your divorce.

Deciding where the children will sleep each night, how much time they will spend with each parent, how to manage schedules, and division of financial support will largely depend on their ages, the circumstances of your separation, and the work and travel commitments of each parent.

A family lawyer and family court will always focus on the best interests of the children.

Don't Live Like You're Single

A divorce application is not your ticket to a wild re-enactment of your single days! Although Ontario courts do not penalize parties for matrimonial wrongdoings under its “No-Fault” divorce system (unless it is extreme enough to warrant concern about the impact it has on children), a simple divorce, free from unnecessary disputes is the best way to save you time, money, and inconvenience.

Having legal rights comes with an element of responsibility. Keep your eye on the greater goal.

File for Divorce Online

Having an army of attorneys from a ruthless law firm is no longer necessary in Toronto. That said, even in an uncontested divorce, a lawyer does provide legal direction in complex and confusing proceedings.

By choosing an online divorce, you can reduce the legal fees by preparing your divorce forms on your own, ready for your lawyer or mediator to check.

At SplitEasy, we can help you in four easy steps:

1. Select the appropriate divorce documents.
2. Purchase the forms and provide the relevant information.
3. Check your email for the prepared divorce forms.
4. Follow the instructions on serving and filing.

SplitEasy is the only affordable on-line service that customizes your divorce forms within 72 hours. Find out how we can help you save time, money, hassle and stress during your separation and divorce.