Many separating families have told me over the past decade that the biggest problem with family law and separation is that they do not know where to start. They felt confused and lacked confidence to understand how to become organised and how to process all the information they would need to know. They wished there was a place they could go to get all the relevant information that applies to their unique family circumstances (e.g., some families have children, some families have property, and some families have both); and they wished they could get the relevant Information from a single trusted source.
The information you need to know is not difficult once you have a framework within which to organise that information. The problem is it takes two people to separate, and you need a framework that can work for you both. Now, for the first time, couples can get this Information First together in a single consultation at the Family Law Pathways Centre. (www.FamilyLawPathways.com).
The relevant information includes understanding together the range of options for the law and range of options for processes that apply to your unique family context. Early Neutral Consultation is specifically designed to focus in on this information for couples and families.
At Family Law Pathways Centre we have developed an Early Neutral Consultation process, which is a structured meeting where you and your spouse will get the Information First you need to empower you both to make your best choices about how you organise and plan your separation process.
Early Neutral Consultation covers all and any of the following that are relevant to each unique family:
– parenting and children
– property; assets and debts; net family property and equalisation
– incomes for calculating support
– pensions and investments
– business interests
– health insurance and life insurance
– mobility and travel
– changes in circumstances
– date of separation
– the role of standard forms that can be obtained freely from government websites and used for disclosure and to save time and resources
– the role of disclosure and independent legal advice
– the role of valuations
– processes and professionals that a couple may choose to assist with communication, decision making, and drafting and advising on agreements
Information First helps couples understand what part(s) of the family law and separation process they may be able to do themselves, and what part(s) of the family law and separation process they may need help from professionals. Information First also helps separating couples understand the 4 important steps to be empowered to save time and family resources: 1. Information First; 2. Communication; 3. Decision-making; and 4. Agreement. Early Neutral Consultation helps couples frame and process all this information, in a way that is easy to understand, saves time and family resources (both emotional and financial) and empowering (i.e., you will be more confident to move forward on the pathway you yourselves choose).
Couples who are empowered with Information First can create better organised separation processes for themselves; and they also discover this empowers them to work more effectively, efficiently and confidently with any chosen professionals during the family law and separation process.
Many families start out unaware or confused about just what steps in the separation process they can and wish to control themselves. Confident, well informed, couples can and do help themselves. The important thing is to learn in an Early Neutral Consultation what those steps are, and together decide which pathway you are going to take to move forward.
Attending an Early Neutral Consultation empowers couples to be confident in planning and organising their separation process together and save time and family resources (emotional and financial).
The Family Law Pathways Centre opened first in Barrie, Ontario and has been helping families in Central Ontario since September 2013. To empower couples across Ontario to access the Early Neutral Consultation process, the Family Law Pathways Centre now offers Early Neutral Consultation via SKYPE. Couples who wish can, of course, continue to have face-to-face consultations in our Barrie office. The unique feature continues to be couples hear Information First at the same time, and from the same family consultant. Families can then move forward with confidence knowing that they have started with the same Information First and choose their best pathways forward.