In my travels around the Province many families and professionals have asked me to share why we believe so passionately in helping separating couples to “separate together”.
It is important that couples hear the information about their separation together. All of the steps after hearing information to stay out of court involve doing things together also (for instance, after getting Information First together, couples still need to communicate together and make decisions together). If one of the partners is not interested to get Information First together then that is a simple first signal that they may not be able to work together in the long run.
The alternative is to go to your individual lawyer and get the information (the obvious disadvantage of that is that you will not hear the same information at the same time; but that is the only other option, and there are many good cooperative individual lawyers). At the Family Law Pathways Centre, I do not individually advise or represent clients any more, I only provide this valuable information to couples together. Sometimes, because Early Neutral Consultation is a new process, one partner thinks that their spouse won’t want to hear it but actually many discover that they both benefit from hearing the Information First. When they do hear Information First together it helps couples get on the right pathways to working together on their separation or divorce, saving time and family resources.
It is especially important to inspire couples wherever possible to “separate+together”, especially when there are children involved. This is built on the fundamental concept that when couples separate the family does not end….the family changes. Separation and/or divorce are transitions, not endings. For most healthy couples this means a re-defined family, especially in the best interest of children, wherever possible. More and more families and family law professionals understand and believe this.
It is a simple process to schedule an Early Neutral Consultation with Family Law Pathways Centre (www.FamilyLawPathways.com). A separating couple picks sometimes between themselves that could work for them, and then contact Family Law Pathways Centre reception and select a time that works for us all.
Thank you for your inspiration and sending separating couples, and the professionals who help them, good energy!
Dr. Brett