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Divorce Lawyers Serving York Region

The end of a marriage typically causes difficulties for everyone involved. The emotional component of marriage dissolution can be painful enough, but any such turmoil is compounded by having to consider the legal ramifications and details of ending a marriage. If you are facing a breakdown of your marriage, the legal consultation and representation offered by a York Region divorce lawyer —Keswick, Aurora, Georgina, East Gwillimbury, Newmarket, Bradford, Richmond Hill, and Markham inclusive—may prove invaluable.

Donnell Law Group’s skilled and experienced divorce lawyers can help you navigate through all elements of Ontario’s Divorce Act, which dictates the legal requirements for ending a marriage. Note that obtaining an actual divorce is not specifically needed to end a marital or cohabitation relationship, but does become necessary should one of the parties wish to re-marry. Whatever the case, your Donnell Law Group divorce lawyer is equally skilled at all elements of marriage nullification, from separation to the actual divorce.

That said, “separation” almost always serves as the prequel to divorce, and is the most common and easiest ways to secure a successful divorce. A rule of thumb here is that your Ontario court will likely not grant a divorce until after one year of legal separation. Not that you cannot file for divorce without that separation, but it requires significantly more legal hurdles to surmount. For example, legally proving marriage breakdown by reasons of adultery or cruelty are two means of gaining a divorce absent the one-year separation.

We’re Already in Agreement—Do I Still Need a Lawyer?

For most people, the answer is “yes.” At Donnell Law Group, we save you time and effort. You benefit from our years of experience and will not need to spend time learning about court procedures, court rules, and forms. We’re here to help you at every stage and will answer questions as they arise. Whether you’re ready for a divorce or need a separation agreement, you will usually have better success in negotiating an amicable agreement with the assistance of experienced lawyers.

Successful Court Appearance

Although negotiating an agreement is best for all concerned, it isn’t always possible. When there are issues that cannot be resolved in other ways, you will need to go to court. Donnell Law Group’s divorce lawyers are intimately familiar with the Ontario court system and all facets of separation and divorce proceedings.

Separation Agreement

A separation agreement is a contract between yourself and your former spouse that sets out each of your rights and has the force of a court order. It deals with a variety of issues including child custody and support, access to children, division of property and spousal support.

A separation agreement is an important document that will potentially affect you for years, and can ultimately pave the way for successful divorce proceedings. It is vital that it be properly drafted by a good family lawyer.

Divorce Proceedings

Divorce proceedings are initiated through filing an application with the court and then serving the application on your spouse. If you are initiating the divorce, we will collect all of the information necessary for this application. We will prepare all of the required legal documents and arrange to have them filed with the court and served on your spouse.

If you have been served with an application, you must act quickly as you have only 30 days in which to respond. We will prepare an answer for you, which is a document responding to the claims of your spouse. We will file a copy with the court and ensure that your spouse is served with your answer.

Compassionate Legal Guidance for Sensitive Matters

Helping you deal with family issues requires experience and an understanding divorce lawyer who is sensitive to the emotional chaos that you may be experiencing and adept at maneuvering through all elements of family law. With over 20 years of experience in family law in the York Region, Donnell Law Group’s divorce lawyers have established a stellar reputation at delivering positive results for their clients in Keswick, Georgina, East Gwillimbury, Aurora, Newmarket, Bradford, Richmond Hill, Markham, and beyond. To learn more, contact us today.