If you need to respond to an Application for divorce, this is done in a document known as an “Answer.” This document is filed with the court that issues the divorce papers and a copy is sent to your spouse.

It’s likely you also need to submit a Financial Statement at this time. The amount of information required for this can be time-consuming to put together, so don’t procrastinate! You only have 30 days to file an Answer (if you were served with divorce papers). If you fail to respond to the Application, or are late in responding, you’re stating that you have no objection to what your spouse is claiming.

Helping you help yourself,

Mediation can be a great way to help self-represented divorcing couples. During the mediation process, they work together to develop mutually agreed upon resolutions during the mediation process.

Mediation Fact #1: Unlike a judge or court appointed arbitrator, a mediator has absolutely no legal power to make decisions for spouses who are getting divorced. The mediator is merely there to help negotiate the terms of the divorce and to serve as an unbiased third party while sharing their legal expertise and suggestions for a fair end to the marriage.

Mediation Fact #2: Generally speaking, mediation takes less time than litigating a divorce in court. Since all of the important issues will have already been discussed and the paperwork and required documents will be in place, it only makes sernse that mediation will speed up the process. Mediation can be a great way to help divorcing couples divorce themselves.

Helping you help yourself,

The time has come. Enough is enough. Not everyone needs or can afford a full service lawyer. Why can’t you walk into a lawyer’s office and buy the advice or service you need without first paying a huge retainer upon the lawyer’s expectation and requirement that the service you need is full-service? When you walk into a car dealership you have a choice. When you go to a restaurant you have a choice. You don’t have to buy the most expensive car or item on the menu. Even dentists charge by the filling.

For some cases you need a lawyer from beginning to end. Complicated cases involving business valuations and expert witnesses do. But, most cases that involve a house, 2 kids, and a couple of RRSPs should be settled or litigated with legal advice as and when needed.

Unbundling legal services on an as-needed basis is a win-win for both the public and lawyers. The public get affordable access to justice and lawyers can do more business with the increasing number of clients able to afford their menu of services.

And, that’s what MyOntarioDivorce.com is about . . . giving you the tools and information you need to successfully access the Family Court process without a lawyer holding your hand (and your wallet) every step of the way. Check us out. We’re on the cutting edge of the New Economy. Try us on for size for FREE during your first month of membership. Get all the Court Forms you need automatically prepared to tell your particular story without having to leave your couch. No lawyers. Just a lawyer-approved system that provides you with the tools and information you need to represent yourself and save a lot of money. Any Questions?

Helping You Help Yourself,

There’s interest out there. I knew it! Check out this article about us by Susan Pigg of the Toronto Star.

It’s about time that we all recognize the need to unbundle legal services to make access to justice more available and less expensive.  That’s what MyOntarioDivorce.com is all about. Sure, we charge for our online auto-generated Family Court Forms. Let’s face it. I invested  a lot of money developing the programming that drives the heart of the website and I’d like a return on that investment. But, we deliver real value when you compare us to the cost of hiring a lawyer.  The MOD Online Questionnaires which seamlessly populate the complicated Family Court Forms is truly a technological marvel that saves you time and money. Yes, our government should provide this service, but it doesn’t. So until it does and until the rest of the Divorce Lawyers out there catch up to me (if ever), MyOntarioDivorce.com is it . . . and it’s worth every penny!

Helping you help yourself,

Served with divorce papers? You have 30 days to serve and file an Answer (if you were served in Canada or 60 days if you were served outside of Canada or the United States). An Answer generally responds to each allegation made in the divorce application by denying or admitting it, or admitting in part and denying in part.

Anyone’s clock run out?

Helping you help yourself,

I just read in The Law Times News that the number of people divorcing without a lawyer is rising…

Oh, I forgot to mention that this apparently is a problem- for lawyers of course! Truth is, only a lawyer would write an article touting him or herself as being at a disadvantage when going up against a self-represented litigant in court; only a lawyer would label self-represented litigants as “bullies;” and only a lawyer would carry on for 1,300 words about how “unfair” all of this is (cue the violin!).

Yes, most self-representing litigants may not know the law inside and out. Yes, most self-representing litigants have no idea how to conduct a trial or motion. Yes, a number of self-representing litigants may not even know how to start a Divorce Application (or that there’s more than one kind!). Yes, yes, yes. But that doesn’t mean you can’t educate yourself, or that you shouldn’t have access to the information you need to do so.

The fact is, if you’re going to represent yourself in a divorce proceeding then you have a responsibility to educate yourself. So, why not start now by becoming a member of MyOntarioDivorce.com?

Helping you help yourself,