Divorce can be expensive. In order to get your case started you’d have to pay a lawyer a retainer in the range of $1,500 to $10,000 before he or she would even begin working on your case. Furthermore, by the time your case is finally heard by a Judge, the average case can cost you between $25,000 and $50,000 (unless you use MyOntarioDivorce.com).

When you’ve run out of money and used up all of your resources for loans, what can you do?

Well, one man’s wife left him and he couldn’t afford to pay his lawyers for a divorce so he decided to sell her wedding dress on Ebay! Financially uplifting with a sprinkle of revenge.

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Once you’ve filed your Answer, your first court appearance will be at a “Case Conference.” Although held at court and presided over by a Judge, the Case Conference isn’t an adversarial proceeding. The Judge will not make an Order unless both parties agree or unless the Order is procedural.

If the Case Conference doesn’t settle matters and there’s a need for immediate relief, such as immediate child custody, child support, spousal support, or a decision on who will remain in the matrimonial home, a “Motion” will be scheduled. At the Motion, a Judge will decide the issues, based on your and your spouse’s “Affidavits” (sworn testimony in writing) and your arguments.

During each step of a divorce there are many questions to be answered, not to mention complex court papers to be filed and documents to be compiled. Few people are prepared for or experienced in the intricacies of divorce but by using MyOntarioDivorce.com, we help you help yourself navigate the Ontario Family Courts without a lawyer.

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In an online poll conducted by Divorce Magazine, 29% of respondents said that infidelity had caused their divorce; 22% blamed the marital split on communication problems; 15% said that the problem was basic incompatibility; and 14% cited emotional or physical abuse. Other reasons included drug addiction, financial woes, and one spouse being a workaholic.

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A wise man once said that hope is a decision or choice we make. We decide to trust life because of the inspiring deeds of men and women throughout history; we realize that we have the inner resources to cope with whatever comes our way.

Now, if you’re a pessimist then I’m sure you’ve already begun rolling your eyes at the thought of “hope” getting you out of whatever unpleasant situation you may be in. But I’m not suggesting that hope is the end all, be all solution to life’s problems.

However, I will argue that as a simple state of mind, given a chance, having hope can at least be a light at the end of the tunnel; it’ll help you strive for something better and encourage you to count your blessings. Life is synonymous with change, so any pain or fear that you’re experiencing will end, which is a cause to be hopeful.

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According to Divorce Magazine, there are seven stages that some people going through a divorce experience:

1. Panic: A sudden and overwhelming fear of the divorce process itself and the outcomes it’ll have on your life.
2. Denial: Disbelief that your marriage is going to end or has ended.
3. Agony: Prolonged emotional pain and suffering as a result of the divorce.
4. Rage: Feelings of anger either towards your ex or yourself.
5. Epiphany: Gaining a sudden intuitive grasp of reality through divorce.
6. Negotiation: The process of compromise.
7. Peace: A state of tranquility or quiet.

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Did you know that the critical period in any divorce process for young children is the year following the actual physical separation? Divorcing parents are almost always distracted during these initial stages, which is when children are most likely to react. Rules, routines, discipline, and even play periods are thrown into disarray as the family attempts to find its new rhythms.

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Going through a divorce can be stressful and wreak havoc on your physical and mental health. You can stay fit and healthy, though. Here’s how:

• Get cooking: Take a healthy cooking class. It’s a way to treat yourself while you learn about nutritious foods and ways to prepare them.
• Get physical: Run a 5K. Join a gym. Take a yoga class. Engage in some physical activity that will get you out of the house and make you challenge your body.
• Get social: Make friends at the gym or at the cooking or yoga class. The interaction is good for your mind and soul.
• Hit the grocery store: Buy low-calorie frozen meals or other quick, easy-to-prepare meals. It’ll save you time and give you a reason not to head to the fast-good restaurant down the street for a calorie- and fat-laden burger and fries.
• Share a meal: Ask a friend to go grocery shopping. Cook a meal together once a week. Freeze the leftovers and reheat them for dinner the next time.

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The contents of an Application for divorce affect how you wish to proceed. If you and your spouse have been separated for 12 months and the only thing that’s requested is a divorce, it’s unlikely that you’ll have any objections. However, if your spouse is making any financial or child custody claims, you’ll want to respond.

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Myth: Paying child support entitles a parent to access with the children.

Truth: Child support is ordered to distribute the costs of child care between the parents. If a Canadian divorce law court orders you to pay child support, that doesn’t mean that the court will also grant you access to the children. On the other hand, if you’re not ordered to pay child support in Canada, the other parent can’t deny you access to the children for that reason.

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Even if you were anticipating being served with divorce papers and think you know what they say, you must examine them thoroughly and immediately. The Application will detail the reasons your spouse is asking for a divorce and also additional topics including child custody, child support, property division, spousal support, and sometimes, legal protections such as a restraining order.

It’s critical that you read and understand the contents of the papers you receive. The decisions you make at the onset of the divorce process may have far-reaching effects; you don’t want to make a wrong move or make a move that’s too late.

Helping you help yourself,