Professional Family Law Firm in Barrie

Great Family Lawyers in Barrie

Initial Consultations

The practice of family law is one of the most common areas in which most people need legal assistance with at some point or another in their lives. It includes anything from prenup agreements to divorce to child custody, as well as a number of other situations. The first step in securing any qualified lawyer is to schedule an introductory meeting.

General Recommendations

Every case is different and unique. Being a good listener is a characteristic of a good attorney. Once they have heard your situation explained in your own words you can then begin the process of going over your options and making decisions.

Developing a Strategy

From there, when whatever path forward is agreed upon, you and your family lawyer can begin to discuss specific strategies and form a legal plan tailored to your circumstances. In a divorce, for example, the rate in which you act has a large effect on your case. The person who gets their legal representative involved early can oftentimes have a great advantage in whatever comes next.

Mediation & Litigation

However, not everything has to be contentious and confrontational. If both parties are capable of having a mature and amicable split, mediation and negotiations with a skilled attorney can help achieve that goal. This is especially true in these times where people are looking to add as little stress as possible to their lives. But for those times where an agreement can’t be met, skilled litigation will also be necessary.

Of course, we used end of marriage scenarios as a standard example, but these services and the many others that are offered at these law offices in Barrie apply to every facet of family law.

Common Questions Solved By Barrie Lawyers

People have a lot of questions about the law. The problem is that they don’t always know when the right time to ask them is. What unfortunately ends up happening a lot of the time is that they ask the right questions too late. Today we are going to take a look at 3 of the questions our legal consultations hear at seminars and in their practices most often:

Q: How Do I Protect My Best Interests?

A: This is a great question to start off with because it applies to nearly everyone. Whether it is on a business contract, a lease, a real estate transaction, or an estate planning, don’t leave it up to courts and arbitrators to decide. Take the time to make your wishes clear and documented by using a Barrie lawyer to handle these types of affairs.

Q: What Should I Do if I Don’t Have a Will?

A: This picks up right where our last answer left off. Estate planning is the most important and final thing that you will ever do to secure the safety and security of your friends and loved ones, as well as any business that needs to be seen to. It simply should not be put off for any reason.

Q: What Does a Divorce Involve Legally?

A: The sad truth is that many once happy marriages end in divorce. That means this question comes up a lot. Basically, it is a process that varies greatly not due to differences in procedure, but due to the level of combativeness between the parties involved. It could be a smooth and quick document signing all the way to a months-long fight in the mud. Either way, family lawyers know how to take care of their clients.

Separation Lawyer Services in Barrie

Mediation

This is usually also the first official step in handling any type of separation or divorce agreement (after the consolation and prep work, of course). This is where the separation lawyer will work with both members of the relationship, together if they are capable of being civil or separately if not. Being skilled in this area is very important in avoiding the issue escalating into an ugly situation.

Negotiation

If mediation isn’t able to establish an agreement on its own, but both parties are still willing to talk, negotiation is usually the next step. This is where there may be two completely different ideas on what the specific terms and stipulations of the agreement should be. A little give and take being suggested by an experienced attorney is necessary.

Litigation

While a good divorce lawyer needs to be adept in the meeting room, they need to be brilliant in the courtroom. If it gets to the point where you are going to court with your soon-to-be ex-partner, then it is time to realize that this thing could get ugly. You want to have an attorney that can not only help to avoid that all costs, but who is also able to handle it if it is simply unavoidable.

Empathy and Compassion

Although this one isn’t actually a service, we still wanted to mention it. This is usually the hardest thing that most people will go through other than a loved one’s death. Having someone that can not only handle every legal aspect of your situation, but who can also offer an understanding ear is invaluable.

Best Divorce Lawyer in Barrie

Unfortunate Circumstances Sometimes Happen to Good People

The first thing to remember about going through a difficult time such as the end of a marriage is that it is rarely the total and complete fault of one party (though it can sometimes be). It is usually a matter of two people growing apart.

And sometimes it is as simple as them realizing that they weren’t a proper fit together to begin with. Now is not the time to get down on yourself or become so emotional that you fail to handle the situation properly. This is where having an experienced and qualified divorce lawyer will help tremendously.

Turning Frustration into Focus, Anger into Determination

The best thing that you can do with negative emotions is to turn them into positive actions. Many times people will use the feeling of their clothes not fitting properly as motivation to lose weight. Others take the regret that comes along with wasting money and use it to become more financially responsible. The same can be done with the strong emotions that accompany a divorce.

How Mediation and Negotiation Can Make the Process Easier

One of the most important things a good family lawyer will bring to the table is their people skills, particularly in mediation. Many times this is enough to reach a reasonable agreement between the two parties and avoid a nasty court case.

But if Litigation Is Unavoidable…

Unfortunately, the aforementioned result is not always an option. In these instances, you will need an attorney that is just as talented in the courtroom as they are at the negotiating table.

How to Choose a Divorce Lawyer in Barrie

It’s hard enough dealing with the end of a marriage, no matter what the specific circumstances surrounding it may be. Even what starts out as an “amicable” split between two people will still oftentimes end up in a nasty, bitter dispute which may drag on for months and months in court.

If you find yourself going through this type of situation, the last thing you need is to end up with the wrong kind of divorce lawyer representing you. Here are a few tips on how to pick a legal professional with the right tools and attributes to make the process as quick and painless as possible:

Experience Matters Greatly

It is hard to say what the most important quality for an attorney in this particular field is. The main reason is because each of the things on our list are equally important. But just as you wouldn’t want to go to a doctor who is still learning their craft, or take your automobile to a mechanic-in-training, trusting such an important legal matter to an inexperienced practitioner should also be something that gives you pause.

So Does Empathy and Compassion

Practicing any type of law is about much more than precedents and statutes, it’s about actually caring about the client on a personal level. Only this way can a family lawyer truly understand the uniqueness of their individual situations and what specific strategy will be best suited to defend their interests both in and out of court.

Power of Attorney Law Firms in Barrie

Helping with Complex Affairs

Of all of the various types of legal services that lawyers provide, one of the most difficult and most important is that of a power of attorney. This is because many times this particular duty is required due to a major, life altering event that has taken place and there are many other variables and unknowns involved.

Implementing Instructions During Incapacitation

Unlike wills and estate law, this type of service takes place while the client is still alive but unable to attend to their own affairs and instead tasks their legal representative with taking care of it. Often times this requirement comes as a result of an accident or health crisis, which has left the person in an unresponsive state.

Reducing Stress During the Most Difficult Times

The last thing any family or friend wants to have to do during a time such as this is handle personal, business, or financial affairs of their loved one. Unlike death, which at least involves a measure of closure even if it is sudden or unexpected, there is usually a large amount of uncertainty and lingering shock which accompanies the incapacitation of someone close to you.

Administering Your Wishes

Granting power of attorney affords you the peace of mind in knowing that should something drastic happen to you out of the blue, your specific instructions regarding your personal or business interests will be carried out to the letter. This helps to at least ease the burden of obligations on those whom you care about.

Expert Notary Services in Barrie

Of all of the various types of specialized law that is practiced in Canada and throughout the rest of the world, one of the most overlooked and underused forms of it is notary law. We can’t even begin to tell you how many of our legal consultants stress the importance of having various documents and paperwork notarized through a certified lawyer.

The stories that they share with us of regular people who had verbal and non-binding written agreements or arrangements blow up in their face and cost them untold monetary or personal damages is staggering. In many cases it led to the destruction of longtime friendships and relationships. The fact is that just a simple visit to a legal specialist in Barrie (or anywhere else they lived) would have cleared up any misgivings that may have arisen later.

Legalizing Important Paperwork

Anything that is important enough to document in written form is important enough to be put through the simple process of being made legal. Whether it is just a basic contract for a loan between friends or an agreement about ownership of an intellectual property, a quick trip to the notary solves any issues before they ever come up.

Safeguarding Your Interests

It is about so much more than a little legal seal on a piece of paper, it is about ensuring that whatever it is that you have worked for, created, or agreed to with another party is protected and that your vested interest is secured no matter what happens with the subject in the future.

Common Questions About Collaborative Separation in Barrie

Figuring out the first few steps following the end of a marriage is oftentimes the hardest part of the entire ordeal. Many people find themselves struggling with feelings of emptiness and a lack of direction. Other folks report a heavy and mournful sadness, as though a loved one passed away.

We receive a lot of questions about collaborative separation in Barrie and how it works, so today we are going to answer the top 4 most often asked ones so that all of our readers can better understand these guidelines together:

Q: What Determines Which Partner Gets What Assets?

A: If this has not been predetermined with legal documentation prior to splitting up, a mediation process will probably ensue. If that fails, a judge or arbitrator would most likely settle the issue.

Q: What if a Prenup is Involved?

A: This can greatly reduce the stress and frustration that often go along with the negotiation of various aspects of the end of the marriage.

Q: How is Custody Determined?

A: Hopefully there can be a cordial and fair agreement between the two parents. The purpose of a collaborative separation in Barrie (or anywhere else) is for the two parties to work together amicably.

Q: Who Should Stay in the House?
A: The best option if there are children involved is to let the primary caregiver stay in order to disrupt the routine of the child as little as possible. If there are no children, then a negotiation would be a fair way to decide.

The Benefits of Having a Notary in Barrie

Of the many overlooked aspects of legal counsel or consultation that people may not realize that they need even for seemingly everyday activities, notarization services are either at or near the top of the list.

Everything from personal agreements to official statements should all go through this process to make them legal. A notary in Barrie can help you or your family make sure that your document or paperwork is legal and binding.

Legal Clarification

Many times whenever there is a legal dispute of any kind regarding the validity of a contract, document, or some other form of paperwork, it becomes the job of the courts to decide whether or not that piece of paper is actually enforceable. Having it notarized will eliminate the need to have anyone’s opinion become the deciding factor.

Legal Protection

In addition to clarifying a situation, when you utilize the services of a notary in Barrie (or anywhere else) you also protect yourself from the consequences which could come as a result of not having an official and legalized document to fall back on. This can protect you from anything from unfair divorce settlements to lawsuits.

Security and Peace of Mind

These legal services not only provide clarification and protection in all types of matters, they also allow you to be relaxed and at ease, knowing that regardless of what challenges may arise that you have taken the necessary precautions to safeguard yourself and your own business or personal interests.

Finding the Best Lawyer for You in Barrie

Nobody ever wants to find themselves in a situation where they require the services of a legal professional, but the simple fact of the matter is that it will happen to all of us in our lifetimes, and usually many more times than once.

The truth is that people really do need a lawyer for a number of reasons, much more so than just going through a divorce or dealing with notary services. Let’s delve a little bit deeper into the topic at hand:

What are Your Specific Needs?

As we just mentioned, there are multiple issues and circumstances that require the assistance of a trained and experienced legal expert. Knowing what exactly it is that you need for your particular situation will make it easier for you to find it. Having a consultation with one of the respected professionals in the Barrie area will help you figure out what your next steps are. Here are a few examples:

Family

This can cover anything from prenuptial agreements to divorces, as well as business or financial disputes between family members or close acquaintances.

Real Estate

Although many times overlooked, you should never sign legal or financial documents without first having your own family lawyer look over them.

Mediation and Negotiation

While this doesn’t apply solely to one specific area of the law, being able to skillfully and tactfully negotiate on behalf of a client can provide satisfying and relatively painless resolutions to multiple different types of legal issues or disputes.