Separation Agreements

You are married to the person who once held the title, “Love of My Life”. Two children, a mortgage, and five cars later that love has faded and you find that you do nothing but argue with one another. Occasionally, you find yourself even despising your spouse. You may have tried marriage counseling but your feelings haven’t changed. You have both decided to end your marriage. You need a family lawyer / attorney to help you take the next step.

A separation agreement is an ideal tool to deal with all the legal issues relating to your marriage prior to divorce. Upon separation you need to deal with financial issues arising from your marriage including division of your family property (including real estate, personal property, and vested interests in future property such as a pension), custody of children, access and visitation rights to children, child support, spousal support or alimony, debt responsibilities, and other issues. You need a family lawyer / attorney to provide you with advice to ensure a fair separation agreement.

Separation agreements are also effective tools for common-law couples to deal with the legal issues that arise upon splitting up. Family laws for common-law couples may differ from laws that apply to married couples. You need a family lawyer / attorney to advise you of the family laws that pertain to you if you are a common-law couple.

Typically, the legal costs involved in a separation agreement are significantly less expensive than the costs of a court battle. In addition, separation agreements are usually a far more amicable method of resolving your marital issues.
You need a family lawyer / attorney to make sure all relevant issues relating to your separation are addressed in a separation agreement. You also need a family lawyer or attorney to ensure that the separation agreement is binding once you have agreed to the terms.

Terms of the separation agreement can be negotiated between the parties with or without the assistance of lawyers. Terms can also be negotiated with or without a mediator.  Regardless of how the terms of a separation agreement arise, you need a family lawyer / attorney to draft and review an agreement. In addition, you need a family lawyer or attorney to provide you with independent legal advice to ensure that the agreement is binding on both spouses.

Family Law Services is a great resource to find the family lawyer you need…and your first half-hour consultation is free.