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Divorce Lawyers Toronto

The law firm for high net worth individuals, business owners and professionals.

Our Toronto divorce lawyers help clients navigate the emotional, financial and legal issues in divorce.

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What to expect when you choose the family lawyers at  M & Co. Law Firm

01

The first call

Making the first call to a divorce lawyer Toronto can often be difficult but it doesn’t mean you are committing to getting divorced or even initiating the process. It’s about gathering information.  If you are making the call we understand that there are issues in your relationship and that you are evaluating the best course of action moving forward.  We are here to listen and provide you with information about your options.  

During the initial call, we will spend time discussing the issues in your separation and your options.  We will provide you with the information you need to decide to divorce on your terms. If you believe that divorce is the right option to move forward, we want you to make sure you choose the right process for you.

Once you have decided to divorce, the two most important decisions you make will involve choosing the right family lawyer and the right strategy.

When you are ready, call 416.862.0980 or email our family lawyers at admin@mlawgroup.ca or book your call online.

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Choosing your process

At M & Co. Law Firm, our cases are classified into one of two streams. The first stream is Collaborative/Settlement-Focused, and the second stream is Litigation. The skill set needed to negotiate and work collaboratively is very different from the skill set required to be an effective trial lawyer. Many lawyers claim to be able to navigate both types of cases, but in our experience, this is not the case. We have specifically delineated these cases. We are happy to have the bench strength to offer highly skilled lawyers in both streams.

One significant benefit to the two-stream model is that sometimes your case starts in one stream but then, due to various factors, needs to be re-evaluated and realigned to the other stream. We can do this seamlessly and without additional cost.

03

Out of Court Settlements

Collaborative law is an alternative to the traditional court-based approach that avoids costly court proceedings, preserves relationships and greatly reduces stress and the time required to reach a mutually agreeable and legally binding separation agreement. It is non-adversarial and requires both parties to work together in good faith through a participation agreement that is facilitated by a team of two specially trained Toronto divorce lawyers and neutral third-party specialists.

A settlement focused process involves the lawyers working with the clients to resolve all issues in the separation, without filing a Court Application.   The couple works with their lawyers to resolve the issues in their separation.  Even couples who are unable to communicate with each other can benefit from a settlement focused approach, as long as they are willing to make decisions, compromise and fully disclose their assets and financials.   

 

04

Timeline & Cost

While there is no standard timeline and budget (as each process and the people involved are unique), we can provide insight into how couples working together can control  these important factors.

Reaching an agreement with your partner to stay out of Court and using a non-adversarial approach to your divorce helps to avoid costly court proceedings and to  preserve relationships. It’s also a proven and reliable way to expedite timelines and preserve family assets. Traditional court-based approaches are not only much more expensive and painful, but they typically take much longer, as the schedule of the court often determines the speed of the process.

A settlement focused approach operates under the assumption that the parties involved are the best decision-makers for their futures, and the futures of their children, not a judge. This means the timeline of the overall path to resolution is within the control of the two spouses and determined by their ability to work together in good faith.

The ability of the spousal parties to compromise and resolve the set of issues will ultimately drive the schedule, the amount of resources applied, and the cost.

While there is no standard timeline and budget, resolutions usually cost between $20K –$30K in legal costs and require between 12 to 20 months. But again, the speed and cost are largely determined by the ability of the two parties to work together and the efficiency in providing complete financial disclosure.

Why Do We Charge a Consultation Fee?

At M & Co. Law Firm, we charge a fee for the initial call with our Firm for the following reasons:

1. Our clients are our first priority.

We have a full roster of people who are paying us to handle their legal matters. Every hour during the day is spent researching and working on the best way to help them reach their goals. When we stop what we are doing to take time to interview prospects or people who are interviewing divorce lawyers, we have less time to focus on our current cases. As a result, it is only fair to charge new people for our time to discuss what their case is about. The clients of this firm are our primary priority, and as a result we focus our time and resources to ensure our clients receive the majority of our attention. While we want to help as many people as possible, they come first.

2. Free consultations are usually sales pitches

The “free consultation” offered by some family lawyers is almost always going to be an opportunity for the lawyer to sell their legal services. It is highly unlikely that you will discuss the specifics of your case or what you actually want to accomplish during a “free consultation”.  This is not the philosophy that we hold. Our initial consultations are intended to provide a general overview of your specific situation including immediate issues, your goals and, to ensure that we are a good fit. Because most legal matters require several months to a year to resolve, it is important that we have a solid, good working relationship. Hiring a lawyer is an important process that we do not take lightly.

3.  Our meeting is covered by solicitor client privilege and your spouse cannot hire our firm

Your initial consultation is covered by solicitor client privilege when you speak with our Firm.  This means everything we speak about must be kept confidential and it applies whether we work together or not.   

Your spouse or partner cannot hire our Firm once we have completed your consultation as this would be a conflict of interest.  

4. We credit all initial consultation fees towards your case if you retain our Firm

We charge $500 plus HST for the initial consultation for divorce cases.  The full initial consultation fee will be credited towards your legal fees if you sign a retainer with our Firm, within 6 months of the consultation.

In general, our initial consultations take about an hour to 90 minutes. We encourage you to come to the consultation with a list of your questions and concerns including all the things that are keeping you up at night.

If you are looking for a free consultation, we are not the law firm for you. We have decades of legal experience that we want to share to accomplish the best outcome possible for you.

Types of Divorce in Toronto

There are two main types of divorce in Toronto:

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Contested Divorce

A contested divorce occurs when spouses disagree on some or all issues raised in the divorce. Disagreeing on just a single issue will categorize the divorce as contested.

A divorce may be contested for various reasons. It’s not uncommon for spouses to disagree on several issues, particularly when children are involved and if the couple is ending their relationship on a bad note. 

Divorcing spouses often have disagreements about:

When a divorce is contested, you do not have to immediately file in court. Mediation and out-of-court settlements are excellent options we can use to try to resolve your matter without filing for a contested divorce.

If you are still unable to resolve, spouses must file court documents stating their positions on the disputed issues.

Contested divorces are typically more drawn out than uncontested divorces. The length of time to finalize the divorce will largely depend on the nature of the disagreements and the willingness of the parties to come to a resolution.

If spouses are unable to come to an agreement on all of the issues, the case may have to go to trial. The vast majority of divorces are settled before the case reaches this point.

U

Uncontested Divorce

An uncontested divorce is when both spouses agree on all issues  in the divorce. When spouses are in agreement, courts will typically finalize the divorce without requiring a court appearance.  

Uncontested divorces move faster than contested divorces, and they can save divorcing couples money on legal fees.

Frequently Asked Questions: Answered By Divorce Lawyer Toronto

Divorce proceedings can be very stressful and taking certain actions during this time can often make things worse. Here is some advice for things you should avoid during a divorce:

  • Posting about your divorce on social media
  • Flaunting a new relationship in front of your ex or your children
  • Selling or purchasing cars or property (or other expensive items)
  • Hiding assets or other information from your lawyer
  • Losing your temper during discussions with your ex

You should contact a divorce lawyer as soon as you think you may need one! Whether that means you have begun to have challenges in your marriage or if you have already had the conversation with your spouse and have decided  divorce is the best decision, a lawyer can help with every step of the process. Information gathering is an important first step.  Understanding your rights and obligations in family law is a critical first step in the process.  The sooner you begin to work with a Toronto divorce lawyer, the better off you will be.  

Choosing a divorce lawyer is one of the most important decisions you will  make.  If you want to resolve your divorce without going to Court, you wouldn’t want to hire a trial lawyer for your case.  It is important you match your process with the skillset of the lawyer. Your Toronto divorce lawyer should also have experience and knowledge of the issues you are specifically dealing with.   When speaking with potential lawyers, here are a few questions you can ask them:

  • Does your practice focus on family law?
  • What experience do you have with divorces similar to mine?
  • How will we communicate throughout the divorce process?
  • Based on what you know about my situation what challenges do you think I might possibly run into?

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The goal of collaborative family law is to allow those who are in the middle of a divorce or separation, to work in a collaborative manner with …

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Divorce

Divorce is about moving forward and starting a new chapter. If you have settled all your other matrimonial issues or you are just starting the process, we are here to help.

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Separation Agreements

If you and your spouse are in agreement on the terms of your separation, you are free to put your decisions into a separation agreement…

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At M & Co. Law Firm, we understand the importance of finding the right fit for your representation. We take the time to get to know our clients and create a strategic plan that will help them to move forward and make a positive change in their lives. Get in touch so we can learn more about your goals and how we can help you reach them.

Anna-Marie Musson, Managing Lawyer – Toronto

Recent Google Reviews

5.0 stars | 10 reviews

Working for M&Co Law has been a refreshing experience. Very seldom does one find a work environment as supportive, connected, and dynamic as this. The people are great, the culture; amazing. I am encouraged to work on myself and my personal development. And clients are treated with care, empathy, and respect. A firm that truly is people-driven.
— Jane Chirwa
M&Co Law is a great place to work. The environment is supportive and structured to help nurture group and individual growth and success. Our non-hierarchical team model fosters open communication and collaborative work. Here at M&Co, every employee is truly valued for their contributions.
— Tanys Insley
Thank you so much. You guys have been amazing to work with.
— Henriette Jacobson
I just want to let you know that I am very happy to have you in my corner. Your support and knowledge has been invaluable. You have my sincerest thanks.
— J. K.
I really appreciate your team's support and professionalism during this delicate process. I wish you the best for the upcoming year and beyond
— M. D.