Arbitration is the same as litigating in Court, except that Arbitration takes place in a private and confidential setting. The parties must agree to be bound by the decisions of the Arbitrator who is a neutral third person chosen by both parties, subject to appeal. The lawyers at Goldhart Kenet LLP are skilled in representing clients at Arbitration and guiding them through the process to put forward their best possible case.

If an amicable resolution is not possible, it may be necessary to litigate in Court. Goldhart Kenet LLP strives to help you navigate through the Court system expeditiously and efficiently. They will also provide the information you need to understand the process and the possible outcomes.The lawyers at Goldhart Kenet LLP are skilled in representing clients in Court and vigorously advocating for them.

Mediation is a private and confidential process in which parties and their lawyers attempt to reach a resolution with the help of an experienced neutral third person. Cheryl Goldhart is an accredited Family Law mediator in Ontario, who skillfully represents clients and guides them through the process to reach a settlement consistent with their objectives.

Goldhart Kenet LLP always strive to resolve your case on an amicable basis. Negotiations can involve meetings, letter exchanges and conversations with the other lawyer aimed at resolving all issues. The lawyers at Goldhart Kenet LLP always advocate strongly on your behalf in any negotiation to achieve a resolution that is consistent with your objectives.

Children are entitled to child support pursuant to the law. Child support usually consists of a monthly amount of “table” child support and an additional amount towards special and extraordinary expenses (expenses not covered by the ongoing monthly “table” amount which are often referred to as “Section 7 Expenses”). This issue can be complicated by irregular or unknown incomes, very high incomes, people refusing to work to their full potential, and the child(ren)’s residential arrangements. The lawyers at Goldhart Kenet LLP will assist you in understanding the law as it relates to child support and to quantify your child’s entitlement to support.

Custody relates to the authority to make decisions affecting the welfare of your child(ren) such as education, religion and health. Access relates to the residency arrangements for your child(ren) which can include various types of schedules that compliments the child(ren)’s best interest. These issues can often be emotional, high-conflict and complicated to resolve. The lawyers at Goldhart Kenet LLP will assist you in understanding your rights and how to achieve a resolution that is the best interest of your child(ren).

Divorce is a legal concept that releases you and your spouse from your marriage allowing a spouse to remarry. Obtaining a divorce is a relatively simple matter; however, all of the other related legal issues in a marriage breakdown such as: custody, access, child support, spousal support, and division of family property, require the expertise of a family lawyer. The lawyers at Goldhart Kenet LLP will assist you in understanding your rights and moving your case forward to resolution.

When there is an agreement or a court order that provides that a spouse or a child is entitled to support, that support must be paid. The agreement or court order may be enforced by a government agency called the Family Responsibility Office (FRO). The lawyers at Goldhart Kenet LLP work with you to ensure you pay or receive the appropriate quantum of support.

Marriage and Cohabitation Contracts are contracts made before or during cohabitation or marriage between married or unmarried spouses to organize their financial affairs and agree on what will occur upon a breakdown of the relationship or marriage.

Goldhart Kenet LLP will take the time to explain your options to you and to ensure you understand what you are signing and whether or not it’s fair. The lawyers at Goldhart Kenet LLP will advocate on your behalf to ensure that your Marriage Contract or Cohabitation Agreement reflects your interests and provides certainty regarding your obligations in the event that the relationship ends.

A Parenting Plan sets out parenting arrangement for a child. This includes:

• Schedule of the times each parent will spend with the child.
• Schedule for holiday.
• Information on who will make major decisions on education and medical care.
  

Your parenting plan needs to be in your child's best interest and also needs to be practical. We'll help you negotiate with the other parent to create a workable and beneficial Parenting Plan.

Married spouses are entitled to a division of their property on marriage breakdown called an equalization of net family properties. There is a particular formula provided at law which dictates how each spouse’s net family property is to be calculated so that the equalization payment can be determined. This issue can often be complicated by hidden assets, assets that are difficult to value (such as a business), high net-worth and a party’s failure to disclose what they own.

The lawyers at Goldhart Kenet LLP are experienced both in assisting you in determining your net family property and in obtaining the information necessary from your spouse to complete the necessary calculations to ensure the property equalization payment is quantified.

A separation agreement is a legally binding contract between two spouses, made at the time of their separation. This contract sets out each party’s rights on issues including:

• Property
• Debts
• Child Custody & Access
• Child Support
• Spousal Support
  

We’ll help you negotiate the terms of separation between you and your spouse and draft a fair agreements that will save both parties from further emotional disruption.

Depending on the circumstances that existed during your marriage and at the time of its breakdown, you or your spouse may be entitled to spousal support. Spousal support is typically a monthly payment paid from one spouse to the other for a particular period of time. In certain cases, spousal support can be paid by way of a lump sum.

It can often be confusing to determine what spousal support you owe or should receive for several reasons, including difficulty identifying spouses’ incomes, disagreements on entitlement to support, and the changing state of the law. The lawyers are Goldhart Kenet LLP will help explain the law as it relates to spousal support and provide you with the options and tools necessary to achieve a resolution on this issue.