Legal Aid is available across Canada including the Greater Toronto Area.

It offers support to low-income and disadvantaged individuals and families in legal trouble. Legal Aid clients are issued certificates that can be used to obtain services from affiliated local lawyers.

How to Apply for Legal Aid

Call your local Legal Aid office to find out whether they meet with clients by appointment or on a first-come first-served basis. When you meet with a Legal Aid worker you’ll need to present the following

• ID such as social insurance(SIN) card, driver’s license, birth certificate or landed immigrant papers.
• Any documents relating to you case including court orders, separation agreements, etc.
• Proof of income in the form of pay or welfare cheque stubs.
• Proof of expenses in the form of receipts, mortgage, hydro bills, car payments, etc.
• House deed

Can Legal Aid Be Refused?

If you do not supply your worker with all the documents required, or fail to notify them of any changes in your financial status that may affect eligibility, Legal Aid may be withheld, suspended or revoked. Your worker will assess your financial situation including income, assets, liquid assets and the finances of your family members. If you are refused Legal Aid you may appeal the decision.

Do I Have to Repay Legal Aid?

This depends on your financial situation. Legal Aid is generally free but clients who own houses or have some source of income are often put on a manageable plan and required to make small, interest-free payments.

What Does Legal Aid Cover?

This differs from province to province but Legal Aid generally covers criminal and civil matters including immigration and refugee hearings, child welfare and divorce hearings, wills and estates, RRSP or pension negotiation, human rights issues, landlord/tenant disputes, disability support, family benefits payments and mental health hearings.

What Does Legal Aid Not Cover?

Legal Aid may not cover such issues as wrongful dismissal, real estate, libel, defamation, slander, sponsorship of relatives, personal bankruptcy, parking infractions, power of attorney, change of name and commercial litigation.

Legal Aid Toronto

Mike Stavrakis, Barrister & Solicitor, Notary Public,  offers full Notary and Commission services for all documents including (but not limited to):

- Court documents
- Certifying a Copy of an Original Document
- Consent to travel documents
- Statutory declarations
- Affidavits, Declarations, Statutory Declarations, and Letters
- Letters of Invitation (in support of a visitor’s visa to Canada)
- Passports New Applications Lost or Stolen

* Oath Commissioned by a Notary Public
* Declaration in Lieu of Guarantor
* Certification of Supporting Documents
* Certification of Applicant’s Photograph

For your immediate Notary Public needs in North York, please contact us directly at:

Mike Stavrakis
Barister & Solicitor, Notary Public
50 Gervais Drive, Suite 505
Toronto, ON
M3C 1Z3

T:               416-446-0340
F:               416-441-0811
E:               mstavro@sympatico.ca

What does A Notary Public Do?

What a notary public does is witness the signing of the documents and ask each party for a sworn oath of authenticity. A notary (or a notary public) is a person legally authorized by a state to administer oaths, take acknowledgments & certify documents. A notary public shall exercise no power or jurisdiction in criminal cases.

A notary public must ensure that the person signing a document to be notarized is who s/he says s/he is. Because identities are critical, a notary public may also spend some time verifying the names of the parties involved in the signing.

Mike Stavrakis
Barister & Solicitor, Notary Public
50 Gervais Drive, Suite 505
Toronto, ON
M3C 1Z3

T:               416-446-0340
F:               416-441-0811
E:               mstavro@sympatico.ca

Notary Public In North York

Why is a Will Important?

A Last Will and Testament ensures that your estate, including your home, is administered in accordance with your wishes and that adequate provisions are made for dependents and loved ones.  It also allows you to select the Executor who will administer your estate.  In Ontario, dying without executing a properly drafted will prevents you from having any control over who should administer your estate or care for your children while they are underage.  Furthermore, as a will can minimize taxes and probate fees, your estate may incur additional costs without one.

Why is a Power of Attorney Important?

There are two types of Powers of Attorney:  A Power of Attorney for Personal Care and a Power of Attorney for Property.

A Power of Attorney for Personal Care allows you to designate someone who will make decsions on your behalf with respect to your medical treatment and overall personal care if you are not mentally capable of making those decisions yourself.  A Power of Attorney for Property is similar to one for personal care, only it deals with decisions involving your real and/or personal property, as well as the financial management of your assets.

In Ontario, if you become mentally incapable and have not completed a Power of Attorney, the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee of Ontario will generally designate on your behalf your closest relative to make your decisions for you, whether or not that person would have been who you wanted.

Mike Stavrakis
Barister & Solicitor, Notary Public
50 Gervais Drive, Suite 505
Toronto, ON
M3C 1Z3

T:               416-446-0340
F:               416-441-0811
E:               mstavro@sympatico.ca

Will Lawyer Toronto

Are you one of the unfortunate workers who were exposed to asbestos in the workplace and have now been diagnosed with mesothelioma? If you are, you need to know your rights and consult with a mesothelioma cancer lawyer who can get you the restitution you both need and deserve. Mesothelioma is a devastating form of lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, and it has the power to destroy the lives of the patient and other family members. If you’re being faced with medical bills, emotional issues, and burning anger at a company that allowed this to happen to you, you aren’t alone. This has happened to hundreds of workers, and many are taking steps to seek the financial support they are entitled to.

Prior to contacting a Mesothelioma Lawyer in your area, it is always a good idea to come prepared to your initial consultation with a lawyer. This will ensure that your lawyer gets an accurate understanding of your concerns and that the process moves smoothly. Being prepared also allows your lawyer to gather more information about your case as he or she speaks with you. Once an attorney understands the complexities of your case, they can provide you with a more thorough evaluation. Put simply, the more information that you are able to provide to your attorney, the more efficient and productive your consultation will be.

Speak Up
Remember, your mesothelioma attorney knows little to nothing about your case when you first meet. Without your information, it will be very difficult for a lawyer to give you the appropriate legal advice. The success of your case depends on your total honesty and it is always advised for you to disclose every detail of your case with your attorney before your case goes to court. Inaccurate information will only complicate the process and may cause your case to fail.

Let your mesothelioma lawyer know about all of the companies that you’ve been an employee of in the past. Include any and all documents or records that might be helpful in understanding the facts of your case.

Make copies of these important documents so that you will be able to leave behind the documents for your lawyer to review. These documents may include:

- Medical bills
- Medical records
- Information about previous employers
- Correspondence with insurance companies
- Written documents detailing how your life has negatively affected by your condition

The Importance of your Work History
Your work history will inform your lawyer of more information than you may realize. A skilled lawyer will be able to draw conclusions and connections between where you worked and the mesothelioma that you are suffering from. Pinpointing the employees responsible for your mesothelioma will help to organize an effective lawsuit on your behalf.

Lawsuits Take Time
It is very important for you to remember that the legal process takes time. No lawsuit is immediate. Lawyers need time to gather the documents to support your lawsuit and to organize a powerful lawsuit against those who have harmed you. Speaking with a mesothelioma as soon as you are diagnosed will help to get the process moving as early as possible.

Speak with a Mesothelioma Lawyer
If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it is very important that you speak with a mesothelioma lawyer as soon as you can. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer can thoroughly evaluate your case and provide you with the legal guidance you’ll need as you go after those responsible for your mesothelioma.

For more information, contact a mesothelioma lawyer today.

Deciding which family lawyer you should hire to represent you in your divorce case is an extremely important decision and one that can make the difference between getting a fair result or not. Here are some criteria that will allow you to improve your chances of hiring the best attorney for the job.

Nothing Beats Experience and Certification

There is no substitute for experience when it comes to divorce lawyers and you should only consider hiring one who is very experienced in the field of family law. Frequently people will hire a general practitioner, thinking that divorce cases are routine and simple and that any lawyer will do. This kind of thinking is a major mistake. Ideally, you want a lawyer who is board certified in family law by the provincial / State Bar. This is a certification held by lawyers who have, by experience and knowledge, shown that they are worthy of recognition as experts in the field of family law. In most states this is an extremely difficult credential for a lawyer to obtain.

Ask For Testimonials of Past Clients

Probably the best way to determine which lawyer is right for you is to hear from that lawyer’s past divorce clients. If you personally know someone who has been a client of a particular lawyer they can tell you in great detail what it was like to be represented by that attorney. The fact is that some lawyers are simply better at satisfying their clients than others and the only real way to find this out is to hear from those who have been clients.

A Plan for How Your Case Will Be Handled

It is often a mistake in a divorce case for a lawyer to apply a “cookie cutter” approach. In other words, some lawyers use the exact same approach on every single case, regardless of the facts or nuances of your particular situation. This is generally a mistake. What you want is a lawyer who, at the outset of the case, creates a customized plan for how your case will be handled. You wouldn’t use a shotgun if you were trying to kill a mosquito and you wouldn’t use a flyswatter if you were trying to kill a bear. You would use the best tool for the given situation. Your case should be handled in this same way.

Are You Comfortable with the Lawyer?

Last but not least, you should be comfortable with and have a good rapport with the lawyer and their team. If for some reason you feel that you will not be able to communicate effectively with the lawyer, then this is not the right lawyer for you and you should keep looking until you find the right lawyer for your case. It is of the utmost importance that you hire an attorney that inspires your confidence and that you are certain will effectively represent your best interest.

Accident lawyers come in handy when you have a motor vehicle accident e.g. auto accident, motorcycle accident, slip and  fall accident or a truck accident. Should the unfortunate happen it is recommended that you call an accident lawyer immediately.
If you have been the victim for a hit and run accident or are involved in an a drug related or alcohol accident, rear end collision, a property damage accident or a pedestrian accident then you should contact a well qualified auto accident lawyer instantly after the accident. The lawyer would ensure that you receive appropriate treatment trough the insurance companies and would also assist you in recovering from the damages that have been caused including lost wages, property damages, suffering and pain and also medical bills.

Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyer

There are millions of motor vehicle accidents that take place every year. If you have been a part of injury from any motor vehicle accident then apart from the initial judgment of the injury you should instantly get medical assistance after leaving the place of accident. You should contact an appropriate accident lawyer right away. The qualified accident lawyer would advice you on what rights you have and also what action you should take in order to preserve your rights. You should let the professional accident lawyer to work on your behalf to handle all the statements in your support.

Auto Accident Lawyer

When you are involved in an auto accident make sure that you do not leave the place of accident. Wellbeing of everyone should be your first consideration. If the other person has suffered a severe injury then make sure to get assistance as get an ambulance. You can then call the police. It is actually important to have a police report if you were hit by a motorist. You can also get the report filed through the telephone if the police does not respond at the scene. You should get the budge number and name of the officer and should also make sure to get a copy of the report.

Although there is no seriously injured person you should still record the scene of the accident as much as possible. If there is a camera handy then get some pictures from different angles if possible. If you do not have one then try to sketch the scene on a paper including the time of the day and the directions of the vehicles that are involved which would help you later. Additionally you can also record the names with the address of any witness available at the accident scene.

If the police respond then politely narrate the entire accident scene to the office and also to your accident lawyer. The accident lawyer would later help you in recovering from your injuries through the insurance and would further handle the accident case on your behalf.

Accident Lawyer Toronto

Keeping an eye on your financial health during a divorce is essential.  I came across this valuable report which outlines the rules that may apply and offers seven top tips on some traps to avoid.

Before You Start

• Begin thinking about all of your post-divorce financial goals, including those related to retirement, college costs, debt reduction, etc.
• Gather and review all paperwork related to shared financial accounts, unpaid tax bills, estate planning strategies, etc.
• If you are in the process of a divorce, keep in mind that resolving disagreements amicably could save you thousands of dollars in lawyers fees.
• Learn about your home state’s requirements for obtaining a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO), which prevents your spouse from making retirement account withdrawals while the divorce is in progress.

Divorce and Your Finances

Divorce can be a complicated and challenging process in which details are easily overlooked. Protecting your financial health during this time is crucial, and no one should enter this process without a trusted attorney (specializing in divorce) on his or her side. Equally important is knowing the laws that shape divorce proceedings, and the impact they can have on your assets.

Dividing the Assets

Typically, everything you and your spouse acquired from the day you were married is subject to division. The exceptions are individual inheritances, gifts to an individual spouse, and assets acquired before marriage. When assets are divided, the court considers each spouse’s earning ability, the length of the marriage, and how much each spouse contributed to building household assets.

The exception to this are the nine “community property” states — Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. Under the laws of these states, almost all assets will automatically be divided equally.

Don’t try to hide assets from the court, either by neglecting to mention them or transferring them after the proceedings have begun. This can trigger an “omitted asset” penalty and force the court to redivide your property.

Dealing With Debt

Don’t assume that a divorce will erase any debt. If you live in a community property state, debt — like your assets — will be split down the middle. You will be responsible for half of all debt in jointly held accounts and, in some cases, for half of a spouse’s individual debt as well.

If you don’t live in a community property state, you remain responsible for your individual debt (but not your spouse’s) and any debt in jointly held accounts. One important trap to avoid is maintaining joint accounts after the divorce. Your spouse could continue running up expenses and leave you with the debt. As soon as the divorce is finalized, freeze all joint accounts and have your creditors reclassify them as individual accounts. Most creditors will do this at your request, though they are not legally required to do so. To protect your credit rating, make sure to keep up with monthly payments.

In addition, include the payment of debt as part of the settlement. Take on the responsibility for the debt yourself, if necessary, and take a share of the assets to pay the debt down.

If you and your spouse own a home that has appreciated in value, you may want to sell it before the divorce is finalized. Federal tax rules offer an exclusion of up to $500,000 in realized capital gains for married taxpayers. This amount is cut in half for single filers. Be sure to consult a tax advisor for additional information about these rules.

Tax Relief for Innocent Spouses

Divorce will not protect you from the IRS. If you filed jointly with your spouse, you can be held liable for delinquent taxes.

In 1998, Congress enacted legislation that offers protection to spouses who filed joint returns, relieving them of paying taxes that are the responsibility of an ex-spouse. The law also allows an innocent spouse to limit tax liability if he or she has been living apart from the delinquent spouse for at least 12 months from the time the joint return was filed. Talk to a tax advisor about how this information relates to your own situation.

Your Retirement Assets

Money in your 401(k) or pension plan may legally be divided during a divorce. The divisible amount typically begins to accumulate on the day you are married and ends on the day you are divorced.

To claim a share of a spouse’s 401(k) or pension plan benefit, you need to obtain a court order called a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) and provide it to your spouse’s plan sponsor before distributions are completed to your spouse, which prevents your spouse from making withdrawals.

You and your spouse can decide to not divide your 401(k) assets or pension plan benefits, but you should make this agreement in writing and include it as part of the settlement to prevent the courts from declaring the money divisible.

If there are outstanding loans against a 401(k) and only one spouse was able to contribute, the noncontributing spouse may be exempt from paying back the loan. However, if the purpose of the loan was something that benefited both spouses — such as a home — the noncontributing spouse’s share of the assets may be reduced to facilitate repayment of the debt.

If you do receive a share of a spouse’s 401(k) assets or pension plan benefit, it may be best to roll over your share immediately into an individual retirement account (IRA) to avoid taxes and maintain tax deferral. You should discuss this with your attorney or a financial advisor familiar with divorce proceedings as soon as you anticipate a divorce.

Estate Planning

Be sure to review your will or, if you don’t have one, draw one up. You should consult an attorney familiar with your state’s estate laws to ensure that your assets are properly distributed. Do not wait until the divorce is final. You should review and amend your estate plan at the same time you decide to commence a divorce proceeding. Also make sure to review beneficiary designations for pensions, 401(k)s, and life insurance policies. Federal law requires a spouse to be the sole beneficiary of pension or 401(k) benefits unless that right is waived in writing by the spouse.

If you find yourself faced with divorce, it is essential to protect your financial future. Enlisting the help of an attorney and carefully monitoring the process can ensure that your interests are considered and that you won’t need to revisit the proceeding later on.

Next Time, Should You Have a Prenup?

A prenuptial agreement can be a valuable tool for protecting your finances. These documents are difficult to contest in the event of a divorce. The prenup should be drawn up by both you and your spouse with the assistance of attorneys, and should include:

• Current assets and debts
• Financial arrangements (such as alimony payments)
• Estate and inheritance plans
• Financial care and custody of children from previous marriages
• How assets will be divided in case of a divorce

Finally, include in your prenup a future date to review this document. Should circumstances change, you can then amend the agreement.

Summary

• The division of assets in a divorce depends on the state where you live.
• Be sure to include debt resolution as part of the settlement, and be sure to continue making payments on any outstanding debt.
• Once the divorce is granted, freeze all joint accounts and have them converted to individual accounts.
• Unless waived in writing, 401(k) and pension plan benefits are divisible during a divorce by a Qualified Domestic Relations Order.
• Review your beneficiary designations for 401(k) plans, pension plans, and life insurance policies.
• Review your will, or draw up a new one.

Checklist

________     Cancel all joint financial accounts.

________     Update beneficiary designations on all financial accounts and insurance policies.

________     If necessary, apply to the IRS for “innocent spouse” relief, which will free you from the
responsibility of  paying taxes attributable to your ex-spouse.

________      Increase retirement account contributions.

Divorce Lawyer Toronto

When you see a lawyer for the first time, you might not know what to expect. Can you ask about the lawyer’s experience? Is it proper to ask details about fees and expenses? How will you be kept informed about your case’s progress?

  About the Lawyer

1. Do you have a firm brochure or website with your biography?
2. How long have you been practising law?
3. What is your experience in this practice area?
4. Have you handled any cases like mine? What was the outcome?

About Your Case

5. What are the possible outcomes of my case, and the chances of success?
6. What are the procedures involved in my case, and a rough time schedule for the different steps?
7. Approximately how long will it take to finalise?
8. What complications can arise in my case, and can they result in additional fees?

About Legal Fees

9. Do you have a written retainer letter or agreement?
10. Do you charge by the hour, by the case, by a percentage, or a combination?
11. Will your rates change while you are handling my case? If so, how much notice will you give me?
12. Will any junior lawyers or legal assistants be working on my case? Do you charge for the legal assistant’s or legal secretary’s time?
13. What kind of disbursements will there be?
14. Assuming that there are no complications, what is the range of the possible fees, disbursements, and taxes? Can you give me a firm quote for fees and/or disbursements?
15. When will you bill me?

About the Work on Your Case

16. How will you keep me informed about what is happening on my case?
17. Will you send me copies of letters that you receive and send out?
18. Will you return my phone calls the same day?
19. Do you use email or fax to communicate with me?
20. Who else in the office will be working on my case? Can I call them if I can’t get hold of you?

Lawyer Toronto ]]> http://www.mytorontolawyers.com/20-questions-to-ask-your-lawyer.htm/feed http://www.mytorontolawyers.com/its-time-for-legal-aid-for-the-middle-class.htm http://www.mytorontolawyers.com/its-time-for-legal-aid-for-the-middle-class.htm#comments Mon, 28 Jul 2008 01:16:01 +0000 admin http://www.mytorontolawyers.com/its-time-for-legal-aid-for-the-middle-class.htm

For regular readers of this blog will know how I feel about the rising cost of legal representation in Toronto. The middle class should have access to Ontario’s legal aid program and lawyers who work in the system should be paid considerably more.

According to a Toronto Star report, those are two of seven key recommendations released yesterday in a sweeping report into the province’s government-funded legal aid program, established more than 40 years ago with the promise of ensuring justice for all, yet now struggling to serve even the poor.

While legal aid was introduced with the neediest citizens in mind, access to justice for the broader middle class has become a serious problem, with one high-profile judge after another, including Ontario Chief Justice Warren Winkler, calling it the most pressing issue facing the justice system.

A simple three-day civil trial costs about $60,000, more than a year’s salary for many families, who can’t afford to pay for a lawyer but would still be considered too well-off for legal aid.

“The financial eligibility criteria are so restrictive that it is only the very poor that qualify for most forms of legal aid,” said Michael Trebilcock, a University of Toronto law professor who wrote the report for Ontario’s attorney general.

Eligibility criteria must be “significantly raised to a more realistic level” and, perhaps in some cases, scrapped altogether, he argued.

“Some range of legal aid services should be provided to all Ontario citizens on a non-means tested basis . . . so that middle-class Ontarians develop a material stake in the well-being of the legal aid system.”

In addition to opening the system so the middle class could, at minimum, have access to basic legal advice, information and assistance could also be offered through alternatives such as telephone hotlines, the report proposes.

Trebilcock also suggested a sliding eligibility scale so people who might not qualify for legal aid would have at least a portion of their legal expenses covered.

While Ontario’s legal aid system is the richest in the country, with a budget greater than $300 million, demand for legal services has grown across Canada.

Divorce, custody wars and battles over child support were relatively rare 40 years ago, but common today. People with family law problems are among those Legal Aid Ontario has been turning away in record numbers. A single person earning just $16,600 a year after taxes may not qualify.

Attorney General Chris Bentley welcomed Trebilcock’s report, saying it contained “great ideas” on improving the system, but would not sign on to the idea of giving the middle class access to the system.

“Michael has provided us with some enormously helpful advice … on improving access to all Ontarians to their justice system,” Bentley said. “In the financial elements of legal aid, I absolutely want us to get to a better place, but it’s not going to happen overnight.”

Bentley said that, for example, making going to court cheaper, rather than increasing legal aid, might improve access to the legal system, especially on the civil side.

Meanwhile, lawyers, who get paid between $73 and $92 an hour for legal aid cases, have seen their remuneration shrink in real terms, with the public the ultimate loser because fewer lawyers are willing to take on the work, Trebilcock said.

“There is 16 per cent fewer lawyers participating in the scheme overall today compared to 10 years ago and 29 per cent fewer family lawyers. So lawyers are just fleeing the scheme,” he said.

His report calls on the province to raise the legal aid tariff and also implement pay raises for staff lawyers employed by government legal clinics, as well as duty counsel in criminal and family courts, who are employees of Legal Aid Ontario.

Trebilcock suggested that anything less than $110 an hour seriously risks destroying the private bar’s commitment to serving legal aid clients.

At the same time, Trebilcock acknowledges the hourly rate he’s proposed as a starting point will be “a bitter pill for the legal aid bar to swallow,” given that it falls “far below” rates recommended in a report seven years ago, which would translate to between $120 and $160 an hour in today’s terms.

Those rates are just “not fiscally or politically feasible” – even if justifiable in a “first-best world,” Trebilcock said.

Frank Addario, president of the Criminal Lawyers’ Association, said the report doesn’t offer any viable means of bringing lawyers back to the system.

“The report acknowledges that that desired outcome is to attract lawyers who fled the field back into the plan, but then fails to recommend the funding that’s required to meet that outcome,” Addario said.

Meanwhile, Ontario Bar Association president Greg Goulin said the province should look to a pay scale system adopted by legal aid in Nova Scotia. There, legal aid lawyers are paid on the same scale as prosecuting Crown attorneys, he said.

“The wage scale is the same for senior defence council who are employed by Legal Aid Nova Scotia as it is for senior Crowns,” he said in an interview.

One of the more intriguing recommendations in the report calls on the province, as well as the Law Society of Upper Canada and Legal Aid Ontario, to look into promoting “private insurance markets for legal expense coverage, especially in family law and civil matters.”

While prepaid legal plans are “not a new concept in Canada” – the law society endorsed them in 1993 and some private interests, such as the Canadian Autoworkers, offer them – they haven’t hit the mainstream, Trebilcock said.

In an interview earlier this year, Winkler, who devoted a lot of time in the 1960s to trying to develop legal insurance programs, said it’s hard to devise an affordable scheme that would provide coverage for anything except minor legal problems.

The plans in existence tend to pay for basic legal advice and assistance with minor things, such as drawing up a contract.

Legal Aid Toronto

Many of the tens of thousands of Torontonians who separate or divorce each year fear they cannot settle their cases without a long drawn-out court battle.

You don’t have to fear in most cases that you cannot settle your separation or divorce in an orderly and reasonable fashion, in fact, you just have to make sure that you follow some key principles that will help you reach a friendly settlement with your spouse.

Here are seven tips for settling your separation and divorce as quickly as possible with a reasonable outcome for all parties involved:

Hire an experienced family law or divorce lawyer immediately.

Most spouses procrastinate or delay in trying to settle their separation and divorce legal issues because they don’t understand their legal rights. An experienced family law lawyer will explain your options so you can take action to resolve your case without delay.
Create a game plan or blueprint.

Figure out what you want–what kind of custody arrangements make sense in your situation? What do you need financially? The old expression, “if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail”, applies.
Educate yourself and ask your family law lawyer good questions.

The more you know about family law and separation and divorce legal issues, the more you can work effectively with your lawyer to get reasonable results and a good settlement.
Get full financial disclosure from your spouse.

You cannot get a reasonable settlement unless your spouse clearly revealing the nature and extent of bank accounts, business interests, stocks, bonds, properties and so on.
Start by negotiating a separation agreement.

This is a private contract between you and your spouse that settles all family law issues, including custody of your children, child support, spousal support, and property issues.
Set time lines for this negotiation-your lawyer can help with this.

In most cases, you will get a reasonable settlement with your spouse sooner rather than later when you have established a time frame for the process.
Use court as a last resort.

Go to court only when your spouse persists in pursuing an unreasonable position on an important issue, such as child custody or spousal support.

Toronto Divorce Lawyer