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Weddings are often a joyous occasion and people keep many keepsakes from their big day. From the wedding dress, place cards, photo album, a guest book, cards, marriage license and of course wedding rings, these are all items that are kept to remind a couple of the day they said I do. So what happens to these mementos if your marriage ends in divorce? It may be extremely difficult for you to figure out what to do with these items that once sparked joy and may now trigger anger, pain and sadness. Deciding what to do with wedding memorabilia is a very person decision and it will largely depend on how the characterization of the marriage and divorce. Throwing children into the mix can also have an impact on how you see and deal with these items. Here are a few of the most common wedding mementos and some options for what to do with them. Wedding dress Sell it. Make some money off it and use the money for some self care like a spa day or vacation with your kids. Use the dress to help fund some new happy memories.  Donate it. There are lots of places that […]

When going through a separation or divorce it is a good idea to talk to a professional that can help you through the many difficult emotions that come with a failed relationship. No matter what your needs are there is probably a trained professional out there that can help you work through the painful feelings and move on with your life. That being said, there are a few things you should know about therapy before you commit to the process. Here are the top 8 things you should consider before you start therapy. Choose the right therapist for you Not every therapist can be everything to everyone. Credentials are important so look for someone whose practice is overseen by a regulatory body like the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario, the College of Psychologists of Ontario, or the Ontario College of Social Workers. Finding the right fit is just as important as the credentials they hold. You want to make sure that the therapist you are seeing not only has the right training, expertise and experience, but also has a personality and style that meshes with yours. It is ok to comparison shop and see a few different therapists before […]

Clean Break Host Tina Murray sits down with family lawyer Cynthia Squire to talk about divorce, custody rights and splitting assets.

If you have been educating yourself about divorce you may have come across the term annulment. In Ontario there are two types of annulments: religious and legal. In the Catholic Church a divorce is not enough for a marriage to be recognized as terminated. This means that if you plan on getting married again in the same faith you must get an annulment. Even if you get a religious annulment you must still get either a legal annulment or a divorce for the court to consider your marriage dissolved. Simply put, in order to completely separate from your spouse in the eyes of the court AND the Catholic Church you must get a religious annulment and a divorce/legal annulment. If you are looking to get a religious annulment it is best to speak to your local priest. Requests for annulments usually go to a marriage tribunal where an initial evaluation is made of the possible grounds for nullity. There are several things that can be grounds for a marriage to be considered void, all based in canon law. The marriage tribunal will often use the testimony of both spouses as well as witnesses to decide whether to grant the annulment. […]

Join Clean Break hosts Daren Givoque and Tina Murray as they look back on the first year of DivorceNet and look forward to what is to come!

Many people believe that when you get a divorce all property is divided down the middle. This is not the case. In Ontario lawyers use something called equalization to ensure that each party gets what they are entitled to. Equalization is a fancy legal term that is essentially the payment from one spouse to another to make life equal. So how does it work? Lawyers will take a picture the of both party’s net worth at both the date of marriage and the dated of separation. Net worth is defined as assets (financial property) minus liabilities (debts or other financial obligations). Lawyers will take a look at these two pictures because the law dictates that you must look at the increase in net worth of each party from marriage to separation. If both parties end up increasing their net worth the same amount throughout the marriage neither of them owe anything to the other. If there is anything held in joint names, like a house, it must be sold, or if both parties agree, there can be a buy out. However, in most cases there is an increase in net worth for both parties but one will have increased more […]

Talking to your kids about divorce can be one of the most difficult conversation you will have. Here are a few tips that will help make the conversation go as smoothly as possible.

Professional Certified Coach Vickie Townson shares some tips on how to create new holiday memories and traditions after a separation or divorce.

 Hosts Daren Givoque and Tina Murray talk to Registered Psychotherapist Natalie Carrière about how she helps people going through divorce find the light in one of their darkest times. She not only helps people build a new life for themselves but also develop a new sense of self which is very important after divorce.

Not sure whether to get a divorce or stay and work on your marriage? Discernment counselling is a process that can help.

Bringing up the topic of divorce with your spouse will never be easy. Here are some things to consider that will help make the conversation go more smoothly and set you up for a more manageable divorce process.

It is no secret that around 50 per cent of marriages end in divorce. Even though it is quite commonplace it is not something that is talked about openly. When going through the divorce process it is hard to anticipate how it is going to go and how you’re going to feel. Here are a few things that aren’t often talked about when it comes to separation and divorce. Your financial situation will change completely Divorce is costly in many ways. Suddenly your income may change drastically, and you must ensure you can pay your legal bills during the divorce and have enough money to support yourself and possibly your children once the divorce is finalized. There may also be child support and alimony to be considered as well. Whether you are the payer or the payee this needs to be worked into your finances. Your tax bracket may also change because you are now surviving on a single income. Talking to a professional like a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA) can help you prepare a plan that will ensure you have all your bases covered during and after the divorce. Your friends may stop calling It is likely that […]

It is not unusual for people to hide their heads in the sand when it comes to the reality of a failed relationship. Deciding when to get a divorce is not easy and comes with significant heartbreak and emotional upheaval, no matter how unhappy the marriage has become. It is difficult for many people to realize when it is time to pull the plug, especially if they have been in an unhappy marriage for a long time. Here are some of the tell-tale signs that getting a divorce may be the best option for you and your partner. No communication Communication is a key component to any relationship. It ensures that you grow together as a couple rather than apart. While it is normal for communication in a relationship to go through peaks and valleys it becomes a problem if you or your spouse are not willing to work things out when you are going through a tough time. Often one spouse is present, while the other is starting to pull away and is not willing to talk it out either one on one or in therapy. It takes effort from both parties to move on from a communication breakdown […]

Buying a house is not easy and the complex mortgage industry doesn’t make it any easier. There are few factors that go into whether a bank or private lender will give you a mortgage. Some people think that as long as you have a good income getting a mortgage will be easy, but that is not necessarily the case. Banks and other lenders rely heavily on debt servicing ratios to decide whether a person is eligible for a mortgage and how much they will lend. Gross Debt Servicing and Total Debt Servicing are calculated with every mortgage application to decide how much the lender is willing to finance. What is Gross Debt Servicing? Gross Debt Servicing (GDS) is a key debt servicing ratio that lenders look at to see whether they will finance a mortgage on a property. The GDS is calculated by adding up all your housing related costs (mortgage agents call this PITH, principal, interest, taxes, heat) and dividing it by your net taxable income. In Ontario your PITH generally cannot represent more than 39 per cent of your income. What is Total Debt Servicing? Total Debt Servicing (TDS) is another important debt servicing ratio that lenders look […]

There are a lot of things to learn/re-learn about life after divorce or separation. If you have kids, new routines need to be created and custody rights need to be observed. Traveling with your children after you have separated from their other parent is something that needs your attention as it is much more complicated now that you are no longer with your spouse. Here are some things to keep in mind if you want to travel with your kids post-separation. Plan in advance Make sure to plan out when you want to travel with your children because you must ensure there is consent to travel from the other parent. You must consider the timing and whether the trip interferes with their other parent’s scheduled time with the children.  You will also want to check if there are any travel restrictions or warnings for your planned destination and alert the other parent if there are.  If there is a joint custody arrangement, the other parent may not agree for the child(ren) to go to a place that has travel restrictions. Review your Separation Agreement or Parenting Plan Make sure you know what your Separation Agreement or Parenting Plan says when […]

Talk taxes, divorce planning and the dreaded CRA on this episode of Clean Break featuring Chartered Professional Accountant Marg Egan. Marg delves into the world of accounting and divorce, informing our hosts, Daren Givoque and Tina Murray, about potential pitfalls and tips and tricks when it comes to managing your money.

People often ask whether it is beneficial to have a pre-listing inspection when they are selling their home. While it is not a requirement, the benefits of having someone look at your home before it goes on the market are numerous. Why wait until someone is interested in buying your home to find out there is something wrong with it? Here are a few key reasons why having a pre-listing inspection can help ensure any offers on your house go off without a hitch. Many deals make or break with the home inspection During a real estate transaction, the home inspection is usually one of the last components. The deal is contingent on the home inspection and whether or not the inspector finds any “deal breakers” in the house. Having your house inspected pre-listing will make sure there are no surprises that you have to deal with during the stressful process of a real estate sale. Knowing what is hidden in the bowels of your house will allow you to rectify any issues before the house goes on the market and eliminate any nasty surprises when someone expresses interest in buying the property. Home inspectors can help sell your home […]

A home is usually the biggest asset a couple has to consider when going through a divorce. Navigating the complex world of mortgages is not an easy task and knowing how to deal with a home when it comes to reaching an equitable settlement can be complex. Mortgage brokers are your best ally when it comes to dealing with the intricacies of property ownership, divorce and figuring out the best option when it comes to your home. Here are 4 things a mortgage broker will need to complete this process. A written and executed separation agreement signed by both parties A separation agreement will break down what the division of assets will be. It will also lay out any ongoing financial responsibilities for either parties like child or spousal support. This has to be taken into consideration when it comes to the affordability of the mortgage for the spouse that is keeping the house. The separation needs to be finalized meaning that it must be the final document that has been agreed upon by both parties. Separation agreements that are in the process of being negotiated are of no use to a mortgage broker as it will not deliver an […]