Learn to be Your Own Best Advocate

Successfully navigating Separation and Divorce is ultimately about your children, and the money. Resolving these important issues requires organization and focus.

Let Divorce Matters Help You:

  • Understand the process of Separation and Divorce
  • Get in control of your paperwork
  • Locate and organize your financial data
  • Communicate effectively and efficiently with your Divorce team
  • Move forward to the next stage of your life
Preparing for an organized divorce - file image

Services

Divorce Matters offers you a series of checklists, summary sheets, and information modules designed to help you be your own best advocate throughout your Separation and Divorce process. Each one is designed to assist you with locating and organizing the information and documentation that you and your Divorce team will require. Divorce Matters is available for individual consultation to guide you through the process of preparing for an organized divorce. We assist clients in Toronto and the entire GTA.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of working with Divorce Matters?

Separation and Divorce impacts every area of your life.  This is a highly emotional time for most people.  You may find yourself unable to focus on critically important issues for your future, at a time that you are feeling raw and unable to concentrate. Debbie Shawn, founder of Divorce Matters, is a Registered Social Worker who understands the impact of Separation and Divorce on you.  

Divorce Matters provides a unique Divorce preparation system to help you regain control of your life.   Debbie will help you identify, organize and present your issues and necessary documentation to your Divorce team in a clear, matter-of-fact manner designed to cut costs, alleviate stress and expedite a successful Divorce settlement.

Why Do I need a Divorce Organizer?

Separation and Divorce is a very stressful time.  You need a system to help you highlight the issues that are important to you, to keep track of what your Divorce team needs from you, and to meet whatever deadlines you may have.  A Divorce Organizer will help you focus on all of this and more.

Separation and Divorce definitely involves a lot of paperwork. Debbie Shawn, founder of Divorce Matters has created Checklists and Information Modules which will be useful tools for clients who do not know where to begin. Divorce Matters will also help clients learn new skills that will be invaluable both during this process, and moving forward in their new life situations. Debbie knows that the more organized you are, the faster you can locate the necessary information, the easier you will make it for your Divorce team.

And the added benefit – you and your Divorce team will not be wasting time searching through drawers and shoe boxes to find the paperwork you need. Remember, not wasting time equals saving money.

What is Financial Disclosure and Why Do I Need to do this?

Financial disclosure is required so that your Divorce team can provide you with the advice you need about child support, spousal support, and property issues. It is one of the first things that your Divorce team will be asking you to complete.  And your spouse will have to complete the identical paperwork. This is one of the areas that causes great difficulty for many people because financial disclosure forms are complicated. 

At a time that people are already feeling vulnerable and emotionally depleted by the breakdown of their marriage, they are expected to “miraculously” learn about assets, liabilities, investments, debts, budgets, etc. Working with Debbie Shawn and Divorce Matters will give you the tools to locate and organize your financial documents and complete these forms.   This information allows your Divorce team to work efficiently and effectively on your behalf, negotiating the best possible settlement for you. 

If you and your spouse are entering into a Mediation process, and would like to do this collaboratively, Debbie can work with both of you together to get your financial disclosure forms completed.

What do I Need to Do First?

There is no simple answer to this question.  Some people will immediately meet with counsel to get legal advice about how best to proceed, and will then contact Divorce Matters for assistance in getting organized, and working on their financial disclosure.  Others prefer to first meet with Debbie Shawn and Divorce Matters for a better understanding of the Separation and Divorce process and the different options available.  If you choose to meet with Divorce Matters as a first step, Debbie can also assist you with referrals to appropriate professionals to best meet your individual needs and situation.

Will My Health Insurance Benefits Plan Cover Your Fees?

Debbie Shawn is a Registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, and all invoices have her registration number on them. Clients who have extended health benefits for Social Work services may be able to be reimbursed for Divorce Matters services. Debbie suggests that you check with your provider to see if you have coverage for Social Work services.

Clients who have extended health benefits for Social Work services may be able to be reimbursed for Divorce Matters services. Check with your provider to see if you have coverage for Social Work services.

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A Divorce organized by Divorce Matters will help you:

•  Understand the Divorce process

•  Locate and organize the paperwork needed to negotiate important aspects of your Divorce

•  Complete your Financial Disclosure Forms 13, 13.1, required by your Divorce team

•  Save money on professional fees

•  Feel more in control of your life