There are many resources available to help separating parties learn about their options. Here are some of them, with an emphasis on Canadian and Ontario resources:
Government of Canada’s recommended travel consent letter – for parents travelling with children outside of Canada
Government of Canada’s Guide to tax treatment of support payments – both spousal and child support
Family Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario – information about mediation, parenting coordination, and arbitration
Ontario Association for Family Mediation – information about the mediation process, and finding an accredited family mediator
Association of Family and Conciliation Courts – interdisciplinary and international association of professionals dedicated to the resolution of family conflict
Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts – an organization dedicated to the certification, education and promotion of the use of financial professionals in the divorce arena
Ontario Court Forms – access to the many forms used in family cases in the Ontario Courts. Financial forms such as 13, 13.1, and 13B are often used in cases that are not litigated, to help meet financial disclosure obligations and organize the issues.
Financial Services Commission of Ontario – family law forms for pension valuation
Attorney General of Ontario – Family Law page – resources and information for separating families in Ontario
Families Change – a resource from the Justice Education Society of BC, that provides information for children about separation that is age-appropriate. There is also information for separating parents and for professionals.
Support Information eXchange – a Canadian online service to help parents manage children’s expenses, financial disclosure obligations, and maintain a permanent financial ledger.
Our Family Wizard – an online service that can help parents co-ordinate schedules, decisions, information, and finances. Mobile apps are also available.
Two Hands App – an online service that can help parents co-ordinate schedules, decisions, information, and finances. Mobile apps are also available.
MySupportCalculator.ca – a free resource to help parties calculate child support and spousal support. This is a starting point, and often work needs to be done to reach understandings on the underlying facts before decisions can be made about these issues.
Canlii – a searchable database of Canadian court decisions, available for free