2nd meeting -- Ottawa Separated Parents Support Group

We will have a very brief overview of the following topics. Later meetings will
deal with each in more detail.

Introductions
Goals for Group
Background of Facilitator and Meeting Participants
Expectations of Participants
Overview of Divorce Process. Grieving and Rebuilding.
Practical Information -- Education and Healing
-- What do do when your spouse says, we need to be apart.
-- Legalities in Ontario
-- Child Access, Child Custody
-- Child Support, Spousal Support
-- Asset Division
-- Uncontested divorces, vs Contested divorces.
-- Self-representation, Paralegal assistance, Legal representation.
-- Mediation, Arbitration, Assessments, Litigation
Process, Timelines, Costs, Uncertainties, Emotional wear and tear.
Communcation techniques to Minimize Conflict
Documentation techniques and requirements.
Key Divorce Tips for Men and Women
Overcoming the Primary Obstacles to Maintaining Contact with your Children.
Avoiding the Divorce from Hell
-- Parental Alientation,
-- False Allegations of Spousal Abuse or Child Abuse
Obtaining a Final Divorce Judgement, why its important.
Record Keeping on an ongoing basis.
Future conflict areas, how to manage them. (relocation, loss of income, remarriage)

Note this is not a meeting to simply vent anger at the flawed Family Law justice system. (We can all acknowledge it is flawed, but we have to work with it anyway, while we slowly try to improve it.) If we move promptly, and intelligently, we can often get a reasonable outcomes despite the systems flaws. The focus of this group is to provide the practical information, and emotional support to participants so they can be effective at getting a reasonable outcome for themselves and their children. Legal information and tools are also available helping participants to select and manage their lawyer, and allowing self-representation in some cases. The group aims to be non-judgemental, and supportive, while remaining action focused. The focus at all times is to support a co-parenting situation where both parents remain in the children's life after divorce.

Directions:
Take 417 west, past Scotia Bank Place. Next exit is Carp Road. Take it.
Then go SOUTH on Carp Road to Stittsville. At the end of this road, note the
TD Canada Trust is on right had side. Turn RIGHT onto MAIN street. Pass through 2 streetlights, then go 100 meters more and turn LEFT onto WINTERGREEN. Then take your 3rd LEFT onto HAMPEL CRESCENT. My home is number 42.