Macri Family Law & Mediation

06/27/2024

The success of your most critical business deal might be closer than you think - it's the partnership you have with your spouse. When it comes to cohabitation or marriage, financial implications are significant for both parties. Going in blind and assuming mutual understanding of terms like "fair" and "reasonable" can lead to unforeseen challenges down the road.

Planning ahead is key - waiting until issues arise can leave you in unfavorable positions. Remember, failing to plan is planning to fail. Consider involving your partner in mediating an agreement that outlines financial terms and expectations, safeguarding both parties in case of unforeseen circumstances.

Negotiating prenuptial or cohabitation agreements through mediation fosters a collaborative approach. It allows both partners to understand the law, respect each other's priorities, and create a mutually agreed-upon plan. Take the proactive step towards a secure financial partnership by setting clear terms together.

Have questions? Send me a DM.

Family Law:
Prenuptial, Marriage or Separation Agreements, Wills, POA, Probate.
Mediation.

03/27/2024

Happy to share that I will be a part of the panel discussing best practices for mediations hosted by CIAO on April 3, 2024. The discussion will focus on the mediation of personal injury, estates, and family law cases. Join us for a frank and informative discussion on the topic. Register now to secure your spot!

03/15/2024

Myth: Living together in a committed relationship and being married are the same thing.

Fact: If you're married, you have a right to share in the financial profits of the marriage regardless of ownership. If you live together, you need to prove your contribution if you want to claim any part of what is owned by the other person.

Whether considering marriage or living together, once you understand the possible consequences of the relationship structure you choose you can then plan ahead to avoid unintended consequences later on.

A prenuptial agreement or domestic contract is a tool that helps you both to understand what could happen and that knowledge enables you to make informed choices during the relationship. As life changes, your and your partner's outlook on the future may also change and together you'll change your contract to reflect your new reality.

The decision to have or not have a conversation about your financial future is like deciding whether or not to have a backup parachute when skydiving... would you rather have the backup and not need it, or need it and not have it?

Have questions? Send me a DM. I'm happy to help.

Family Law:
Prenuptial, Marriage or Separation Agreements, Wills, POA, Probate.
Mediation.

03/03/2024

Happy to announce the successful completion of the comprehensive FMPO program by our winter 2024 cohort!

Congratulations to all on this incredible achievement! You're 80 hours closer to your OAFM accreditation!

We look forward to welcoming you to the OAFM community of mediators.

For those interested in joining our upcoming spring program, visit www.fmpo.ca for more information.

02/29/2024

As we plan for the future, we often want to make things easier for our loved ones. However, sometimes the best intentions can lead to unintended consequences. Recently, an older mother was considering adding her children to the title of her home to make it easier and cheaper for them to inherit the property when she passes. Our advice: Don't do it!

Here's why:

1. Adding anyone to your title means that any creditors they have, now or in the future, will become your creditors. This can lead to liens on the property or a forced sale to satisfy a financial obligation.

2. The cost of adding your child to your title may not be much less than the probate fees that would be charged to your estate because of the value of your home. In other words, there may not be any savings.

3. If your children already have a principal residence, then when they sell your house, their share of the title will be subject to capital gains tax. This means that they may end up with less money than they would have if they had inherited the property through your estate.

Before making any changes to your title, it's important to seek legal advice and understand the potential consequences. We want to ensure that our loved ones are taken care of, and sometimes the best way to do that is by avoiding risky decisions.

Have questions? Send me a DM. I'm happy to help.

01/25/2024

You're in a serious relationship, and all is well with the world. Why would you want to make things weird by discussing finances!? Short Answer: because you want this relationship to last.

Money is one of the leading reasons why relationships will hit the rocks and often sink.

Unfortunately, not talking about it will not make it go away. Its too pervasive. From paying for dinner to saving for a vacation to buying a house: if you're not on the same page, one of you will be disappointed and frustrated and probably feel betrayed and the other person will have no idea why you’re feeling that way.

You can delay the money conversation until one of you is frustrated and disappointed .... or ... you can take the initiative and ensure that you're both clear about each other's expectations. With clarity, you'll be able to plan your future knowing what each of you expects.

Mediation provides a neutral arena where you can discuss your respective goals and financial expectations. An experienced family law mediator can help to guide your conversation towards the typical financial issues and concerns which many couples have to deal with, such as:

> if something happens to you, what happens to me?
> when you say something is "ours" what does that mean?
> am I contributing to the ownership of the house or just its maintenance?

Mediation allows for candid discussions resulting in sustainable agreements about your financial future. This allows you to avoid the perilous rocks of uncertainty and to confidently move forward together.

Have a question? Feel free to reach out to me via direct message.

01/01/2024

Prenuptial Agreement, or Cohabitation Agreement:
Romance v. Pragmatism = a winner and a loser?

Wrong equation. Instead, Romance + Pragmatism = working together towards the future.

Mediation provides a safe place for a facilitated conversation where you are both crafting an agreement that sets out what is important to you about how your financial future will be governed, is not about win/loss. Its about communicating what is important today and the negotiation of your respective expectations of each other's contributions to your financial future.

These agreements may change over time - with the consent of both parties. Like other important documents such as your Will or insurance, you want terms that fit now, however life often takes you places you may not have anticipated, and changes to your agreements may be needed.

Agreements don't change relationships, they provide clarity.

12/22/2023

Wishing you, and all those you care about, a happy holiday season and a New Year of peace and compassion.

12/19/2023

Prenuptial Agreement, or Cohabitation Agreement:

Romance v. Pragmatism = a winner and a loser?

Wrong equation. Instead, Romance + Pragmatism = working together towards the future.

Crafting an agreement that sets out what is important to you about how your financial future will be governed, is not about win/loss. Its about communicating what is important today and the negotiation of your respective expectations of each other's contributions to your financial future.

These agreements may change over time - with the consent of both parties. Like other important documents such as your Will or insurance, you want terms that fit now, however life often takes you places you may not have anticipated, and changes to your agreements may be needed.

Agreements don't change relationships, they provide clarity.