Joelle Adelson

Joelle works with families in transition, helping her clients make their way through the end of a marriage or cohabitation in a peaceful, respectful manner. Separation is difficult emotionally and financially, but the collaborative process can ease the way by allowing and encouraging open communication and respectful discussions about end-of-relationship issues. Children remain at the forefront of all decision-making: the parents may be ending the marriage, but they will continue to share their parenting roles and responsibilities. The collaborative process provides not only legal support and advice, but also emotional and financial support and guidance.

Joelle’s primary focus is the collaborative process, however she also mediates family issues and negotiates marriage/cohabitation agreements, as well as separation agreements when the collaborative process is not the optimum choice. Joelle believes strongly in peaceful negotiations; she does no court-related work.

Joelle’s brings her professional experience as an investment advisor and a tax and estate planning lawyer to the table, as well as her business degree and two law degrees. She continues to attend and present at seminars, conferences and trainings.

Joelle is a member of the Board of the Ontario Collaborative Law Federation, immediate past Chair of Peel Halton Collaborative Inc., and a member of Collaborative Practice Simcoe County and the International Association of Collaborative Professionals.

Common Myths about Divorce

Myth: Divorce is the end of my world.

Fact: Divorce is only one event in your life. You can choose to give up hope or you can choose to treat it as a new opportunity to improve your life.

Myth: My spouse must be made to pay for breaking our vow.

Fact: Regardless of who decides to end the marriage, no one is blamed monetarily. We have what is called a “no fault” divorce.

Myth: I get half of everything my spouse owns and he/she gets half of everything I own.

Fact: You do not necessarily get half of his tools, or half of her jewellery, etc. The value of all assets and liabilities amassed during the marriage are accounted for by each of you and the person who has more net family property than the other pays half of the difference to the other spouse. The idea is that each person will share equally in the growth or loss from the marriage. There are certain rules applicable to certain assets, for example gifts and inheritances received during marriage are exempted from the calculation.

Myth: If I ask for what is fair, my spouse is going to want me to go lower and so I will ask for a ridiculously high amount for support or property division.

Fact: It is best to negotiate in good faith rather than to take an unreasonable stand which could scuttle negotiations.

Myth: The children will see what an idiot my spouse is when I explain to them what he/she is expecting me to settle for.

Fact: The children ought not be expected or asked to take sides or to be involved in adult issues. They need to know that each parent loves them and that they are free to love their parent without fear of repercussions from the other parent.

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Using the Collaborative process to resolve the issues arising from your marriage is the most respectful, sensible and cost effective way to do so. Speak to a Collaborative professional to find out how the process works.

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Collaborative Practice Simcoe County is group of Collaborative Divorce Professionals in Simcoe County serving the Greater Barrie, Innisfil, Collingwood and Orillia areas.

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