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It sounds counter-intuitive, but when it comes to getting advice in the early stages of separation, it's best to take advice from family and friends with a skeptical ear.   You see, they are all on your side, and they want to make you feel better.   That means sometimes they hold back what they really think...and that's not good, as we hear from Family Mediator Jamie West and Lawyer Tracy Miller....

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It can be difficult for professionals to manage client expectations especially when the client is would up emotionally and just wants it over.    In this episode Jamie West and Tracy Miller discuss how important managing expectations is from the very first meeting between clients and professionals at the beginning of separation.

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When is the best time to introduce new partners to your kids and your ex?   Hmmmmm.  Not sure there's a clear answer to this one but most experts say don't have a new partner at all until you've sorted out the emotions of your separation.    For children it's even more important that you tread very carefully as we hear from Lawyer Tracy Miller and Mediator Jamie West....

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These professionals can help with co-parenting and communication after separation acting like a referee on parenting issues while you and your ex get used to a new normal of perhaps different parenting styles and communication styles...more in this episode with Jamie West and Tracy Miller....

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Turns out they can be very useful to dial down the temperature and get people focussed on the best interests of their children and get their thinking forward focussed as we hear from Jamie West and Tracy Miller....

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January is Divorce month....people wait until right after the holidays to separate and then Tracy and Jamie's phone's ring off the hook....

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Think you'll show your ex that you're right and he's wrong?  Don't hold your breath as we hear from Tracy Miller and Jamie West....

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When it comes to battles between separating spouses, nothing seems to get people more fired up than a battle over what used to be called Custody or as it's now called Parental Decision Making... Why?  We find out from Lawyer Tracy Miller and Family Mediator Jamie West....

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In this episode of Divorce Solutions,  Mediator Jamie West and Lawyer Tracy Miller suggest that it's buyer beware when choosing a lawyer, mediator, therapist or financial expert.   Being hasty can be costly.

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This episode is an absolute must-listen.    Retired Judge, The Honourable John Harper, joins Lawyer/Mediator Tracy Miller and Mediator and former high conflict litigant Jamie West in a full discussion about his career as a  Family Court Justice in Hamilton and Brantford to his new business as a Mediator, Arbitrator and Advocacy consultant and trainer for lawyers and law firms.   This man has seen and heard it all, and you will learn a great deal about how you and your ex partner could be viewed if you decide to litigate.    His Honour also has a stark warning for the lawyers that some of us label "sharks" or "pit bulls"....

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When a couple decides to uncouple, often their cultural and religious differences become flashpoints when trying to create a parenting plan and schedule.    Family traditions usually need adjusting and flexibility is very frequently required.   It can be a bit tricky, but it doesn't have to be negative, as we hear from Family Mediator Jamie West and Lawyer/Mediator Tracy Miller...

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There are many reasons to choose a mediation process over litigation. Perhaps the greatest reason is one that is often overlooked.  Faster closure and stress reduction are the top reasons ahead of the benefits of lower costs and having direct input into the decisions about your children and property that no judge can give you.    More now with Laywer/Mediator Tracy Miller and Mediator Jamie West...

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Separation costs money.  That's a fact.  How much money depends on how you approach the issues that need addressing such as parenting schedules, division and equalization of assets, child and spousal support and who will get Great Aunt Edna's antique vase.
Seriously, there are a lot of financial reasons to avoid litigation if possible.  Lawyers, by the way are not all hungry to go to court.  The vast majority would rather not, and many are mediators themselves.   What's the cost difference between Mediation and Litigation?  Find out in this episode of Divorce Solutions with Mediator and Coach Jamie West and Lawyer/Mediator Tracy Miller.  

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Social media is a figurative minefield where what you post could blow up and harm you.   As we hear from Lawyer/Mediator Tracy Miller and Mediator/Coach Jamie West, it makes no sense for you to do anything other than mothball your social media activities until well after your family law matter is done and dusted.    Who knows, the break from social media could be good for your head too.   

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Family Law experts, social workers and researchers can't seem to agree on whether or not the label Parental Alienation is appropriate in high-conflict divorces and battles between warring parents over parental decision-making and parenting time.     It's a lightning rod term for sure and where you fall on the debate is largely determined by your own experiences.    As we hear in this episode,  Family Mediator Jamie West has now openly shared that he was in fact a targeted parent of not one but two parental alienators.  His ex-wife and her partner.    Jamie thinks the term Parental Alienation is accurate and appropriate.  His co-host Lawyer, Tracy Miller has seen and heard it all in her decades as a family lawyer and she's not sure that labels help.    You can make up your own mind in this must hear episode of Divorce Solutions.

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A must hear episode here as Lawyer Tracy Miller and Family Mediator and divorce counsellor Jamie West discuss the myths surrounding the family law system and how to manage your expectations.

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The issue of where the family pet will live once a couple separates is becoming a bigger issue in society these days.  In fact,  the family law statutes have been update in British Columbia to reflect the importance that parties place on Fido.
In this episode  Family Lawyer and Mediator Tracy Miller and Family Mediator and Coach Jamie West try to put a leash on the issue with no muzzles.

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Separation and Divorce cost money.   The amount depends on which process you choose to get it done.   Alternative dispute resolution processes such as Family Mediation, Arbitration or Collaborative Law all cost far less than litigation.     So what's the best route to follow after it's all said and done and the financial issues have settled?
In this episode Family Mediator Jamie West chats with Melissa MacLean who's a professional financial planner with IG Wealth Management in London Ontario, Canada.
Melissa offers us some solutions to answer that question.

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Dividing up the "business" of marriage can seem overwhelming and frightening.  Things like the matrimonial home are subject to different rules for division at separation than say an RRSP, pension or antique car or cottage.   The good news is that with some careful consideration and planning a lot of headaches can be avoided.  It's really all about being or getting, organized as we hear from lawyer and mediator Angelina Macri in conversation with your hosts, Lawyer/mediator Tracy Miller and family mediator Jamie West.

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The words Narcissist and Gaslighting are two of the most overused and common words in society today.    The truth is we do live in a much more self-centred society these days, but not everyone we believe is a Narcissist is truly one by the clinical standards of the DSM. 
However,  if it walks like, talks like and acts like a narcissist, there's a very good chance, regardless of formal diagnoses, that the person IS, in fact, a narcissist.     About 20 percent of divorce cases involve at least one party who is narcissistic sometimes both parties are and sometimes one party and their new partner display these very harmful characteristics and make life literal hell for their children and the stable ex who just wants to move on...  In this episode Jamie shares a bit about his own traumatizing 9 year journey in dealing with a narcissisitic ex.    Together with lawyer Tracy Miller and Divorce Coach Dawn Shandley the truth about narcissistic exes in revealed.  Here's a hint..they never stop but you can stop them if you know how.       

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Tracy and Jamie speak with lawyer turned Divorce coach and Mediator Dominique Laundry…

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Nothing strikes fear in people settling financial issues after separation, like what happens with the marital home and where my next home will be?
In this episode, Tracy Miller and Jamie West welcome veteran Mortgage Broker Julie Brenneman as their guest to help sort out some of the questions you might have.

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On this episode, Tracy Miller and Jamie West welcome special guest David Lapointe from Century 21 Real Estate to discuss the ins and outs of selling the marital home after separation.   It might seem straightforward, but like many things, it might not be, depending on the circumstances.

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Richard Fast is an expert on thinking.   He's the creator of the wildly popular game Mindtrap, which has sold millions worldwide.     The number of decisions you must make during separation and divorce can be overwhelming.   That's why it's crucial to understand how your mind works to make better decisions than simply acting out of impulse or a "feeling" that the decision is sound.
As Jamie West and Tracy Miller discover in this episode, much more goes into decision-making than we know.

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The mysterious Family Mediation session will be much less mysterious after you listen to this episode wherein Tracy Miller and Jamie West paint a picture of a much more productive and cost-effective way to approach your separation.   Jamie even delves into some personal information that should serve as a wake-up call to anyone with a scorched-earth mentality around divorce.   

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Waiting til the holidays are over for the sake of the kids is a common philosophy for separating couples.  But once the January bills arrive and the decorations are put away, you are faced with what to do as the first step in separating from your partner.
In this episode, Lawyer Tracy Miller and Family Mediator Jamie West discuss what your first steps should be.    You will likely be surprised at the answers.

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Jamie West and Tracy Miller discuss how to make better use of court time if you find yourself in litigation over your family law matter.   Here's a suggestion...try not to use Court at all and you'll save a lot of time, money and stress.   But...if you are going that route then have a listen.

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How are you doing?  Really? Ok.    If you've listened to the various episodes of Divorce Solutions, you know how strongly we feel about self-care.    There's a reason emergency airline protocols require you to place the oxygen mask over your face first before helping others.   
The same applies to separation.   You cannot think properly or help your children through this challenging time unless you retain as much of your well-being as possible.    Separation and Divorce are on par with the experience of someone dying.   Some would say it's even worse...   Family Mediator and Lawyer Tracy Miller has some thoughts to help you along with Family Mediator Jamie West, who's been there...

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Aside from decision-making and parenting time, nothing creates more conflict in separating couples than setting up a holiday parenting schedule. That's why it's essential to nail things down in writing so everything is clear regarding expectations from both sides.     As we hear from Family Mediator Jamie West and Lawyer and Family Mediator Tracy Miller,  you must accept that things will not be the same as before decoupling. Still, as long as you stay child focussed and keep your emotions in check,  it shouldn't be too big a challenge to resolve...

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When you're decoupling, as seems to be the buzzword these days, all you want is to get it all done and dusted as fast as possible.   Well, how possible is fast?  Not very, is the answer.   Regardless of the dispute resolution path you choose (and we strongly encourage Mediation or Collaborative dispute resolution), it will not be all over within a few days or few weeks.   At best it will take a few months.  Choose litigation, and you're looking at years!   Courts are backlogged, and many professionals have longer wait lists coming out of the recent pandemic.     Despair not, because how you approach settling your family matters can still save you a great deal of time vs the alternative of litigation.
More in this episode of Divorce Solutions with Lawyer Tracy Miller and Family Mediator Jamie West.

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Whether with your ex or with your legal advocate or any other professional connected to your family law matter, communicating positively and effectively is critically important.   It can save you a lot of stress, time and money as we hear from veteran family lawyer and mediator Tracy Miller and Mediator and Coach Jamie West.

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Family Mediation is growing in popularity for a good reason,  it saves time, money, stress and allows decoupling parties to maintain control over the decisions they make about the parenting of the children and their property.    Why hand all of that over to a judge who is a perfect stranger?   The only people who should litigate are high conflict parties but with some professional help even those who are high conflict can learn to change their mindset that will allow for a mediated resolution to their family issues.
That's the message from Certified Family Mediator Jamie West and Family Lawyer and Mediator Tracy Miller in this episode.  

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In this episode, the myths surrounding common-law relationships and separation are discussed.     As with most issues in Family Law, the specifics surrounding each family's circumstances determine how the case will resolve.    As we hear again from veteran Family Law expert Tracy Miller and Divorce Communications Coach and Mediator Jamie West, alternative forms of dispute resolution are the way to go whether you live common-law or are married.  

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Child Support is always a live issue when co-parenting.  Circumstances and income levels change; therefore, Child Support numbers will often be adjusted to reflect those changes.    As you'll hear in this episode of Divorce Solutions Communications coach Jamie West and Family Law expert Tracy Miller remind everyone that Child Support is the right of the child, not the parents. 

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A deeper look at Collaborative Law with specialist and Lawyer Debbie Hoffman along with Family Law and Mediation expert Tracy Miller and Divorce communication Coach Jamie West...

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Your only goal when separating/divorcing should be to reach an agreeable resolution as quickly as possible.   It takes some thinking and some skill sharpening.  In this episode of Divorce Solutions, Divorce Coach Jamie West and Family Law Expert Tracy Miller review the items that will lead you to resolution saving time, money and heartache.

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There are definite do's and don't's when it comes to avoiding the family law system as much as possible.   It is not a place you really want to be.    In this episode of Divorce Solutions, Divorce Coach Jamie West and Family Law expert Tracy Miller run down the Top 5 things that will land you in Family Court

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Managing expectations of clients who want their divorce done and done before you can say boo is often a big part of what Family Lawyers have to deal with.   It's another reason that taking the time to hire the right family lawyer and other professionals is critically important to getting a good outcome for you and your children.    In this episode, Divorce Communications Coach Jamie West and Family Lawyer Tracy Miller discuss how expectations can get out of hand and why Alternative Dispute Resolutions methods are often a faster, less stressful and less expensive way to resolve your family law matter. 

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The statistics on family law files compiled by the government of Canada are ...well...a bit depressing actually.   You'll see what we mean when you listen to this edition of Divorce Solutions with Family Law expert Tracy Miller and Divorce Communications Coach Jamie West...

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In Canada they are called Section 7 Expenses and they relate to the extra expense incurred by parents for things like  dental, eyecare and other educational extraordinary expense and things like hockey, dance, soccer and art lessons etc.
They can become a lightning rod for conflict if not discussed and thoughtfully considered in advance between separated parties.    Divorce Communications Coach Jamie West and veteran Lawyer Tracy Miller talk about how important it is to get your mindset correct when dealing with these expenses in this episode of the Divorce Solutions Podcast...

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Mediation/Arbitration is an alternative dispute resolution process that saves time and money and stress because it allows you to choose and retain your power rather than giving it up to the court system that's already clogged and of which you have no control.    Lawyer Tracy Miller and Communication Coach Jamie West discuss the really good reasons why you should consider this process in the latest edition of the Divorce Solutions Podcast

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Will you recover your legal costs if you "win" your family law battle?  The short answer is yes, no and maybe.     Another answer to that question could be "it depends".
Never make any assumptions about outcomes on cost recovery.   Most of the time litigants do NOT recover their full costs and like them or lump them there's a bunch of reasons why Judges have very wide jurisdiction over cost recovery orders as you'll hear in this episode of Divorce Solutions with Lawyer Tracy Miller and Communications Coach Jamie West.

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What kind of price would you put on peace?  That's the question explored in this episode as Family Lawyer Tracy Miller and Communications Coach Jamie West examine many of the factors in family law matters that can cost you big time when you decide that fighting is better than resolving.   You need to hear this!

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Giving away your power is a big mistake in family law matters.   Handing decision making to courts and well -meaning Justices, Lawyers, Assessors and Therapists is not the best way to resolve things.    Educating yourself, getting control of your emotions and focussing on what's best for your children should be your first priority.     In this episode Legal expert Tracy Miller and Communications expert Jamie West discuss how educating yourself so you understand the issues you're facing can get you to a resolution much more efficiently than years and years of litigation will. 

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Collaborative Law is an alternative dispute resolution process that keeps you out of Court and keeps money in your pocket and can reduce stress and preserve your emotional health.    In this episode Family Law expert Tracy Miller of Miller Law and Mediation chats with Divorcecom founder Jamie West about why everyone should consider Collaborative Law when trying to resolve their family law matter.    

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Taking care of yourself physically, mentally, emotionally and financially are critical when you're going through a separation or divorce.     Don't waste time and money asking your lawyer be your therapist.  They are there to give you legal advice.    Communications expert Jamie West and Lawyer Tracy Miller discuss it all in this episode.

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Is a prenup or marriage contract a good idea?  Ummm....yeah.   Find out why in this episode as Family Lawyer Tracy Miller discusses the reasons with Communications consultant Jamie West

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It isn't Custody anymore.  It's called Decision Making.   Why....well have a listen and find out from Family Law expert Tracy Miller and Communication Coach Jamie West

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Stay off of social media when you are going through separation, divorce or other family law matters....Why?  Find out now from Family Law expert Tracy Miller and Communications expert Jamie West.

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Time is costly in Family Law matters in more ways than one.   Managing time properly and understanding how  slow the family law system usually is can help you make better decisions about your personal family law matter.     Communications expert Jamie West and Family Law expert Tracy Miller discuss how to view the concept of time within the Family Law context.  

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