AGENT OF CHANGE
Audra & Mark strive to be agents of change both in their personal and professional lives.
Audra's focus in both her legal practice and mediation practice is to positively restructure families and their relationships leaving them always in a better position then they were when they retained her.
A separation is typically lifechanging. Only you can determine and influence the nature and result of that change in your life.
We hope to educate, guide and empower you to be an agent of change in your own life. Your relationship with us, is one of the most important relationships you will have in your adult life as the work that we do together will influence in significant ways critical matters such as: how, when and sometimes if you will see your children; where you will live; what your financial picture will be and therefore how much money will be available for your children's activities, medical, dental and orthodontic needs; funds available for investment for retirement.
We hope to assist you in making positive, constructive changes during what may be a financially and emotionally difficult time in your life.
At all times, we remind you that we work for you. The client instructs the lawyer. The lawyer is paid to provide advice and guidance however one day, the lawyers go away. These are your children. Your home. Your assets. You must make informed, constructive decisions to allow you to continue with your life in way that moves you and your family forward, rather engaging in a battle that drags you and your family down leaving your children as collateral damage.
Litigation has its' place in dispute resolution. Sometimes, you come to an impasse and there is no option but to move your issues to Court and have a Judge render a decision. There is such a thing as productive well managed litigation. This happens when the client and the lawyer work as a team. The client is prepared. Keeps his/her back yard clean. Has his/her ducks in a row.
The lawyer is prepared. Keeps the communication and management of the case clean. Has his/her ducks in a row.
Tips:
As a client of Audra M. Bayer Law Corporation, we encourage you to be prepared, to have your ducks in a row, to be empowered and contribute positively to the management of your own file.
If at all possible, prior to your first meeting with Audra, consider your options: mediation, collaborative law, negotiation, litigation. Read the article on Family Law Proceedings on the Family Law Resource Page. Print the Domestic Information Form and Form 70d Financial Statement from the same page and complete them. Attach supporting third party documents for the values of all assets and debts to the Form 70d (opinion of value for real property; mortgage statement; RRSP statements; credit card statements, bank statements, etc.) If you are having any difficulty with completing the forms, contact Audra's assistant Deborah.
Make 3 copies of all documents being provided to Audra (one for Audra & the file, one for the Court, one for the other lawyer) and keep a copy for yourself. This will reduce the cost of disbursements as you will not pay our office to copy documents you could copy for yourself.
If you have children, be sure to take the For Sake of the Children Program. The link for this program is contained on our Important Links page. This course is mandatory for any parent bringing an action in the Court of Queen's Bench. If you do not take this course, you may not have standing when you appear in Court.
Provide Audra with copies of your last 3 years tax returns; 3 recent and consecutive paystubs and/or a year to date income and expense statement . If you are receiving social assistance, employment insurance or worker's compensation benefits or any insurance income supplemental benefits, please provide Audra with a copy of a statement setting out the benefits that you are receiving.
If you are claiming child related expenses such as medical, dental, daycare, orthodontic or school expenses, please provide copies of invoices for these expenses.
Domestic violence is not limited to physical abuse. Many individuals experience domestic abuse without every being physically abused. There are many forms of domestic abuse including physical, mental, emotional and financial abuse and intimidation. If you are living in an abusive situation, you do not need nor should you wait for legal representation before doing something about your living circumstances. Be an agent of change in your own life and ensure the safety of your family and, or yourself as priority one. Call the police. Go to stay with a friend, family or at a shelter. Tell somebody. See a counselor. Get out. Abuse is never acceptable and nobody deserves to be treated with anything but honesty, consideration, respect and dignity.
Call us now! We look forward to working with you...
