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[skdad]

If you haven't read my last posts, I am going to continue to pay the child support, but want to help put a roof over their head as well. With me giving her the down payment, it will allow her to build some equity into her own home sooner because she will not have to go through CMHC financing.

[Rioe]

I think it's really great that, for the sake of your child to live in a good home, you are willing to help your ex buy her house after your separation. Others are right to say it's not a gift though. It's part of the separation agreement, in lieu of her getting half the furniture or something, and that way should the agreement end up back in court, you can show that you have already paid her a significant amount and she doesn't need more. Unfortunately, there are many many ways for her to take advantage of this, and it's not going to be easy for you to make it iron clad.

As others have stated, you cannot pay CS 'ahead' in a lump sum like this. Paying SS in a lump sum is also ill-advised. Should she manage her money poorly and lose the house, she can always take you back to court to get that monthly CS amount out of you. Heck, she could turn around and SELL the house a month after she closes on it, get all your money back in cash, and blow it all on herself. I'm really not sure what to suggest so that your child is guaranteed to benefit from it, as you are no doubt hoping.

But unlike asking a lawyer for advice, there are a lot of people here to brainstorm more ideas for you, and it's free!

[Berner_Faith]

I would not sign anything saying it is a gift...I would have her sign something saying it is part of the equalization... signing it off as a gift is allowing her to come back on you for more equalization... If she wants the money to go into her account and out, whatever...let her do it...as long as you have something signed by both of you stating that it is part of the equalization. If she decides to go blow the money rather than buy a house, tough luck for her...sad situation for your child, but I would see it, as if you don't actually give her the money, it isn't really her money

[skdad]

RE: separation settlement agreement

I am offering a payment of $XX,XXX.00 by XXXXXXXXXXX Canadian Dollar Draft # XXXXXX dated XX/XX/XXXX to XXXXXXXXXXXX as a Separation Agreement Settlement/ Equalization Payment.

It is intended to be put towards a down payment on the financing/ mortgage of a home property she intends to purchase, but she is free to use it as she wishes.

I have also agreed to pay the costs of the Home Inspection Fees, & the Lawyers Fees involved in the purchase of this property.

I have no further interest in this money after she accepts it, & I do not intend for her to repay it. I have no interest in her property, as she has no further interest in my property.

This payment will not affect any child support payments that I am currently providing, & I will continue to make biweekly payments based on my yearly salary & in accordance with Justice Canada Child Support Online Lookup.


We have been Separated since XX/XX/XXXX


Please accept this payment in accordance & agreement to the above statements.
Signed this day in the presence of a Notary Public or Commissioner for Oaths in & for the Province of Saskatchewan.

NAME/ SIGNATURE/ DATE/ WITNESS PRINT/ SIGNATURE

__________________________________________________ ________________________________________


__________________________________________________ __________________________________________


I have drawn this agreement up without consulting any legal advice & understanding that we can settle any disputes fairly and between the two of us.

Thank you

[Pursuinghappiness]

It is intended to be put towards a down payment on the financing/ mortgage of a home property she intends to purchase, but she is free to use it as she wishes.

I have no further interest in this money after she accepts it, & I do not intend for her to repay it.

Holy alarm bells. I wouldn't sign that thing at all (well, I might if I was her).

I'm confused. Basically that's just a contract handing her over a sum of money...and if you wanted to do that, you don't need a document.

It protects you from nothing and she could easily use it in court to say that you just gifted her a bunch of money that she was free to do whatever she wanted with. If you want to just hand someone a pile of cash, you can do that without her signing anything.

Hey, are you single?

[skdad]

What else do you recomend I do, we are both being civil about it, & I want to avoid the lawyers as much as possible.

She knows she needs this money to finance this house, & we have come to an agreement. This is the reason I have wrote up this document, as evidence that the money was paid to her as part of an equalization payment, not as a gift.

The bank draft is already sitting at the lawyers office that she is using in the home purchase.

How does everyone else pay an equalization payment

[frustratedwithex]

Originally Posted by skdad

What else do you recomend I do, we are both being civil about it, & I want to avoid the lawyers as much as possible.

This is the problem. The more you try and avoid lawyers, the more you need them. Just because everything is civil now, doesn't mean it won't change.

You need a lawyer for your protection.

If you do your research before you see a lawyer, it should help keep your costs down. If you take this example to a lawyer, you will most likely pay more legal fees than you had expected.

[Pursuinghappiness]

This is the reason I have wrote up this document, as evidence that the money was paid to her as part of an equalization payment, not as a gift.

I wouldn't necessarily hire a lawyer to deal with your complete separation...but I would ask for help for one to help you draft this contract up. It should take less than 1 billing hour and is well worth the effort. You can even arrange one together that you both agree on so you can sit together to do it. The wording on this contract worries me a bit....but I'm not a lawyer..maybe its sufficient but I'd check on it before I signed it.

[frustratedwithex]

Originally Posted by Pursuinghappiness

I wouldn't necessarily hire a lawyer to deal with your complete separation...but I would ask for help for one to help you draft this contract up. It should take less than 1 billing hour and is well worth the effort. You can even arrange one together that you both agree on so you can sit together to do it. The wording on this contract worries me a bit....but I'm not a lawyer..maybe its sufficient but I'd check on it before I signed it.

I wouldn't use the same lawyer. You both need independent legal advice.

Do your homework before you see a lawyer, take their advice into consideration, be aware of contentious points, and understand that when all is said and done it is your separation agreement, not the lawyers. They will point out everything that is wrong, and tell you how it should be fixed, this all costs money.

[mcdreamy]

I think you need to bar her from coming back for any further property division or SS, and your draft doesn't really seem to do that. She WILL need to review and sign with her lawyer. You probably should too! - but I'd go more along this line: (I might have to cut/paste into several posts)


FULL AND FINAL RELEASE

In consideration of the payment of the sum of $ to Wife, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby remise, release and forever discharge each other from all claims and demands whatsoever which they may now have, ever had or hereafter can, shall or may have for or by reason of any cause, matter or thing whatsoever existing to the present time and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing,

1. Of and from all claims and demands of every nature and kind in any way related to or arising from any rights to and interest in property owned by the other which he or she has or may acquire under the laws of any jurisdiction, and in particular the Family Law Act, including all rights to and interest in:
i. ownership in property;
ii. possession of property;
iii. compensation by payment of an amount of money, or by an award of a share of property for contribution of any kind, either direct or indirect, made to property;
iv. beneficial ownership of property where one party is alleged to hold property for the other party as trustee on a resulting, implied or constructive trust;
v. division of property; and
vi. an equalization payment pursuant to the Family Law Act.