Here's a summary of my description:
- married Cuban girlfriend in October 2007
- she and her son arrive in Canada September 2008 (ages 31 and 15 respectively)
- the relationship deteriorates and they leave January 2009 (less than 4 month co-hab)
- she begins to receive welfare March 2009
- she is forced by welfare to retain a lawyer through legal-aid
- she claims separation due to "emotional abuse"
- she resists all efforts by her lawyer to take me to court
- I retain one lawyer who I promptly fire when he tells her lawyer (untruthfully) that she and her son should be given $5000 and agree to return to Cuba (I believe he did this to instigate a fight so as to increase his hours)
- I retain second lawyer who promises non-confrontational process
- she maintains (and still does) that she wants none of the matrimonial home or my pension
My financial status
- approx. $80,000/year through employment
- matrimonial home with approx. $54,000 equity at date of separation
- pension (her half valued at approx. $3000)
- December 2009 I purchase another house
- I have since rented out the matrimonial home with her verbal permission
- I now have approx. $30,000 rental income per year (matrimonial home + 2 apartments in new house)
Her financial status
- approx. $12,000/year welfare for her and her son (now 17)
- apartment in Havana, Cuba
- no other assets
The problem
- her lawyer will not allow her to sign the separation agreement that her and I agreed to which states that I have to pay back welfare for 3 years (according to immigration sponsorship agreement) and she gives up all rights to the matrimonial home and my pension (SHE STILL WANTS NOTHING)
- welfare may cut her off if they don't like what she signs
- her lawyer has not responded to me or her in over a year (you read that right)
We speak frequently and we're in the process of finding her a new lawyer who will respect her wishes. I will be representing myself in the future. I'm in the process of parting ways with my lawyer due to a less-than-transparent billing process (that's for another thread).
There are no custody issues (THANK GOD!) and we're not fighting. I do realize that I'm responsible for the welfare she collects until September 2011 (3 years after her arrival in Canada) and until the summer of 2018 for her son (until his 25th birthday). He's started working a part-time job which bodes well for the future.
This doesn't seem to be at all complicated except for the matter of welfare. Has anyone dealt with this before?
We're keeping this very, very amicable (I wish we got along this well when we lived together!) and I'm very thankful for that. If she were to take me to court, I would be hammered due to the huge difference in our financial statuses).
Thanks to all who provide such valuable information on this forum!
Sparks
- married Cuban girlfriend in October 2007
- she and her son arrive in Canada September 2008 (ages 31 and 15 respectively)
- the relationship deteriorates and they leave January 2009 (less than 4 month co-hab)
- she begins to receive welfare March 2009
- she is forced by welfare to retain a lawyer through legal-aid
- she claims separation due to "emotional abuse"
- she resists all efforts by her lawyer to take me to court
- I retain one lawyer who I promptly fire when he tells her lawyer (untruthfully) that she and her son should be given $5000 and agree to return to Cuba (I believe he did this to instigate a fight so as to increase his hours)
- I retain second lawyer who promises non-confrontational process
- she maintains (and still does) that she wants none of the matrimonial home or my pension
My financial status
- approx. $80,000/year through employment
- matrimonial home with approx. $54,000 equity at date of separation
- pension (her half valued at approx. $3000)
- December 2009 I purchase another house
- I have since rented out the matrimonial home with her verbal permission
- I now have approx. $30,000 rental income per year (matrimonial home + 2 apartments in new house)
Her financial status
- approx. $12,000/year welfare for her and her son (now 17)
- apartment in Havana, Cuba
- no other assets
The problem
- her lawyer will not allow her to sign the separation agreement that her and I agreed to which states that I have to pay back welfare for 3 years (according to immigration sponsorship agreement) and she gives up all rights to the matrimonial home and my pension (SHE STILL WANTS NOTHING)
- welfare may cut her off if they don't like what she signs
- her lawyer has not responded to me or her in over a year (you read that right)
We speak frequently and we're in the process of finding her a new lawyer who will respect her wishes. I will be representing myself in the future. I'm in the process of parting ways with my lawyer due to a less-than-transparent billing process (that's for another thread).
There are no custody issues (THANK GOD!) and we're not fighting. I do realize that I'm responsible for the welfare she collects until September 2011 (3 years after her arrival in Canada) and until the summer of 2018 for her son (until his 25th birthday). He's started working a part-time job which bodes well for the future.
This doesn't seem to be at all complicated except for the matter of welfare. Has anyone dealt with this before?
We're keeping this very, very amicable (I wish we got along this well when we lived together!) and I'm very thankful for that. If she were to take me to court, I would be hammered due to the huge difference in our financial statuses).
Thanks to all who provide such valuable information on this forum!
Sparks
Comment