Family Law

In Canada, the federal government has the jurisdiction to make laws in relation to marriage and divorce. Section 8 of Canada’s Divorce Act provides that a divorce may be granted upon application by either or both spouses, provided there has been a “breakdown of the marriage”. In addition, there are certain administrative requirements that must…

Going through the divorce or separation process can be an emotional and confusing period of time, especially in regards to the children that may be involved. You might be wondering which parent the children will stay with or whether they will have to move. How will you determine how much time you get to spend…

While it may be certain that your relationship with your spouse is over, getting a divorce is not necessarily easy; it can be a complex and confusing process. If you are considering divorce, you likely have questions about how to do so in Canada. Below are the answers to some frequently asked questions heard at…

Being faced with divorce is not easy on anyone, and it is certainly not a situation most people expect to find themselves in. While nothing will make the process of divorce pleasant, you can take steps to help make the process smoother and minimize conflict with your spouse. Evaluate How You Are Communicating While emotions…

If you are facing separation or divorce, disputes are likely to arise between you and your former spouse — whether with respect to the division of the property and assets you own, who will stay in the house you owned together, or custody of your children. Although these differences can at first appear unresolvable, litigation…

Over 160,000 couples lived in common law relationships in British Columbia in 2011. According to Statistics Canada, the rate of common law couples in British Columbia is growing at a rate three times faster than the rate of married couples. To keep up with this increasingly important social trend, the BC government updated the laws…

Much like the government of BC did in March, 2013, the Canadian government is looking to overhaul the Divorce Act to encourage dispute resolution for families that is less conflict laden. A good article can be found in this National Post Article by Ryan Glass

DO YOU WISH TO MOVE WITH YOUR CHILD TO ANOTHER CITY, PROVINCE, OR COUNTRY? The Family Law Act of British Columbia came into force on March 18, 2013 and made significant changes in the law governing relocation with children. If you would like to move with your child to another city (even a neighbouring city),…

No! You do not have to apply for a divorce at any time. However, in British Columbia, we have a no-fault divorce system. If either party applies for a divorce, they will be successful if they prove one of three things: you have lived separate and apart for 12 months; the opposing party has committed…