Many families in Abbotsford go through life without ever requiring legal assistance. Those are the lucky ones. Families frequently develop complex issues, disputes, and other situations that either end up in court or require professional help in the form of mediation, negotiation, or collaboration between lawyers. From divorces to child custody, parenting schedules, support, guardianship, […]
Most people assume that once a divorce order is granted, it is final and cannot be challenged. However a landmark 2025 decision from the BC Court of Appeal has changed that assumption. The court confirmed that under the right circumstances, a desk order divorce can be set aside — even years after it was granted. If
What can you do if you want a divorce but your spouse either doesn’t agree with it from the start or refuses to sign the papers after being served? Can you get a divorce without the other person signing? In British Columbia, if you feel that your marriage is beyond repair but your spouse doesn’t
Millennials in British Columbia are increasingly turning to prenuptial agreements as they view marriage as both a financial partnership and a romantic one, especially when they have already inherited or are set to accumulate significant assets. People are also generally getting married later in life and want to protect their hard-earned assets, while also preventing
Separation and divorce are often stressful, not least because of the financial uncertainty faced by the spouses. Seeking financial clarity is an essential part of the process. This is helped by understanding the provisions of the Family Law Act for dividing property and debts in BC. The Family Law Act covers both married spouses and
Legally enforceable cohabitation or prenup agreements can be highly useful domestic contracts when a couple decides to move in with each other or get married, saving time, expense, and stress if the relationship breaks down. However, the British Columbia courts can set aside these agreements on various grounds. Both cohabitation and prenuptial agreements may be
Most divorcing couples in British Columbia don’t end up with a judge deciding the key matters. Instead, they negotiate a settlement agreement. The judge will check this to confirm that “reasonable arrangements” have been made for the children before granting the divorce. The settlement agreement process can be challenging for separating couples during a time
A prenuptial agreement is a “marriage contract” made before a marriage starts, often helping to decide key financial matters in the event of divorce. Such agreements are becoming increasingly common in British Columbia, as couples get married later in life, often having already accumulated significant assets. Prenuptials can reduce the level of financial uncertainty while
In many British Columbia divorces, mediation is a voluntary process where spouses agree to sit down with a trained mediator to settle their main differences. The divorce mediator tries to facilitate an agreement on disputed matters and, if successful, the mediation process helps to avoid litigation and keep things more amicable. But how can you
When parents separate or divorce in British Columbia, their legal responsibility to financially support their children remains—even if they relocate to another province or overseas. One parent usually pays child support to the other parent to assist in meeting the various expenses involved in raising the child. The calculation of how much support must be