You sat across the kitchen table in your apartment months ago. You signed the separation agreement that your ex-spouse’s lawyer wrote. You wanted to move on and keep the peace. Now your ex bought a new car and got a raise you never knew about. You look at the numbers and wonder if there’s a […]
You sat across the kitchen table in your apartment months ago. You signed the separation agreement that your ex-spouse’s lawyer wrote. You wanted to move on and keep the peace. Now your ex bought a new car and got a raise you never knew about. You look at the numbers and wonder if there’s a
A prenup takes more than signatures. In British Columbia, proper financial disclosure is an important part of preparing a marriage agreement. If a spouse fails to disclose significant property, debts, or other information relevant to negotiating the agreement, that can later become a reason for a court to set aside all or part of the
When a relationship ends, deciding who keeps the dog can be one of the hardest parts of the separation. Many people call it “pet custody.” BC law treats the issue a little differently. Since January 15, 2024, the Family Law Act has included specific rules for “companion animals.” Courts now have a defined list of
A single cheque for spousal support can have very different tax consequences depending on what it pays for. If it covers monthly payments already due under a court order, it may be taxable to the recipient and deductible to the payer. If it settles the right to receive future support, it generally has no tax
Separation brings out a familiar instinct: if you can capture the moment on your phone the threat, the broken promise, the ugly comment at a custody exchange surely a judge will see the truth. It feels like insurance. In practice, the law in British Columbia is far more layered than “hit record and hope for
Guardianship in BC comes with a legal obligation to the other parent, not just to the child. If you share guardianship, taking your child out of Canada without the other parent’s consent or a court order can be a criminal offence under the Criminal Code, and it can trigger an international return process under the
Life doesn’t stand still, even after a parenting order is finalized. Your work schedule may change, your child’s needs evolve, or your co-parent may stop following the plan. Whatever the reason, you’re left wondering: Can I change a custody order in BC? The good news is that BC law allows orders to be “varied” when
Before you can calculate spousal support, you have to answer a more basic question: are you entitled to it at all? In British Columbia, entitlement isn’t automatic just because you were married or lived together. It has to be established first, and only then does the conversation move to amount and duration. This article focuses
Moving with your kids after a separation isn’t just a personal decision in British Columbia — it’s a legal one. Under the Family Law Act, a guardian who wants to relocate a child has to follow a specific process, and skipping it can cost you the move entirely. If you’re planning to relocate, or you
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