Legal marijuana has the potential to impact most areas of a family law case, but the shadow of the pot leaf will lie most heavily on cases involving children.
The first step in calculating how much child or spousal support one ex-spouse must pay the other is to determine the paying spouse’s income. The starting point for this is the amount reported on line 150 of the payor’s most recent tax return.
With the cost of living constantly on the rise (particularly in BC’s Lower Mainland), more couples are moving in together, perhaps sooner than they anticipated, as a way to save money. If you’re in this position, consider a cohabitation agreement.
Summer is (almost) here, so it must be time for the Second Annual Kent/Connect Team (+ Family and Pets) Retreat!
Leisha weighs in on proposed changes to the Divorce Act, which will bring federal law in line with provincial legislation.
Are you ready for a change? Do you crave interesting, meaningful work done in a collaborative and forward-thinking environment? We're hiring in Vancouver, and Connect Family Law may be just the firm for you.
Are you ready to take your practice to the next level? If so, we’d love to hear from you. Connect Family Law is seeking a lawyer to complete our Kelowna team.
Most people who come to me for advice believe that their obligation to pay child support ends when their child reaches the age of 19. In fact, this is not always the case.
Our February Divorce Salon in Kelowna was led by Therapist, Child Specialist and Divorce Coach Sharla Schofield, RCC, RCSW. Conceptualizing divorce as a “journey”, Sharla helped Salon participants prepare for their travels and beyond.
Retirement. Long golden days stretching late into the evening. Time to focus on golf, painting, crossword puzzles and connecting with friends and family. Unfortunately, divorce can derail these plans, particularly when it comes to spousal support.
Connect is excited to introduce its latest initiative designed to offer families a choice in how they resolve their family law matters: the Fixed Fee Collaborative Model (Pilot Project).
Last week, CBC Web Writer Bethany Lindsay highlighted a real-life example of how the "truth will out" in family law disputes.
The recent snowfall here in Kelowna inspired an early start to this season of reflection. Before we say goodbye to 2017, we wanted to share some highlights from our first year as a member of this vibrant Okanagan community.
Inspired by a recent CBC interview with an Ontario family lawyer about the most common questions she hears from a couple who’ve decided to split, Crystal shares her own Big 5 (questions) with those of you living - and separating - in BC.
The holiday season and the expectations that come with it can be stressful for any family. Separated and divorced families face an additional set of challenges during this time. To help you to reduce your holiday stress, Jessica offers some tips.
Inspired by a recent Financial Post article about the court’s ability to require one spouse to pay the other’s legal expenses, Louise discusses another way that BC family law levels the playing field between spouses to increase access to justice.
In this post, Rebecca shares the most commonly heard excuses for failing to pay child support and the Court's typical response.
At our September Vancouver Divorce Salon in Vancouver, Dr. Gail Howell-Jones, PhD spoke about the challenges involved in life transitions ("edges") such as separation and divorce ) and offered coping strategies. Alex Boland recaps the evening here.
Just because you can do something, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you may. Read Crystal's latest post, in which she considers the question "can I change the locks?"
The conclusion to Rebecca's two-part post on the dispute resolution options available to separating spouses who are willing and able to avoid going to court.
While separation and divorce inevitably involve some degree of pain, the process of separation need not be “a fight to the bitter end.” In fact, other than in exceptional circumstances, going to court ought to be a last resort.
Crystal Hansen led our Salon participants in a wide-ranging discussion covering everything from their personal experiences of separation to their perspective on how our legal system is evolving.
Last month, my colleague F. Scott Murray debunked four myths about divorce. Continuing that theme, this month I clear up some confusion surrounding spousal support.
After weeks of breathing smoked-filled air that made the city feel like the inside of a cigar-store closet, the breeze has turned and the evening wind brings with it a familiar bite. It all means one thing: Winter is coming.
Knowledge is power. When it comes to separation and divorce, the more you know about the process and what to expect, the better equipped you’ll be to handle this significant life transition.
You and your former spouse were able to settle your family law issues without having to resort to litigation and you signed a written agreement that contains your settlement terms. But your ex is refusing to follow the agreement. Now what?
Our June Divorce Salon in Vancouver, led by Relationship Coaches and Mentors Jack and Soorya Resels, involved a rich dialogue with our participants about how to rejuvenate their relationships and thrive.
The third post in a 3-part blog series on estate planning services that lawyer Scott Murray offers our Okanagan clients.
This month, we share three key takeaways from an evening with our wider Connect community, so that those who weren’t able to join us can benefit from the discussion.
Now that our Okanagan office is (already!) six months old, we thought it high time for the Vancouver gang to take a field trip to check out the new digs.
The law often has difficulty keeping pace with changes in our social landscape. Examples of this disconnect are readily found, but one of particular interest to families is the challenge lawmakers face when it comes to defining a “parent”.
The second post in a 3-part blog series on estate planning services that lawyer Scott Murray offers our Okanagan clients.
We were delighted to have a reason to play host to the Okanagan community last month at the official opening of our Kelowna office!
One challenge in divorce that is all too common but rarely discussed is infertility which, even if overcome, can lead to separation or divorce.
Unfortunately, even when litigation is the right choice, the experience can feel like a waste of time and money if the judge does not rule in your favour. To avoid that feeling, unsuccessful litigants tend to think: We should appeal!
For Okanagan clients wanting support with long-term financial planning, Scott Murray in our Kelowna office is available to assist on a wide variety of estates issues.
Where separated spouses live in different provinces, this can impact how their family law issues relating to property, support and divorce are resolved.
While any aspect of litigation can be both emotionally exhausting and expensive, there are reasons why it may still be worth considering.
Many pet parents are horrified to learn that, when it comes to dividing a pet post-separation, there is no requirement to consider the “best interests of the pet”. Learn what happens to a pet on separation in our latest blog post.
In November 2016, we were fortunate to have Child and Family Therapist Alyson Jones lead our Divorce Salon on the topic of children, anxiety and divorce. Here, we share Alyson's presentation from that evening with our wider Connect community.
Our January Divorce Salon, led by parenting expert and child specialist Alyson Jones MA RCC, involved a rich dialogue with our participants about co-parenting issues that can arise on separation and divorce.
In Vancouver, making decisions about whether (or when) to sell your house can be overwhelming at the best of times. Contemplating those decisions in the context of a family law dispute can cause that overwhelm to tip into panic.
December is a natural time to look back on the challenges and achievements of the previous year. For us, it’s a particularly fitting time for reflection, since it marks Connect’s one year anniversary.
We are currently seeking an experienced family law lawyer to join our creative and dynamic team, someone who shares our passion for legal advocacy and is energized by the idea of “doing things differently”.
In this post, we look at how spanking and physical discipline are treated under both criminal and family law in Canada, and encourage parents to use healthy alternatives when parenting your children.
Some of the top judges in Canada are beginning to speak out about a problem that many family law clients have been concerned about for years: access to legal services.
As a follow up to our recent blog post Divorcing DINKs (Double Income, No Kids), we asked Jack Cartmel to share his perspective on being a “DINK”. Here’s what he had to say...
Holidays and special occasions can be a particularly charged example of how (nearly) everything changes post-divorce.
Since divorce is a major life transition involving many unknowns, it can bring with it a significant amount of anxiety. Questions like “Where will I live?”, “Who will I live with?”, and “What will happen to me?” can be overwhelming for a child.
Kim Hall, Founder/Owner of Physio2U, was a speaker at our recent Divorce Salon "Women Rebooting their Career after Divorce.” We chatted with her after the event.
We spoke with Michelle Schepel, Manager of Partnerships and Programs at the Boston Pizza Foundation, after a relaxed and compelling Divorce Salon gathering.
"The Lifestyle to Which You’ve Become Accustomed" No matter their age or how long they’ve been married, all Canadians who decide to divorce are subject to the same laws regarding spousal and child support.
For parents of school-aged children, September can herald a (sometimes welcome) return to routine. However, fall can also bring with it added financial and logistical stresses, as parents adjust to new money and time demands.
This Toronto Star article describes the potential advantages to creating a parenting plan that grows with your children. While some ex-spouses may benefit from such an approach, flexibility can also lead to uncertainty in terms.
This Huffington Post piece by Randall M. Kessler ( U.S. divorce lawyer, author, and law professor) offers five great tips to help get you through your separation with a minimum of cost and expense.
Is there such thing as a "good divorce"? Globe and Mail writer Zosia Bielski suggests there can be in her recent article, Divorcing with dignity: How modern exes are treating a split as an awakening.
A recent Forbes article (read it here) considered the "divorce mortgage" concept being floated by some UK lenders due to “a flood of older people being forced to sell their homes after they split in later life".
We wanted to share this interesting piece posted recently on The Guardian (read it here) about the divorce app amicable that "lets you break up without breaking the bank".
We wanted to share this terrific article from the Money section of US News & World Report by Masood Vojdani on how to prepare financially for a spouse's death since the suggestions apply equally in the context of divorce.
This Maclean's piece by Jennifer Robson is a very interesting social policy analysis on how the planned changes to federal child benefits will (or won't) impact separated and divorced spouses. Stay tuned for a possible Connect blog post...
(Originally posted May 2014. Updated May 2016.) A key issue in the recent high profile divorce of Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev was the trusts Mr. Rybolovlev created to hold most of his fortune. When the legal dust settled, a Swiss court....
(Originally posted July 2012. Updated May 2016.) While many people feel like a snail without a shell after a divorce, the reality is Canadian family law dictates that family assets are divided equally between spouses...
This blog post addresses the issue of voluntary early retirement and how this may affect spousal support orders. Voluntary early retirement is defined as someone who could continue to work, but chooses, ...
(Originally posted May 2012. Updated April 2016.) Like all good love stories, this one starts in the wee hours of the morning at the Little White Chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada. A man and a woman (both Canadian residents), having known each other...
(Originally posted March 2012. Updated April 2016.) What's the Difference? A Separation Agreement is: a written contract between separating spouses; and negotiated by the spouses with or without the help of lawyers...
(Originally posted April 4, 2012. Updated April 2016.) As we are in the heart of tax season, I thought it timely to offer some information about how Canadian tax laws treat legal fees relating to a family proceeding. Keep in mind that I am not,...
We recently read another great article online dealing with the financial aspects of divorce. This one, by freelance writer Paul Sisolak, explains some of the ways a divorce can impact your credit indirectly and how to prepare yourself to recover...
We wanted to share this great article by Toronto family law lawyer Nathalie Boutet about the important role that financial planners play in negotiating out-of-court divorce settlements. We often use financial planners and/or tax specialists...
(Originally posted April 2014, updated April 2016). You have been working hard and finally obtained that promotion, which includes a significant pay raise. Your talents and hard work have paid off. In the midst of merriment and celebration,...
Connect Partner Leisha Murphy speaks to Global BC about how Metro Vancouver’s hot real estate market can affect divorce settlements.
Earlier this week, we read an interesting piece in the Toronto Sun covering a recent family law court ruling out of Hamilton, Ontario. In the words of the article's author, the judge's decision was "an astounding plea for sanity",...
Connect Partner Leisha Murphy speaks to CBC about how skyrocketing house prices are impacting divorce cases in the Lower Mainland.
We wanted to share this interesting piece we found in The Guardian on “divorce lenders” in the US and UK. These financiers are capitalizing on the high US divorce rate by lending money to the “non-monied spouse”, at a high interest...
A recent family law blog post out of California on the topic of “bifurcation” (which allows a court to separate aspects of a family law case and grant a divorce before other issues are resolved) brought to mind the concept...
In the recent case of Chellappa v. Kumar 2016 BCCA 2, the BC Court of Appeal had the opportunity to address what it termed “the tension between the open court principle and a litigant’s privacy rights in a family law case”.
I recently read an article in the New York Times entitled: “A New Cadre of Experts Helps Women Navigate Their Divorces”. This is an interesting idea that I think could work for men as well as for women. Creating a community of support....
(Updated April 11, 2016) A while back, a colleague sent me this Huffington Post article, “10 Ways to Stay the Hell out of My Office”, by divorce lawyer Krista Barth. While the piece is a couple of years old now, its suggestions...
Under the Family Law Act, which came into force March 18, 2013, you and your partner/spouse may make an agreement dividing property and debt between you. The Agreement can be made in the event of a future separation (Marriage or...
The voice of men has been noticeably absent from the debate on work-life balance and the new economic realities of families. While women struggle with their traditional role as the “homemaker” and the emotional and financial consequences of...
Social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, have led to an unprecedented sharing of personal information on public platforms. In many instances our discretion has not caught up with our desire to share our activities, triumphs...
Never has there been a time in history when women were so prevalent in the workplace. This has caused a significant shift in gender roles, identity, and expectations. Or, so we think. I recently read a poignant and captivating article...
The new Family Law Act comes into force today (March 18, 2013). This means that all claims, except property division claims, that started under the old Family Relations Actwill continue under the new Family Law Act. If you start a fresh...
Daisy and Eric have decided to separate. They agree to equally divide their assets, but Daisy does not want to pay for half of the Line of Credit which Eric used (without Daisy knowing) to go to Vegas (without Daisy),...
Frank and Jamie McCourt, the infamous former owners of the LA Dodgers, are back in court. Jamie alleges that Frank vastly understated the value of the Dodgers, which was sold earlier this year for approximately $2 billion, leaving her with an...
Non-disclosure of assets is the cancer of matrimonial property litigation -Cunha v. Cunha (1994), 99 B.C.L.R. (2d) 93 (S.C.) Non-disclosure of financial information, whether real or imagined, is almost invariably claimed by one spouse...
Like so many issues that come before our courts, moral and philosophical considerations must be tackled. Unfortunately, the court, ensnared with procedures, legislation and rules, is often ill-equipped to handle the existential questions...
I discuss the financial implications of divorce and separation with Heather Holden of Hayashi Holden Wealth Management. Quick, informative and personal (you get to see me talking instead of reading a post)...
To help protect your interest in family assets upon relationship breakdown, you first have to know what the assets are and where they are located. Second, you should consider what assets may be divided under theFamily Relations Act (referred to...
Our BC Court of Appeal discussed the difference between an application for review of a spousal support clause (in an agreement or court order) and variation of a spousal support clause under section 17 of theDivorce Act in the decision of Domirti...
As a follow up to my blog post: The New Family Law Act in BC: What you need to know – Property Division for Married and Unmarried Spouses, this post discusses parenting arrangements, previously known as custody and access, under the new...
Using the example of Sally and Bill, who are friends, a resulting trust can arise in two situations: the gratuitous transfer of property from one person to the other. This is where Sally transfers her property to Bill...
Cohabitation is on the rise, but is it really an alternative to marriage? According to University of Lethbridge sociologist Reginald Bibby, cohabitation is predominantly a “premarital, intermarital and post-marital experience...
This blog post is Part II to my last post: Do I stay or Do I go: Who Should Occupy the Family Residence After Separation. In this post I will be addressing the remaining categories of who should occupy the family...
You have decided to separate. Now what? The next big decision after a couple decides to separate is who will remain in the family residence (with the kids if there are any) until the couple is able to disentangle their...
North America is not the only place where divorce is on the rise. According to the Ministry of Civil Affairs in China, 2.68 million couples ended their marriage in 2010; up 8.5 percent from 2009. This number is comprised of 2.01 million couples...
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