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Amid this COVID-19 world pandemic, separated and divorced parents are still coping with trying their best to co-parent. I would be interested to know – has this pandemic crated more cooperation between you as parents or escalated matters? BE FLEXIBLE We have kids who are needing to self-isolate in one parent’s home for any given … Continue reading Divorced Co-Parenting During COVID-19
Unmarried living together – very common these days! Planning for that cohabitation – less common, but probably one of the most important things you can do. Whether you end up married or not, the law in many jurisdictions provides that once you’ve been living together for a certain period, your division of assets & debts … Continue reading Planning for Living Together – Questions to Contemplate
Similar to the collaborative process which I introduced last month, mediation is a process which can also have tremendous positive effects on families going through separation and divorce. Family Mediation is a safe and neutral environment in which families can resolve their disputes. A neutral mediator facilitates the parties’ discussions, encouraging them to … Continue reading I have heard about “mediation” for resolving family disputes – can you explain it?
I recently came across a news article about a Vancouver woman ordered to pay her ex $200,000.00 after trashing his reputation online. Most people have a general understanding about the concept of defamation, but you rarely hear about actual defamation orders being made or damages being awarded. After coming across the article, I … Continue reading Social Media and Defamation – A Cautionary Tale
There is lots of media attention on January being “International Divorce Month” and January 8th being “International Divorce Day”, but I prefer to bring to light a different term if we are to say that January is a popular month for initiating divorce proceedings – it’s called “International Child-Centred Divorce Month” and it … Continue reading January is “International Child-Centred Divorce Month”
People often ask why they need to come in for an initial consultation. They just have a question that will take “30 seconds” of my time to answer. I often hear frustration on the other end of the phone when they are advised that they need to come in for a consultation to … Continue reading The importance of an initial consultation
We know that toxic stress and chronic conflict negatively impacts kids’ development. When you are separated and need to deal with facilitating a parenting schedule and exchanging kids, stress and conflict can occur especially at the point of the exchange. Here are some tips to reduce conflict during exchanges and improve kids’ experiences … Continue reading How do I improve transitions for kids between two homes?
There’s a new Act coming into force on January 1, 2020 – the Family Property Act – replacing the current Matrimonial Property Act. The biggest change is that this legislation now gives unmarried separating couples in Alberta the right to automatically divide their assets and debts. This is huge – until now, these … Continue reading Changes are Coming for Unmarried Separating Couples in Alberta – Jan 1, 2020
Each time I write about spousal support, I always repeat the same statement of principle – the determination of spousal support is more of an art than a science. This remains true. In order to determine whether you’re entitled to spousal support, you should begin by considering the factors set out in the … Continue reading How do I know if I’m entitled to spousal support?
What do children in the midst of their parents’ high conflict divorce want for Christmas? Ask them… they’ll tell you they want freedom from conflict – a gift that will last a lifetime. Wouldn’t that be a special gift for your children? When parents talk about how they will share holidays and special … Continue reading Give Your Children The Gift of A Conflict-Free Christmas