Valerie M. Little Law Blog

Whether you are getting separated, divorced or your marriage is to be annulled, there are steps you should take to prepare. A separation is where you and your spouse live separately and apart with the intent of getting a divorce, while an annulment is a court order that declares a marriage to be invalid from the start. These are each described in more detail below.

If you are separated with children from your former partner, your family law lawyer may suggest you consider adding in a parenting coordination clause into your separation agreement. There are many factors to consider in making this choice.

It frequently occurs that spouses disagree on their date of separation. This date is important for many reasons:

1. The date of separation can determine if the parties have lived separate and apart for one year and are eligible for a divorce.
2. The date of separation can be used to value the family property and familydebt.
3. There could be a claim for retroactive child indoor spousal support if no maintenance was paid during their separation.

Do you have a separation agreement signed already or have one in the works? If so, you should know about your rights and obligations.

There are special rules that apply when you are divorcing your spouse outside of Canada. Your divorce is valid if you divorced outside of British Columbia only if one of the spouses lived in the country where the divorce was granted for at least one year prior to the divorce. This is usually an important prerequisite if the validity of divorce is in dispute.

If you are thinking about getting remarried, you may want to consider the impact of obligations from a prior marriage. You may also want to better prepare for a second potential separation by planning for the distribution of your assets in advance.

If you are initiating divorce proceedings, you may be tempted to resort to online toolkits or first try navigating the process yourself. It may appear that pursuing a divorce without a lawyer will save you time and money. This is often not the case, and you may risk overlooking complex legal issues or drawing out the process for longer than necessary. Below are some of the issues to consider before attempting a divorce on your own.

When you have decided to separate from your life partner, many factors must be taken into consideration from a legal standpoint. Because you may be deeply involved in the emotional aspects, it can be difficult to be forward-thinking or understand what the division of assets will entail. Thus, it is important to hire a family law lawyer to protect your interests and properly document the separation in a separation agreement. Below are some key factors detailing how a family law lawyer can help you in this situation.

Today, many couples consider a prenuptial agreement, whether for a first, second or later marriage. Below are some things you may want to consider if you are getting married or are considering a prenuptial agreement.

It’s sad but true that separation is a modern day reality. You may know a number of people who have gone through the separation process. If you have been thinking of separating, you should consider getting professional legal advice from a lawyer specializing in family law.

Your trusted Family Lawyers put the most common divorce myths to rest.

Helpful advice for maximizing your divorce results and saving yourself time, hassle and money.

Separations and divorces have a way of fostering a lot of negative emotions when it comes to the way children view their parents.

Family disputes can be extremely complicated, tense and emotional. When trying to resolve your family issues, it is always prudent to hire a family lawyer to help you.

Whether you are just beginning the divorce process or you have recently gone through it, you may now be facing the issue of determining child and spousal support.

Though it’s not something most people like to think about, there are a number of issues that need to be addressed yearly when it comes to dealing with your family lawyer. At Valerie M. Little Family Law, we take the time to make sure that you understand everything you need to know to keep your house in order. Let us show you how easy it can be to keep track of your legal obligations and put everyone’s mind at ease. Here’s what you need to update for 2018.

A prenuptial agreement, also known as a cohabitation or marriage agreement, is an agreement made between two parties setting out how property will be valued and divided if the couple were to separate. While circumstances of separation are not something a newly engaged couple generally likes to think about, protecting yourself in advance can be crucial to a “fair” outcome in the event of separation. It can further save the time and cost of going through a litigious divorce if the relationship falls apart.

It’s an understandably difficult time when a marriage breaks down; both, emotionally and financially. However, in order to move forward in an expeditious and efficient manner, it is vital to follow the legal requirements of disclosure.

In order to successfully annul your marriage, your situation needs to meet the legal requirements and you need to get the appropriate declaration from the court which states that your marriage is invalid. This way your marriage will be considered to have never occurred in the eyes of the law.

Spousal support is a payment made to a former spouse after a separation. This payment is intended to equitably divide the family income between the spouses. Spousal support may be decided on the basis of need or to compensate for what a spouse may have given up during the marriage. Spousal support payments are usually decided within the scope of the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines (the “SSAGs”).

A “Protection Order” is an Order made by a Judge in court under the Family Law Act that is meant to protect one person from another in a marital situation or marital like situation. 

Although divorce is rarely easy for anyone involved, it can often be uniquely stressful for children. Even if separation or divorce is ultimately the right decision for your family, children, who often have not participated in the decision process until it is over, can react in many unpredictable ways. 

If your are in the process of going through a divorce, the upcoming holidays will probably present you with a few new challenges. Seeing everyone in the family together is always wonderful but now that your family has changed, there will be some unique stresses this holiday season.

Navigating the system to arrange for child and spousal support can be difficult, particularly as child benefits have changed over the years. It is particularly important to understand what child benefits are available if you have a child and the relationship of child benefits with any spousal support that may also be available.

Travelling abroad with a child can require a lot of planning to arrange a safe and enjoyable trip. While planning and custody arrangements should be resolved before travelling, ensuring that you have proper documentation for your child can help avoid any problems that may arise with border agents or immigration officers.

When couples want a divorce, they often fail to realize the legal processes involved. What sounds like a simple separation can quickly turn into a difficult battle between lawyers.

You stand at the edge of one the biggest decisions you've ever had to make. This decision could end a chapter of your life and begin an entirely new one with different joys and challenges. But are you ready for it?

Whom Should I Consider?

If you have sole custody or sole guardianship of your child in a court order or separation agreement, you may wish to consider appointing a guardian for your child in the event of your death.

Everyone would like a happily ever after, but, unfortunately, many relationships don't have them. When a relationship ends, life can get hard.

Facing a marital separation but feeling unsure whether to choose mediation or traditional divorce court? It can be a confusing time for all parties.

Even if your divorce affected nobody but you, it is often accompanied by a lot of emotional stress. You have to break apart a relationship that probably brought you much joy when it worked.

If you're facing the end of your marriage, you have a lot weighing on you. Conflicting feelings come and go. You have to continue with your daily activities and still keep up with escalating demands on your time and resources. If you have children, you work hard to consider their needs.

Advice from an Experienced Divorce Lawyer in Coquitlam, BC

Marriages are not easy; and anyone who has been married for an extended period of time will attest to that.

—Advice from an Experienced Family Lawyer in Coquitlam, BC

Divorces can be complicated, painful, and emotional situations.

Maintaining a strong relationship with your children is crucial during a divorce, and this is true for all parents. With the exception of being held financially responsible, fathers sometimes feel as though their parental role is minimized throughout the divorce process.

Uncontested divorces are becoming increasingly common, especially as more couples realize the emotional and financial benefits of an amicable split.

One of the cornerstones of Canadian family law, along with making decisions in accordance with the “best interests of the child,” is the “joint venture” model of the family. For several decades, high-level decisions of Canadian courts have considered the family’s economics as a cooperative affair, even if some family members’ contributions are not easily expressed in financial terms.

The cost of love and romance can be amazingly high – but if you don’t have the right representation, getting a divorce may be even costlier. Once you know that divorce is a likely choice for you and your spouse, contact a professional as soon as possible.

If you and your spouse have decided to get a divorce, your first step should be talking to a professional. Getting a legal separation or a divorce is rarely easy for anyone, but an experienced family lawyer can do much to assist you.

If you are amid a separation or divorce, and have children, determining you and your former partner’s respective parental responsibilities will inevitably become an important issue. It is important to understand the current legal landscape when it comes to potential custody arrangements, and how you will be affected by custody laws.