Family law matters often involve various expenses related to children’s upbringing, education, and extracurricular activities. In Alberta, Section 7 of the Federal Child Support Guidelines addresses these additional expenses and provides a framework for sharing the financial responsibility between separated or divorced parents. In this blog post, we’ll explore what …
Navigating Custody Matters: Can Grandparents Apply for Custody in Alberta?
When families face challenges that affect the well-being of children, questions about custody and guardianship often arise. In Alberta, the legal system recognizes the importance of maintaining stable and nurturing environments for children, and this extends to considering the role of grandparents. In this post, we will explore the circumstances …
Child Support Calculators in Alberta: How They Work and What You Need to Know
Child support is a critical aspect of any divorce or separation involving children. It is essential to ensure that children have the financial support they need to thrive, regardless of the circumstances of their parents. In Alberta, child support is calculated based on a set of guidelines that take into …
What is a Codicil?
A codicil is a legal document that is used to modify an existing will without completely replacing it. This document allows you to make minor changes to your will, such as adding or removing beneficiaries, changing the executor, or updating asset distributions. Codicils are typically used for small changes that …
Can I legally prevent my children from seeing their other parent?
Divorce and separation can be a difficult and emotional time for everyone involved, especially when children are involved. Some of the most contentious issues in a divorce or separation are parenting, custody, and access to children of the relationship. Many parents wonder if they can legally prevent their children from …
Imputing Income in Family Law Cases: What You Need to Know
When it comes to determining the appropriate amount of child or spousal support in a family law case, the court will consider a range of factors, including the income of each party. However, what happens when one party is not currently earning an income, but has the potential to earn …
When Love is a Stranger: Navigating Parental Alienation in the Alberta Family Courts
Parental Alienation is a complex and deeply painful dynamic that can profoundly affect families. This issue can be challenging to address emotionally and, in some cases, legally. With this particular backdrop, Alberta Family Courts are confronted with the unique challenge of evaluating and finding solutions on matters such as Parenting …
Estate Planning Tips and Traps
A sensible estate plan is crucial to ensure a smooth and uneventful transition of your assets to your beneficiaries. While estate planning need not be overly complicated, here are some items that should be thoughtfully considered in consultation with a lawyer, tax accountant or financial advisor. Tip: Perhaps this is …
Will the Court hear a Litigant Who Stands in Contempt of Court?
Deliberate failure to comply with Court Orders is an increasingly common feature of litigation. While the Courts are typically prepared to provide litigants, particularly those who are self-represented, with a generous amount of latitude, significant sanctions will be imposed when a litigant refuses to comply with their court-ordered obligations. Those …
Dealing with your Family Business in a Divorce
Going through a divorce can be a stressful and complicated time in your life. If you and your spouse run a small business together or even if only one spouse runs the business, the value of that business will need to be determined and divided. Pursuant to the Family Property …