If you are the payor or recipient of child or spousal support in Alberta, it is important you are aware of how calculating guideline income comes into play. While your guideline income may be the same as your Line 150 (or as of 2019, Line 15000), that is not always …
Along with the COVID-19 Pandemic have come court applications by parents seeking to change their parenting plans because of disagreements as to the other parent’s perceived lack of compliance with social distancing guidelines. A small but growing body of case law has generated common-sense principles that should be observed by …
The difference between separation and divorce is largely a legal one. Separation can apply to both married and common law couples while divorce can only apply to married couples. While you may hear phrases like “common law divorce,” there is no such thing as a common law divorce in Alberta. …
Immediately following a separation, it is normal to feel paralyzed as to what your next steps should be. As obvious as it may seem, the first step following a separation is determining that the relationship/marriage is actually done, and there is absolutely no chance of reconciliation. Once you and your …
When someone is considering divorce, it can be a stressful and scary time in their lives. Often, people do not know where to start and when to speak to a lawyer. Once you have decided that you are ready to proceed with seeking a divorce, it is best to gather …
There are alternatives to court if you and your ex are unable to reach an agreement after separation, which are broadly called Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). While it is typically cheaper for the parties to reach an agreement through negotiations, that is not always possible in which case these options …
This is a question that frequently arises in client consultations, particularly with respect to clients who have children with addiction issues or from whom they have become estranged. The simple answer is “maybe and maybe not”. The complicated answer is that the Alberta courts have long promoted the principle of giving effect …
The complexity of Divorce and Family Law matters can be an overwhelming challenge for any spouse. Although lawyers and judges have seen almost every version and variation of a divorce, spouses experiencing it for the first time encounter a steep learning curve. It would be oversimplified to distill such an …
Ending a relationship is an extraordinarily difficult emotional decision. Mental health experts say that the divorce or separation grieving process is similar to that arising from the loss of a loved one. Even the legal consequences of that decision are not only trying, but sometimes traumatic. Although there are ways …
The legal and judicial systems in Alberta have admirably evolved in encouraging parties to choose Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) forums such as Mediation, Arbitration, Collaborative Law and variations thereof. Ideally, any couple headed toward divorce will mutually opt for one of these paths of least resistance. They will attempt to …
