On behalf of Gary Kirk of Kirk Montoute Dawson LLP posted in Family Law on Saturday, February 21, 2015. Judges in Alberta make child custody and guardianship decisions based on the child’s best interests. While every case is different, it may be possible under certain circumstances for a person who …
What are the different kinds of child custody arrangements in Alberta?
The term “parenting,” as opposed to “custody” and “access,” is used in Alberta’s Family Law Act. Under the Act, the term “parenting” refers to the plan for how divorced or separated parents will make decisions regarding their child and how the parents’ time with the child is shared. The federal …
Alberta mobility applications: Making a case for a move
On behalf of Gary Kirk of Kirk Montoute Dawson LLP posted in Family Law on Monday, January 19, 2015. In matters of child custody, the Alberta courts generally presume that maximizing contact between the child and both parents is in the child’s best interests. Every family is different, though, and …
Do I need a written custody and parenting plan?
On behalf of Kirk Montoute Dawson LLP posted in Divorce Mediation on Friday, December 5, 2014. If you and your co-parent are separating or divorcing in Alberta, then you have options as to how you come to an agreement about a parenting plan. Your agreement doesn’t have to be put …
Child care agreements and holiday plans: Tips for Calgary parents
On behalf of Kirk Montoute Dawson LLP posted in Family Law on Friday, November 28, 2014. Whether your relationship with your former spouse is amicable or strained, co-parenting during the holidays can be a challenge, especially if these are the first holidays with a new parenting plan. With that in …
Push for unified family court ramps up in Alberta
On behalf of Kirk Montoute Dawson LLP posted in Family Law on Friday, November 21, 2014. Alberta remains one of only four Canadian jurisdictions where family law matters are divided between the lower and superior courts, while the other nine jurisdictions have some kind of unified family court. In Alberta, …
Calgary mother seeks return of child taken by father to Lebanon
On behalf of Kirk Montoute Dawson LLP posted in Family Law on Friday, September 19, 2014. In the 1980s, the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, or simply the Hague Abduction Convention, was drafted to expedite the process of returning a child home after the child …
What criteria are considered in child mobility disputes?
On behalf of Kirk Montoute Dawson LLP posted in Family Law on Friday, August 15, 2014. After a divorce or separation, a parent who has access to his or her child has a right not only to spend time with the child, but also to receive certain information related to …
Is it ever too late to settle divorce matters out of court?
On behalf of Kirk Montoute Dawson LLP posted in Divorce Mediation on Saturday, August 9, 2014. If you are going through a divorce or separation, at any point in the process you can choose a method of alternative dispute resolution (ADR). Through arbitration, mediation or collaborative law, couples can reach …
Canadian mother imprisoned during complex child custody case
On behalf of Kirk Montoute Dawson LLP posted in Family Law on Saturday, August 2, 2014. Many separated or divorcing parents negotiate through mediation to establish effective child custody arrangements. Even when there is hostility between parents, it may still be possible to achieve family-specific, out-of-court solutions by prioritizing the …