December is typically the busiest (and most stressful) time at the Court. Even if you do not celebrate Christmas, children still have time off from school and it is common for families to depart from their regular parenting schedule. If you do not have a formal parenting plan in place …
What is Parenting Coordination?
Parenting coordination is a process which assists divorced or separated parents to co-parent on an ongoing basis, regardless of whether they have primary or shared parenting. Parenting coordination typically commences after parents have received a Parenting Order or have completed a Separation Agreement. Parents must mutually agree to the parenting …
Parenting in a time of Pandemic
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 …
What factors does the Court assess in child mobility cases?
On behalf of Gary Kirk of Kirk Montoute Dawson LLP posted in Family Law on Sunday, June 14, 2015. In deciding matters of child custody, one of the Court’s main concerns is to ensure, when appropriate, that contact between the child and both parents is sustained. That being said, if …
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 …
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 …
How does Alberta collaborative law work?
On behalf of Kirk Montoute Dawson LLP posted in Collaborative Law on Friday, November 7, 2014. Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) is an increasingly popular way for separating spouses and partners to resolve their family law disputes in a non-adversarial setting. We recently discussed three effective ADR processes — collaborative law, …
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 …
Look to Physics to solve multiple partner/children parenting plans
On behalf of Kirk Montoute Dawson LLP posted in Family Law on Friday, March 14, 2014. As anyone in Calgary can tell you, trying to create a child custody or parenting agreement between divorcing spouses can be difficult. Not only are emotions running high because of the relationship breakdown, but …