Net Family Property and Equalization: An Introduction

Equalization is a payment from one spouse to the other at the end of a marriage.  This equalization payment ONLY applies to married spouses, not to common law spouses.  S. 5(1) of the Family Law Act (“FLA“) provides for Equalization when: A divorce is granted; Marriage is declared a nullity; When (married) spouses are separated and there is […]

Spousal Support: The Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines

Spousal Support: The Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines

Spousal support is often a very contentious issue on separation as it has a much more subjective approach than child support.  A lot more factors go into determining a spousal support amount and there is no hard and fast rule on how it is to be calculated.  The government has provided a set of guidelines […]

Child Support

Child Support

One of the major issues at separation is how much child or spousal support will be paid from one spouse to the other.  This can often become very contentious between separating spouses as it can greatly impact both of their finances. The Family Law Act (“FLA”) recognizes that each parent has an obligation to provide […]

Separation and Divorce

Clients often contact our office inquiring whether we can assist with their divorce. In these cases, one of the first questions I always ask is how long they have been separated for.  If they tell me they’ve only been separated for a few months I inform them that they can’t get divorced unless one of […]

Common Law vs. Marriage

Common Law and Marriage are often confused when it comes to the division of property and other rights and obligations upon separation. In order to know what you’re entitled to, it’s important to understand the distinction between these two terms so you can create the best plan for your future. What may be confusing to […]

The Process of Getting a Separation Agreement Done

The Process of Getting a Separation Agreement Done

What follows below will be a general overview of the process for completing a separation agreement.  It begins by contacting our office and concludes with the completed separation agreement that is provided to the client. Please note that this is not a precise account of how the process works, but merely a general guideline.  Each […]

Separation Agreements: An Overview

Separation Agreements: An Overview

What is a separation agreement? Separation agreements are contracts between two persons in a romantic relationship regarding their familial rights and obligations towards each other.  These types of agreements allow people to negotiate issues such as how children will be taken care of, what kind of support will be paid between the spouses, and how […]