Westside Family Law

03/21/2022

Preparing for a divorce over 50 brings unique challenges. If you’re considering a “grey divorce,” here are some key considerations to keep in mind.

02/11/2022

In this blog, we usually focus on the family law side of divorce, sharing legal tips and best practices for ensuring an equitable outcome to a separation. This week, we want to examine the human aspect of divorce; the toll it takes on us in stress, and how to cope with this often-traumatic event.

A divorce is the most stressful life event many of us will experience. Learn key tips and best practices for protecting your mental health during a divorce.

02/05/2022

When a married or common-law couple separates, the division of property is usually quite straightforward. Most assets gained during the marriage are counted as family property and divided equally among both former spouses. In cases where a spouse brings that property into the relationship, that property will usually remain theirs alone, and is counted as excluded property.

Read on below.

High net worth divorce can be a complicated process. Work with the experienced divorce lawyers at Westside Family Law to navigate the process without stress.

01/27/2022

In this week’s blog, we’ll examine how spousal abuse impacts upon divorce. Knowing your legal rights will improve your ability to make choices to keep yourself and your children safe.

Spousal Abuse is a silent epidemic that’s impacting a devastatingly large number of Canadians. Learn how spousal abuse impacts on divorce in Canada, and know your rights if you're thinking of separating an abusive partner.

12/24/2021

Couples going through a divorce or separation face an emotionally challenging time. It is perfectly normal for feelings of anger, sadness and exhaustion to rise to the surface. There’s also the growing sense of uncertainty about the future to consider. Against this backdrop, important issues need to be decided, such as the division of assets a couple has accrued during their relationship. This often-contentious issue has the potential to further damage an already strained relationship, and impact negatively upon any children that are involved.

When a couple separates there are issues to be resolved. The division of shared property is one of the first issues to address. We've gathered information on how these assets are typically distributed in a divorce.

12/09/2021

A common misconception about divorce is that it always involves acrimony. Fortunately, this is not the case. If both parties are agreeable, then they can resolve their family law issues through a Collaborative Divorce.

This week’s blog is the first of a two-blog series in which we take a deep dive into Collaborative Divorces. We’ll begin by looking at the basics of the subject and why more and more couples are using it to maintain good relations during their divorce.

Have you heard of a Collaborative Divorce? An increasing number of couples are using this type of divorce to separate on good terms. Learn more in our latest blog.

12/03/2021

Welcome back to our three-part blog series on parental alienation. In Part 1 and Part 2, we took a look at the basics of alienation, as well as unpacking some myths on the topic. For our third and final part, we want to examine some actions you can take if you believe your child is being alienated against you, and what to do if you believe you’re being falsely accused of parental alienation.

In the final part of our series on Parental Alienation, we'll be examining the warning signs of Parental Alienation, what to look out for, and what to do if you suspect you're being alienated.

11/26/2021

Welcome back to our three-part blog series on parental alienation. In last week’s Part 1, we introduced the concept of parental alienation, its emergence as a sociological theory, and it’s uptake by the courts in British Columbia. In Part 2, we want to unpack some of the common myths about parental alienation.

We're continuing our look at the topic of Parental Alienation by unpacking some of the common myths and mistruths about this complex topic.

11/18/2021

Parental Alienation is a psychological theory that explains the negative emotions a child may experience towards one of their parents following separation. The theory provides that if a separated parent manipulates a child into developing persistent negative behaviours towards the other parent, that child will align themselves with the alienating parent. In turn, this leads to the child’s words and behaviours reflecting those of the alienating parent. Read on below.

Parental Alienation is a complex and controversial topic so we’ve decided to take a deep dive into the topic and will be posting a three-part series on parental alienation. This week, we’ll take a closer look at the history and emergence of Parental Alienation as a sociological theory and its up...

11/11/2021

The decision to adopt a child is one of the most important decisions a parent will make in their life. It’s just the first step in a lengthy legal process, with the ultimate aim of meeting the child’s best interests. In this week’s blog, we want to examine the topic of consent in adoption. Who has to give it? Who isn’t required to consent? Let’s clear up one of adoption’s least understood aspects.

In this week’s blog, we want to examine the topic of consent in adoption. Who has to give it? Who isn’t required to consent? Let’s clear up one of adoption’s least understood aspects.

10/29/2021

During a separation, one of the hardest aspects for many parents is deciding on the arrangements for where their children will live. How they reach an agreement on the important question of “Parenting Time” usually revolves around the current relationship both parties enjoy.

If they split amicably, it tends to be a straightforward process with plenty of room for flexibility. If it was settled through a court order, there are bound to be some hard feelings on one side or the other. Despite the seemingly final nature of these court orders, there’s still several opportunities to revisit Parenting Time and Child Custody down the line. In this week’s blog, we’re going to examine the process for revisiting and changing a child custody agreement.

Interested in changing your child custody agreement? Learn how changes are handled in British Columbia under certain specific circumstances.

10/07/2021

Recording your intentions about who will inherit your property and assets after death is always highly recommended. Most people turn to a lawyer or notary to assist with this important task but there are some who will communicate their intentions in somewhat less formal fashion.

In our years of working in family law, we’ve seen it all when it comes to wills. Some individuals draft up a handwritten will; others will send an email or a Word document with their intentions. While these types of wills don’t meet the required steps to be considered a “valid” will in British Columbia, they can still be accepted by the courts.

If a will is considered invalid in British Columbia, there are ways to validate it in the eyes of the law. In this week's blog, we take a look at invalid wills and how they can be fixed.