Services

Mediation

Mediation is a process where a neutral person, the Mediator, will facilitate a conversation between two or more people to help them to resolve a dispute. It’s an effective and affordable way of resolving most family law issues. It’s a particularly good way for couples to sort out their finances and parenting issues after a separation, as it enables couples to craft unique solutions that are tailored to their family’s circumstances without the conflict or cost associated with other more adversarial processes such as court.

I am accredited by the Law Society of BC as a Family Law Mediator and I am a member of the Mediate BC Roster of Family Mediators. In my role as a Mediator, I help separated couples to reach agreement on financial and parenting issues arising from their separation. If couples are able to reach an agreement, I can prepare a written agreement for them that outlines what they have agreed upon. I am available to mediate for clients who don’t have lawyers, as well as in circumstances where both spouses have lawyers but need help from a neutral mediator to resolve their dispute.

I accept referrals to act as a mediator at the Legal Aid tariff rate.

I also represent clients as their lawyer at mediation and/or provide legal advice in the background to individuals who are participating in a mediation process led by another mediator.

Agreements

Most family law matters can be addressed by negotiating a written agreement. I have extensive experience negotiating and drafting family law agreements ranging from simple agreements for people with modest resources to complex agreements involving companies, trusts, and significant assets. I can help with the following types of agreements (among others):

  • Cohabitation Agreements

  • Marriage / Prenuptial Agreements

  • Separation Agreements

  • Child and Spousal Support Agreements

  • Parenting Plans

  • Assisted Reproductive Technology Agreements

I am also available to provide Independent Legal Advice (ILA) on agreements that have been drafted by someone else.

Collaborative Divorce

The Collaborative Divorce process is an alternative to the traditional adversarial approach to separation and divorce. In the Collaborative Divorce process, both spouses sign a contract at the start of the process in which they commit that they won’t go to court or threaten to go to court. Instead, both spouses and their lawyers work together (with the help of mental health and financial professionals if appropriate) to reach agreements that are in everyone’s best interests and that put the needs of children first. To learn more about the Collaborative Divorce process, click here.

I completed my training in Collaborative Divorce in 2015. I am a member of the BC Collaborative Roster Society, Collaborative Divorce Vancouver and the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals.

Unbundled Services & Legal Coaching

Unbundled services and legal coaching are affordable alternatives to being represented by a lawyer. Rather than hiring me to represent you in court or in your negotiations with the other party, you represent yourself and maintain control of your case but you get help from me in the background.

If you hire me to perform unbundled services, we will work together to identify the ways in which I can provide the most value to you based on the budget you have available for legal fees. We will agree in advance on the tasks that you’d like my help with, and I will only charge you for those tasks.

Some of the tasks that I routinely help with include:

  • Answering questions if and when you have them

  • Providing legal opinions or assessments of your legal position

  • Advising on court rules and procedures

  • Helping to draft documents for court

  • Reviewing and revising documents you have prepared yourself

  • Providing summaries of the law and case precedents you can use in court

  • Helping you to make settlement offers and evaluate settlement offers received from the other party

  • Coaching on strategies to resolve your case in or out of court

Divorce

Married people who have already resolved all of the financial and/or parenting issues arising from a separation can apply for an uncontested divorce in the BC Supreme Court. While it is possible to file the paperwork for an uncontested divorce without a lawyer, many people find it overwhelming and prefer to hire someone to ensure it is done right.

My standard rates for an uncontested divorce are as follows (though I do offer a limited amount of services on a “sliding scale” basis for clients with limited resources):

  • No children: $1500 plus taxes and court filing fees*

  • With children: $1900 plus taxes and court filing fees*

    * Additional fees may apply if the opposing party lives outside of Canada due to additional costs and complexities that may be involved when serving divorce papers outside of Canada.