Family Law Blog

The team at Crossroads Law has had a busy year so far and we are pleased to announce the addition of a new Vancouver Family Lawyer, Tanya Thakur.

Iran, like a number of countries, does not automatically recognize the orders of Canadian courts in matters of family law. So, what are the implications for Iranian couples seeking divorce in Canada?

By definition, an annulment is a circumstance where there is a nullity of the marriage. A declaration of nullity may be obtained in two situations.

The gifts exchanged in a marriage – they could be jewelry, cars, boats, antiques, art. In some cases, even real estate, a condominium or a house. During a separation or divorce, spouses might claim these gifts as marital property.

Section 3(1) of the Divorce Act stipulates that a court has jurisdiction to hear and determine a divorce proceeding if either spouse has been an “habitually resident” in the province for at least one year immediately preceding the commencement of the proceeding.

Retroactive support issues are often reported by our clients. Here we look at the list of factors taken into consideration by the Supreme Court of Canada and how you can strengthen your claim for retroactive support.

FMEP can be a valuable ally in securing your support. If there are concerns about future payments, or there are ongoing instances of not being paid, not being paid the right amount, or not being paid on time, the FMEP can help remedy the situation. They also retain the option of going to court if necessary.

Child support is the right of the child, not the spouse who receives it. Prospectively paid month-to-month, and based on the Federal Child Support Guidelines correlated to the spouse’s income – typically Line 15000 of their tax return (formally, Line 150) – child support in most cases involves payment on the 1st of each month.

Crossroads Law founder, Marcus Sixta explains how the pandemic has led to more lawyers and clients successfully resolving family disputes online, relying on alternative dispute resolution processes such as the collaborative divorce and mediation.

What exactly is the role of a legal assistant or paralegal in a family law firm? They only deal with scheduling meetings and answering phone calls, right?