This article was originally published by The Lawyer’s Daily (www.thelawyersdaily.ca), part of LexisNexis Canada Inc. Closed or inaccessible courts during this pandemic prompted me to consider how we resolve matrimonial disputes generally, and, more specifically, how we can resolve them more effectively in these stressful and uncertain times. Uncertainty creates anxiety, and when you couple…

I’m not quite sure if this is a blog or a rant – or perhaps it’s something in between? In any case, it’s about how parents, lawyers, and indirectly the courts, determine the allocation of fees shared by parents who work with a Parenting Coordinator. A Parenting Coordinator (PC) acts as a neutral third party,…

“Clients come to lawyers with problems they want solved, not issues they want litigated.” – Honourable Roy McMurtry I came across this old quote a few days ago and was prompted to consider how we resolve matrimonial disputes generally, and more specifically how we are resolving them in these pandemic times. Uncertainty creates anxiety, and…

Due to COVID-19, limitation periods for commencing a family law action, proceeding, claim or appeal in B.C. are temporarily suspended, however, it is still important to be aware of key dates after which your rights to make a claim may expire, including for spousal support and property claims, CPP, and in some cases child support.…

Managing parenting time schedules during a pandemic is an issue that has come to the fore, and parents are quite rightly asking what they should be doing to maximize safety while each still getting the appropriate amount of time with their children. The BC Health Minister Bonnie Henry was recently asked how COVID 19 would…

Limitations dates, or deadlines for taking legal action, are one of the most important issues at the outset of any legal claim. In many cases, including those in family law, parties must bring claims before they “expire”, or else that claim will be extinguished. This article explores key family law situations where there is a…

Published in The Lawyer’s Daily, Partner Laurence Klass outlines some of the common mistakes made by separating and divorcing couples that he encounters in his practice. Examples include selling the family home and splitting the proceeds equally without considering the implications, DIY separation agreements, failing to recognize time limitation periods, and more.

When most people think of family law cases, their minds turn to the dilemma of fairly dividing the family assets (in other words, “matrimonial property”): the house, the car, the pensions, perhaps the heirloom grandfather clock in the dining room. The flip side of the coin, however, is frequently less straightforward. What is the best…

When people think of separation or divorce, they often think of two people aggressively fighting over their respective rights to finances, and access to shared children.  This view is perpetuated in the media and from the spreading of “horror stories” amongst friends and family members. While this is occasionally the case, the truth is that…

Family law lawyer Craig Neville, a leading BC alternative dispute resolution professional, will be presenting on “Parenting Coordination Practice: 10 Years In” at the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia (CLE BC) 12th Biennial Family Law Conference on July 4th.  In this recent video interview, Craig discusses how retaining a Parenting Coordinator helps high-conflict…