Legal Resources That Actually Help

No legal jargon overload here - just practical guides, checklists, and answers to the questions you're actually asking. We've put together everything we wish clients had before walking through our door.

Featured Resource
FEATURED GUIDE

The Complete Family Transition Handbook

Whether you're going through separation, planning your estate, or dealing with custody arrangements - this comprehensive guide walks you through what to expect, what to prepare, and how to protect what matters most.

PDF Format | 45 pages | Updated Nov 2025

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Downloadable Guides & Checklists

Divorce Preparation Checklist
PDF | 8 pages

Everything you need to gather before starting divorce proceedings - financial docs, property records, and more. Don't miss anything important.

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Estate Planning Starter Kit
PDF | 12 pages

Your first step toward getting your affairs in order. Simple worksheets to help you think through beneficiaries, assets, and wishes.

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Co-Parenting Communication Guide
PDF | 10 pages

Practical tips for keeping communication focused on the kids, reducing conflict, and making joint decisions easier.

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Child Support Calculator
Excel | Spreadsheet

Get a rough estimate of child support obligations based on BC guidelines. Not legal advice, but helpful for planning.

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Power of Attorney Explained
PDF | 6 pages

What it means, why you need one, and how to choose the right person. Clear explanations without the confusing legal speak.

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Prenup Discussion Guide
PDF | 7 pages

How to bring up the topic with your partner, what to include, and why it's actually a loving thing to do.

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Probate Process Overview
PDF | 9 pages

Step-by-step breakdown of what happens after someone passes. Timelines, costs, and who does what.

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Mediation vs. Litigation Guide
PDF | 5 pages

Honest comparison of both approaches - costs, timelines, pros and cons. Figure out which path makes sense for you.

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Asset Inventory Worksheet
Excel | Spreadsheet

Track all your assets in one place - property, investments, accounts, valuables. Makes estate planning and separation way easier.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Try searching: "custody", "will requirements", "separation", "probate fees"

Honestly, it depends. If both parties agree on everything - uncontested divorce - you're looking at roughly 4-6 months from filing to final order. But if there's disagreement on custody, property, or support? Could be a year or more. Mediation can speed things up compared to court battles. I've seen some wrap up in 3 months and others drag on for 2+ years. The more you can agree on upfront, the faster it goes.

Yeah, you do. Without a will, the province decides who gets what according to their formula - and it might not match what you'd want. Plus, if you have kids, a will lets you name who'll care for them if something happens. Even if you're just leaving behind a car, some savings, and personal stuff, a will prevents family fights and makes everything clearer. It's not about being rich, it's about making things easier for the people you leave behind.

Joint custody means both parents share decision-making about big stuff - school, medical care, religion. The kid might still live primarily with one parent, but both get a say. Sole custody means one parent makes all those calls. In BC, courts prefer joint arrangements when parents can communicate decently. Living arrangements (where the kid actually sleeps) are separate from custody - that's called parenting time or access. You can have joint custody but unequal parenting time, which is pretty common actually.

BC probate fees are based on the estate value: nothing on the first $25,000, then 0.6% on the amount between $25,000 and $50,000, and 1.4% on everything over $50,000. So if someone leaves $200,000, you're paying about $2,250 in probate fees. Then there's legal fees on top - usually a few thousand depending on complexity. Some assets skip probate entirely (like jointly owned property or accounts with named beneficiaries), which is why proper estate planning can save your family money.

Technically yes, but I wouldn't recommend it. Separation agreements become legally binding once signed, and if you miss something important or word things wrong, you could be stuck with an unfair deal. At minimum, both parties should get independent legal advice before signing - most lawyers offer that as a specific service. I've seen too many DIY agreements that seemed fine until someone tried to enforce them and found they were missing key clauses. It's worth spending a bit upfront to get it done right.

A power of attorney lets someone else make decisions for you if you can't. There's two types: financial (handling your money and property) and healthcare (medical decisions). You need them before something happens - once you're incapacitated, it's too late. I usually recommend getting both done when you do your will. Pick someone you trust completely, because they'll have real authority over your affairs. Without these in place, your family might need to apply to court for guardianship, which is expensive and slow.

Almost always, yeah. Court means multiple appearances, formal discovery, possibly a trial - lawyer fees add up fast, easily hitting $20k-$50k+ per person. Mediation might cost $3k-$8k total, split between both parties. Plus it's faster and way less stressful. That said, mediation only works if both people are willing to negotiate in good faith. If one party's being completely unreasonable or hiding assets, you might have no choice but court. But whenever possible, mediation's the smarter financial move.

In BC, after living together for two years (or less if you have a kid together), you're considered spouses under family law for things like property division and support. But there's no automatic inheritance rights like marriage - if your partner dies without a will, you might get nothing. That's why cohabitation agreements and wills are super important for common-law couples. Don't assume you're protected just because you've been together forever. The legal stuff needs to be documented.

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