Family Law Blog

Parents have a legal obligation to provide a fair share of financial support to raise their children after they separate or divorce. Retroactive child support is unpaid “historical” child support that is owing to a parent. Unpaid support is payable in British Columbia in three main scenarios: BC family law treats each scenario differently in […]

Despite what you may hear, not every divorce needs to be a legal battle. Most BC divorces are settled without a trial, and many are resolved amicably with a joint or uncontested divorce. Couples may need legal guidance along the way, but even then, creative and mutually beneficial resolutions can be prioritized. Both joint divorces […]

Vacillating Over Getting a Divorce in British Columbia: What You Need To Know Getting a divorce is such a big step that you must be sure that it is what you want before moving ahead. How do you know it is the right decision? If it is, when is the right time for a divorce […]

If your family law case is dealt with in British Columbia’s Provincial Court, the final decision can be appealed in the B.C. Supreme Court. Matters concerning guardianship, parenting arrangements (custody/access), child support, spousal support, and protection orders, which are heard in the Provincial Court, are frequently life-changing for those involved. If there is any chance […]

BC Common-law Relationships Webinar Darlene Sandhu, a Langley family law lawyer and managing partner at DSG Family Law, hosted this webinar to answer common questions about common-law relationships in British Columbia. The following key takeaways are covered throughout the video and provide important insight into when a relationship becomes legally recognized and what rights and […]

British Columbia’s Family Law Act provides essential protections for spouses, partners, and children against family violence, threats, harassment, or other forms of abuse. Protective orders are issued by the B.C. courts when urgent safeguards are needed against an abusive family member and impose a series of restrictions on the abuser. This can greatly affect family […]

Which Family Court Should I Go To? If you are working through a family law matter in British Columbia and need to file a Notice of Family Claim, choosing between the Provincial and Supreme Court is one of the first important decisions you will need to make. Your decision can have significant consequences. Both courts […]

Divorce is rarely simple, but filing for divorce in an abusive relationship in British Columbia often presents some additional complexities for spouses. Psychological, physical, or sexual abuse affects more relationships than most people imagine, with around 80 percent of cases of intimate partner violence experienced by females. Abuse of this kind is often a compelling […]

One of the major considerations for partners during separation and divorce in British Columbia is whether to leave the marital home. Will leaving the home affect your legal rights? Will it impact property division or who gets custody of the children? Will the court view my leaving as walking out on my kids? These are […]

Despite movie portrayals of high-conflict divorces ending in fierce court battles, this is rarely the case in British Columbia. Many divorces are uncontested, while others involving collaboration between lawyers or mediation settle well before a trial becomes necessary. As long as one spouse has resided in B.C. for at least one year and the court […]