Family Law Blogs

Posted on January 16, 2023 by Deirdre Prestage Severide in Featured, Family Law

Choosing the right family lawyer to work with you on your separation is so important.... you need to consider more than just how many wins he or she has recently had in court! It is really important to choose a lawyer that understands you and what is most important to you now and in the future. It is also important that your lawyer understands what is important to your spouse too, because you will not reach an agreement until some of the needs of each of you are met. If you have seen Marriage Story, after the mediator’s involvement ended, neither of the lawyers dug into what was really important to each of Nicole and Charlie. Sadly for them and their son Henry, they ended up going down a traditional legal path with their lawyers that neither of them wanted to go down.

A Notary Public in British Columbia has fulfilled the course and membership credential requirements of the Society of Notaries Public that enable him or her to perform certain legal procedures and to draft legal documents like basic wills, Powers of Attorney, real estate conveyancing documents, and to witness sworn statements on legal documents, commonly referred to as “notarizing” them.

The family courts are closed during this pandemic however our collaborative offices are open to help you….collaborative professionals can help you within the Collaborative Process (CP) to resolve your separation and divorce in a peaceful, cost effective and non-adversarial manner.

Posted on July 9, 2016 by Deirdre Prestage Severide in Featured, Family Law

In my initial meeting with clients, they often ask this question. It’s a valid question and arises, I think, because of the traditional stereotype of divorce and what it often looks like. Traditionally, divorce was about winning and losing, preparing for a battle in court where you strive to win with little regard for the claims of your spouse. During the process, you try to gain every possible advantage to defeat your spouse. This is a typical “win-lose” scenario! If you think about divorce in these terms, you may be concerned that a more respectful process like the collaborative divorce process may mean concessions and settling for less than what you would get if you win in court.

Posted on July 9, 2016 by Deirdre Prestage Severide in Featured, Family Law

Many people who first learn about collaborative divorce incorrectly assume that it only works for couples who get along well and don’t fight. The thinking is that if there is a significant conflict the couple is not able to negotiate a settlement and likely will need a court to impose an order on them.

Posted on July 9, 2016 by Deirdre Prestage Severide in Featured, Family Law

Some would say that a healthy divorce is an oxymoron! We believe and have seen in our practice that divorce does not have to be adversarial and destructive to relationships and families. Too often people believe that divorcing means fighting, hiding, hating, yelling……..and in the traditional way of resolving these matters in the court process we often experienced this behavior. It doesn’t have to be so! There is a healthier way to restructure your lives going through a separation and divorce – not just for you but also, and perhaps more importantly, for your children.