Family Law

April 20, 2009

Not Married and Separated

If you have been living with a partner and then separate, you will be answering many of the same questions married spouses have to answer: How will you parent your children? How will you each contribute to raising your children […]
May 25, 2009

Adoption: The New Beginning

For many couples, one of the most exciting times in their lives is when they make the decision to adopt a child.  The Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act governs the procedure for adoptions in Medicine Hat.  The Act outlines […]
June 24, 2009

Planning to Live Together

A decision to live with your partner has important parenting, financial and legal consequences for both of you. Our census data in Canada and Medicine Hat tells us most people live together and then either marry or separate within several […]
July 21, 2009

Independent Legal Advice for Separating Couples

When a couple in Medicine Hat separates and is able to come to an agreement about how to spend time with their children and what to do with their property, they often attend at a lawyer’s office together to just […]
April 19, 2010

Who Pays for the Children? Child Support on Separation or Divorce

When parents separate or divorce, it is the responsibility of both parents to contribute to the financial needs of their children   In almost all situations, this will mean that one of the parents will pay child support to the other.  […]
May 25, 2010

Spousal Support: The Difficult Decision

One of the most difficult negotiations that spouses undertake after they separate is around the issue of spousal support.  This issue is laden with emotions and the parties’ feelings of entitlement and fairness. Spousal support is the payment of money […]
June 20, 2010

The Child Support Recalculation Program

In December, 2010, Alberta Justice began the Child Support Recalculation Program.  This is an administrative program that is intended to recalculate Child Support Orders for separated and divorces families in Medicine Hat and throughout Alberta based on changes in the […]
November 22, 2010

New Rules of Court and Dispute Resolution Processes

On November 1, 2010, the government implemented a new set of Rules that govern how Albertans will resolve their civil legal problems. The goal of the new Rules is to “maximize the Rules’ clarity, usability and effectiveness and to contribute […]
April 25, 2011

Who is a Guardian?

Family lawyers often receive phone calls from grandparents or aunts and uncles who tell us that they are providing a significant amount of care for grandchildren or nieces and nephews. Often, they are providing many meals, driving children to and […]
May 20, 2011

Rights and Responsibilities of a Legal Guardian

Becoming a guardian of a child comes with a series of rights and responsibilities that are very significant in the life of the child.  Where there is more than one guardian, the Family Law Act, the legislation in Alberta that […]