Vancouver and Edmonton Family Law Blog

One of the reasons you may be hesitating to follow through with your plan to file for divorce is because you do not want to find yourself battling it out with your future former spouse in an Alberta courtroom. Few people would blame you for wanting to end your marriage in a less adversarial fashion. Fortunately, you can.

Many Alberta couples have turned to mediation as a way to resolve their marital issues without the animosity and acrimony that often happens during a traditional courtroom proceeding. Using this alternative method of dispute resolution gives the parties the chance to retain control over the fate of their families in a more amicable forum. The key is that both of you must voluntarily enter into the process, which means you are willing to compromise and work together to reach a settlement.

Having children, in most cases, is a life-long commitment. In any case, it is a financial commitment until they turn 18 years of age, even when the parents of the children were never married. In Alberta, family law stipulates that parents have the legal obligation to support their children and that includes financially. A parent has a financial duty to his or her child even if that parent doesn't play a role in raising the child or didn't wish to have a child at all.

There are grey areas in some situations such as financially supporting a child that is not related biologically. If the person had a role to play in raising that child, it could turn out that he or she may have to support the child financially. The nonbiological parent in an unmarried, same-sex couple situation may also be ordered to pay child support in some circumstances. 

Many people consider their pets to be part of the family. So when Alberta couples get divorced, there could be some nastiness about who gets to keep Fido or Fluffy when it comes time to discuss division of property. In the eyes of the law in Alberta, pets are considered to be property, but for many couples, they're also furry children. The Family Law Act entitles both spouses to equal rights when it pertains to family property, hence to their pets.

Many couples have sorted out the pet dilemma by choosing to have joint ownership of their pets -- whether they be dogs, cats or reptiles. Pets are likely loved by both individuals and it is in everyone's best interests to come to an amicable solution and not let the court decide. There are times, however, when litigation may be necessary.