Family Law
Family Law | Child Protection | Civil Litigation | Wills & Estates
We are proud to be among the largest family law practices in Halifax
We understand that family law matters are sensitive,
which is why we take a compassionate approach to our practice. Our family lawyers treat each client with respect and consideration while helping them navigate the complexities of the legal system.
We help clients throughout Nova Scotia with a variety of complex family law issues, including:
divorce and separation
custody agreements
child support
division of assets.
We want to help our clients avoid the stresses of going to court and will always try to solve issues through negotiation and cooperative dispute resolution before moving on to the courts.
Separation
Whether you are living common-law or married, it is never easy to make the decision to separate or divorce. The decisions you make during your separation can have a lasting impact on the entire family. Oftentimes when clients visit us, they are stressed, exhausted and ready for the process to be over. We have the knowledge and experience to help navigate you through the challenges of separation and protect your best interests. If you are considering separating or have separated from your spouse, we are here to help.
Custody and Parenting
Children are the most vulnerable group during a separation and their best interests are a top priority when it comes to custody arrangements. Their lives are changed forever, and they have no say in the matter. We can help you determine what is in your children’s best interests through parenting plans, enforcing parenting time, changing custody arrangements, and mobility applications.
Support
When a relationship ends, the financial implications can often be immediate and long-term. We can help deal with both interim support obligations and long-term obligations. Through years of experience, we know how to determine income in complex financial situations and have experience dealing with both business owners and employees.
Division of Assets
Whether you are married or living common law, the division of assets upon separation and divorce may not be as straightforward as you’d like it to be. We are backed by years of experience with the division of assets for married persons under the Matrimonial Property Act and for common law spouses under the laws of equity.
Variation Applications
Have your circumstances changed since your separation or divorce? One of the most common applications we help clients with is a variation application. This application is used when parties need to change an order that has already been issued. We are here to help guide you through the process.
Enforcement
It may not shock you to learn that court orders are not always complied with and on the contrary, sometimes one party will accuse the other of not following an order when they are. We can help you navigate the difficult process of enforcing order or defending enforcement proceedings.
Cohabitation Agreements
If you are in a relationship and are living together or preparing to move in together but are not ready for marriage, a cohabitation agreement may be for you. Similar to a prenuptial agreement, a cohabitation agreement will protect your interests should you separate from your partner.
Separation Agreements
Even if your separation is amicable, you should have a separation agreement in place to protect both parties. While not required by the courts, having a separation agreement provides clarity, and if support is being paid, may be required to satisfy the CRA.
Uncontested Divorce
An uncontested divorce means that you and your partner have been separated for at least one year and have agreed on all issues surrounding the separation. We can navigate you through the court system to help make this difficult time as smooth and seamless as possible.
Variation Applications
Have you and your former partner or child’s parent agreed that a previous order needs to be changed? We can help you make changes to your old order, ensuring the current needs of your family are being met.
Adoption
Throughout your adoption journey, you will likely discover that there are many legal issues that can impact your adoption — and you may feel overwhelmed by all there is to know about the legal adoption process.
Adoption is a court process that creates a parent-child relationship between two people, usually an adult and a child, where that child is not the adult’s biological child. In some situations, a person can apply to adopt someone in their family, like a grandchild.
Adoptions are complicated legal proceedings with serious and permanent consequences. Speaking with a lawyer will help you better under the process if you are considering adopting a child or considering consenting to your child being adopted.
Are you looking for a service that’s not on this list?
We offer many services that are not listed. Family law has too many issues to list them all. If you have an issue but don’t see it on the website, contact us anyway and if we don’t offer a service you’re looking for, we’ll help you find someone who does and can refer you. We are here to help.
Contact the family law team today to book your initial assessment.