FAQs
- The Parenting After Separation course is mandatory for most parents going to Provincial Court in BC. It can also be mandatory in other situations such as when ordered by a judge.
- The course aims to provide parents with information and skills for navigating their separation with a focus on how the children can be affected and how to act in the children’s best interest.
- Click here for the Parenting After Separation course offered by the BC Government.
- At your mediation, you can discuss any issues related to your separation; however, all conversations must be respectful, and the mediator may put certain guidelines in place.
- First, you have a Pre-Mediation Meeting with the mediator. At the Pre-Mediation Meeting, we discuss your situation and determine if mediation is appropriate. We want to ensure that everyone feels safe at the mediation and understands how the process will work. This helps us be efficient. You will fill out an intake form before the meeting.
- The cost of the Pre-Mediation Meeting is as per our fees page.
- Second, is the document phase. If mediation is appropriate and everyone is willing to participate in the mediation, then the mediator will send you an Agreement to Mediate that must be signed and a deposit sent for the mediation to be booked. You should speak to a lawyer if you have any questions about the Agreement to Mediate or your legal issues in general.
- You may also be asked to fill out a financial statement or gather other documentation in advance of the mediation to ensure we have the information we need to move the process along. You will be given a timeline by the mediator for completing the paperwork and gathering documents.
- The mediation is booked for a half-day if the issues are only regarding parenting or only regarding financials or other distinct issues. If there are multiple issues, then two-half days may need to be booked.
- The cost of Mediation is as per our fees page.
- Third, you will attend the mediation. This is your opportunity to create a plan that can move you forward. The mediator facilitates the discussion and guides you through the process.
- Fourth, if you arrive at a plan that both people agree to, then the mediator will create a Memorandum of Understanding that is provided to everyone at the end of the mediation.
- Fifth, the mediator will encourage you to take your Memorandum of Understanding to a lawyer for independent legal advice before you sign it. Although the mediator is a lawyer, they cannot provide legal advice to either party as it creates a conflict of interest. If you want to turn your Memorandum of Understanding into a legally enforceable separation agreement, you can ask your lawyer to draft a separation agreement or consent order based on the Memorandum of Understanding that you will sign.
- Step By Step Law Corporation offers mediation services. Book your consultation today.
Click here for the Law Society of British Columbia’s website regarding Access to Justice and their support of unbundling legal services.
Here is a link to the People Law School, which provides information on Unbundling.
You can also check out the Step By Step Law Blog Posts to learn more about unbundling.
CanLII is an important and accessible resource for legal research. You can find past cases that may help you better understand how the Courts make decisions to better understand your chances of success.
Often it is helpful to look for cases with similar facts to your own. CanLII is Canadian and you can refine your searches by province. The most recent versions of Legislation can be found on CanLII as well as published commentaries.
If after doing some of your own research, you want to discuss what you found and seek advice regarding your situation, please contact a lawyer. Step By Step Law would be happy to assist you.
- You can use the child support table look-up on the Government of Canada website.
You can use the child support table look-up to see how much child support is owed each month. There are three inputs: gross annual income of the paying parent, number of children, and province of residence of the paying parent. The most common issue with calculating child support is determining income. Child support is the right of the child and is based on the payor parent’s income. If you and the other parent are unable to agree on the amount of income, you should seek assistance.
- You can apply for legal aid through the Legal Services Society. You can also find information about family law issues and the court process on their website.
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- Krista
