When therapy is in a child's best interests but one parent doesn't agree to it, there are options for going ahead with therapy without that parent's consent.EDITOR’S NOTE This article was first published in LawNow on January 5, 2018. It was reviewed and updated by the author in 2026.When … [Read more...]
Divorcing with Dignity and Civility
Divorce can be one of the most stressful events in a person's life. Collaboration and clear communication can reduce harm and lead to better outcomes.Divorce is often portrayed in media as an acrimonious fight, and many of us have likely heard horror stories of high-conflict separations. … [Read more...]
Coming January 2026: The Family Focused Protocol
On January 2, 2026, the Court of King’s Bench is significantly changing family court in Alberta with its new Family Focused Protocol.Starting on January 2, 2026, the Court of King’s Bench is changing how it deals with family law cases. This new approach is called the Family Focused Protocol … [Read more...]
Breaking Deadlocks: How sealed bidding resolves real estate disputes in family law
Sealed bidding involves parties submitting secret bids without knowing what others are bidding. This process can break deadlocks in family law disputes over real estate as it promotes fairness and maximizes property value.In family law, figuring out who keeps specific real estate can be … [Read more...]
Interprovincial Parenting Applications: Which court decides?
When co-parents live in different provinces and parenting issues arise, they can try to come to an agreement themselves or with the help of a professional. If not, there are legal processes to figure out which court should decide.EDITOR’S NOTE This article was first published in LawNow on … [Read more...]
Pensions: Division under Alberta’s Family Property Law
Dividing one spouse or partner’s pension when the relationship ends can be complicated. The end goal is a just and equitable division under Alberta’s Family Property Act.A common question I receive is whether the law treats pensions differently from other family property when dividing assets … [Read more...]
A Brief Overview of Child Intervention Services in Alberta
Alberta's Child, Youth, and Family Enhancement Act (CYFEA) sets out how the government intervenes to protect children, including through agreements with the child's guardian and various court orders.EDITOR'S NOTE This article was first published on January 5, 2016. It was reviewed and updated … [Read more...]
Coercive control bill should tackle familial elder abuse
Bill C-332 is a noble attempt to protect domestic abuse victims from escalating violence. However, the proposed law does not help seniors who are harmed by adult children and other relatives like grandchildren, once again banishing elder abuse to the hinterlands of the criminal justice … [Read more...]
Romance Scams: When it really is too good to be true
In an era where relationships often begin online, romance scams have emerged as an increasingly significant threat.In 2021 alone, victims of romance scams had lost over 50 million dollars (and this is just what was reported), according to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. Hiding behind the … [Read more...]
Bridging the Gap: Applying trauma-informed interviewing from criminal to family law
Trauma-informed interviewing practices are common in criminal cases to help lawyers effectively communicate with survivors of assault. But family lawyers should also use them when working with clients who've experienced trauma.As legal practices evolve, there is a growing recognition of how … [Read more...]
