Family Law

If you have begun living with someone or are getting married, Cook Roberts LLP lawyers are able to advise you about the potential claims that your spouse may have in the event of a separation. Our lawyers are able to assist you with drafting a cohabitation or marriage agreement (also called a prenuptial agreement) that sets out what will happen on a separation, including how your property and debt will be divided and what support, if any, will be paid by one spouse to the other. This type of agreement may also address what happens if one person receives an inheritance or gift before or during the relationship or becomes the beneficiary of a family trust. We can also assist with making a cohabitation or marriage agreement during your relationship.

Cook Roberts LLP lawyers routinely assist clients with negotiating and drafting separation agreements that address parenting, child support, spousal support, and division of property and debt.

Cook Roberts LLP lawyers are able to assist you with obtaining a divorce order. We can do this as part of resolving the other issues arising from your separation or as a separate service after you have resolved these issues. Our lawyers can also assist you to obtain a divorce under the Civil Marriage Act if you were married in British Columbia and have separated but cannot obtain a divorce where you live because you reside in a state that does not recognize your marriage as valid.

Cook Roberts LLPs lawyers can advise you about guardianship, parenting time, contact time, custody and access. We can help you to negotiate agreements about parental responsibilities and parenting schedules or represent you in court when it is not possible to reach an agreement about these issues.

Cook Roberts LLP lawyers can advise you about the determination of income and calculation of the amount of child support under the Child Support Guidelines. Our lawyers can also advise you about your entitlement to receive or obligation to pay spousal support (also called alimony). We can assist you with obtaining an initial agreement or court order about child or spousal support. Cook Roberts LLP lawyers also routinely assist with reviews of child or spousal support based on updated income information and variations child or spousal support if there has been a change in circumstances for you, your former spouse or your children.

Cook Roberts LLP lawyers routinely assist with division of property and debt. Our lawyers are experienced with the division of complex family assets including corporate holdings and pensions. Our lawyers’ understanding of the tax consequences and various options for division of these assets allows us to effectively work with accountants and financial advisors to achieve sound settlements for our clients.

Our lawyers advise both clients and other counsel with respect to their options regarding the division of pensions and related benefits, and can assist with drafting provisions regarding pension division to be included in separation agreements or court orders.