Frequently Asked Questions    After the Breakup     

After the Breakup: The Road to Resolution

In this section:  Issues    Presumptions of the Court    Fees

The following pages are meant to be a very brief summary of a very complex field of law. They are intended to assist you in focusing on the things the courts will see as important as we work towards the resolution of your family law matter.

The role of your lawyer is to assist you in providing the information that will be needed by the courts or the other party's lawyer to assist you in resolving your matter in a timely and cost-efficient manner.

Issues
The issues that are often involved in a breakup include:

• Children
• Support
• Division of property

Desired Outcomes:
The outcomes from a breakup that people usually seek include:

• Best interests of children
• Security
• Certainty
• Compensation
• Closure

Law:
Two primary laws govern family law in British Columbia:

1. Family Relations Act: 
The Family Relations Act is the provincial legislation which covers the breakdown of a relationship including:

• Division of property (including pensions)
• Child custody and access
• Child and spousal support

2. Divorce Act:
The Divorce Act is the law that is applied to all marriage breakdowns across Canada. It covers issues such as:

• Divorce
• Child custody and access
• Child and spousal support

Next page: Presumptions of the Court