What can I do to protect myself if I'm considering a British Columbia divorce?

A little pre-divorce planning can go a long way towards making the divorce itself run more smoothly as well as providing you with additional protection. Remember knowledge is power particularly in divorce proceedings. Doing your own homework can also save you money in legal fees. Here are some tips that you might want to download and keep handy.

People entering into a new or second marriage should consider very carefully the need for a prenuptial or marriage agreement. The purpose of a prenuptial or marriage agreement is to establish a clear and agreed upon frame work for resolution of issues between the parties that will arise from the marriage breakdown including:

• custody, guardianship and access of children;
• child support;
• spousal support;
• property division which can include the management of ownership or division of family assets or other property acquired both before and during the marriage;
• management of, ownership in, or division of family assets or other property after separation including who will keep what;
• management of affairs during marriage or upon death of one of the parties including the need to purchase life insurance and/or to prepare a valid will;
• the maintenance of the children both of the relationship and brought to the relationship during marriage and/or after separation.

As we all know, the holidays can be a stressful time for everyone. For separated parents, that stress can get compounded to almost unmanageable levels. Here at The MacLean Family Law Group we have watched many parents struggle through this time of year, and we thought this year, we would assist these parents by setting out a few simple guidelines that may help to make the holidays smoother.