Family Network Blogs
Should you hire a lawyer or a paralegal?
Should you hire a lawyer or a paralegal? If you can afford a lawyer, hire one. If you can’t afford a lawyer, hire a paralegal. If you’re able to swing…
Safety Planning: Escaping a Bad Relationship or Marriage
Plan to Escape a Bad Relationship and Plan to do it Safety Breaking up is rarely easy. Separations tend to bring out unpleasant emotions and people do not always make…
What you must know: Dating a Single Parent
Did you meet your soulmate then discovered that they are a single parent? There is a lot to consider before dating a single parent. First, there will be a child…
Proposed Ban: Parental Alienation
The Edmonton Family Network does not support the proposed ban of the concept of “parental alienation” in family law cases. Banning a concept does not address the root of the…
Should You Tell Your Lawyer if You Get Back Together With Your Ex?
Should you tell your lawyer if you get back together with your ex? Short answer: YES Your lawyer is your advocate. If you do not feel comfortable keeping your lawyer…
Do Grandparents have rights?
Do grandparents have rights to their grandchildren? Grandparents have the option to pursue court to have contact with their grandchildren if they meet the criteria. The Family Law Act of Alberta allows…
Accused of Family Violence?
Have you been accused of family violence? After a really disastrous breakup, it’s not unheard of for one spouse to claim to to have been a victim of family violence.…
Is it the child’s birthday or the mother’s anniversary of giving birth to the child?
Is it socially acceptable to celebrate the mom on a child’s birthday or should the celebrations be limited to celebrating the child? Some mothers want to celebrate themselves on their…
Your Lawyer Sucks
Your lawyer sucks. Don’t believe me? Ask Your Ex. In family law situations, people often feel like they truly hate the lawyer representing their former spouse. Why? A lawyer is…
Parenting after Separation: Who Gets the Kids?
You don’t win just for showing up. “Showing up is half the battle” might be considered an inspirational quote or positive mindset when it comes to hitting the gym, but…
High-Conflict Holiday Time and Christmas
There are so many disputes around this time of the year, every year, from parents trying to navigate parenting after separation and shared holidays. The reality is that the children…
Is having children career suicide?
“I sacrificed my career to take care of the children.” At the breakdown of a marriage or adult-interdependent relationship, some people want spousal support because they had children and took…
Separation Agreements
I don’t believe it’s possible for people to collaborate on a “fair and equitable” Separation Agreement if one of the spouses is a piece of crap. There must be a…
Spousal Support: The Basics
What is spousal support? Spousal support is an allowance paid by one spouse to the other after a separation. A spouse might ask for spousal support because they have a…
Witches Don’t Share Halloween
Children that have separated parents can’t be in two places at the same time. Unfortunately, this means that the parents need to work together to find a way to share…
Litigation Abuse: Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
Court procedures and tools that are designed to protect the most vulnerable people in our society can also be used as an abuse tactic by anyone willing to lie about…
Pirates & Homewreckers
He Won’t Leave His Wife For Her. People that cheat in their personal relationships tend to have significant interpersonal issues and a false sense of importance. A spouse that cheats…
Court Preparation
Non-court options are not always a good fit for resolving disputes between two or more people. Non-court options require open communication, negotiation and compromise on both sides. If there is an…
Cheating Sucks: Infidelity Basics
What’s the deal with infidelity? People in an adult-interdependent relationship or marriage (“serious relationships”) expect their spouse to be fully committed to their serious relationship. In simple terms, this means…
Blended Families: Toxic Ex Creating Obstacles
What is a blended family? A blended family is created when two people start a new relationship with their children from previous relationships along for the ride. There is usually…
Are you Keeping a High-Conflict Journal?
Many parents describe their family law matter as “high conflict.” Parents that are in high-conflict situations are often eager to explain all of the little things that the other parent…
What you need to know: mandatory clauses in support orders
Child Support Orders filed in the Province of Alberta must include the mandatory MEP clause, annual exchange of financial information and a decision with respect to the Recalculation Program. The…
Father’s Day
What’s the deal with Father’s Day? Fathers Day is the third Sunday in June each year. It’s a special day to show appreciation to dads for their role. Gifts, crafts,…
Recreational Drug Use: What’s the Risk?
“I just party. It’s not like I’m addicted to it.” Drug use is more common than we would like to admit. There are many different types of drugs (legal, illicit…