Calliope Law Corporation assists clients with their family law matters, including:
We assist clients to navigate the legal aspects of changing family structures. We focus on alternative dispute resolution to help our clients settle their family law issues out of court.
These agreements, also known as prenups, clarify spouses’ expectations and responsibilities in the event of a breakdown of the relationship. They help create a sense of financial security and can be particularly beneficial to people entering a relationship with significant assets or who have been previously married or separated.
We assist clients by advising on the rights and responsibilities of spouses in British Columbia and drafting agreements to suit our clients’ particular needs. We educate our clients on possible outcomes of separation and work with them to create agreements that protect their interests and reflect their intentions. We also provide independent legal advice on agreements prepared by a spouse’s lawyer.
We advise clients on the legal issues arising from separation, such as property and debt division, support, and parenting arrangements. We help our clients negotiate with their spouse or their spouse’s lawyer to reach a mutually-agreeable settlement. Once a settlement has been reached, we prepare a separation agreement to record the resolution. We also provide independent legal advice on agreements prepared by a spouse’s lawyer.
If an out-of-court settlement is not possible, we assist clients to navigate litigation, including preparing and reviewing court documents and attending court when necessary. After a client has negotiated a separation agreement or obtained a court order, we prepare the paperwork to file for divorce.
We provide easy-to-understand information and advice on family law in BC. We help clients navigate separation, whether in or out of court. We review, advise on, and prepare correspondence, court documents, and agreements. We also provide referrals to other relevant professionals, such as accountants, appraisers, and actuaries, to facilitate the separation process.
In mediation, spouses work with an impartial third party—the mediator—in a private setting to negotiate a mutually-agreeable resolution to their family law issues out of court. Our family law lawyer, Hannah Rawling, is an accredited mediator.
We represent buyers, sellers, lenders, and people refinancing their mortgages. We draft or review contracts to ensure our clients’ interests are protected and that risks are considered and mitigated. We also work with our clients to explain the process and make it as streamlined as possible.
We cover various aspects of employment law, including hiring, managing, and terminating, human rights obligations and accommodation, disability management, and disability benefit appeals. We work to ensure that all aspects of the employment relationship are covered in clear language so both parties know their roles and responsibilities.
We offer legal services for incorporations, including incorporation repair, records office regulatory maintenance, and record keeping. We also prepare a variety of contracts, such as service contracts, business-to-business contracts, and commercial leases, and provide civil litigation services.
Calliope Law Corporation assists clients with estate planning by providing information and advice on estate planning documents. We prepare wills, powers of attorney, representation agreements, and advance directives to carry out our clients’ estate planning wishes.
We work with executors and administrators to explain their legal duties and assess whether a grant of probate or administration is necessary. If a grant is required, we assist clients to obtain the grant. We also support beneficiaries by reviewing estate accounts and advising on consents to distribute estate assets.
We work with professionals to assist them through the dispute resolution process. We seek to understand the situation, review the evidence, and provide a response to the governing body following their internal procedures, which permits professionals to continue with their chosen profession.
A common-law relationship is another way of saying you and your partner are legally spouses. You are considered spouses under BC’s Family Law Act if you and your partner have lived together in a marriage-like relationship for at least two years or, in certain circumstances, if you have a child together.
Separation means living separate and apart from your spouse when one or both spouses has decided to end the relationship. Separation applies to both married and unmarried (common-law) spouses.
Divorce means legally ending your marriage. Generally, you need to have been separated for at least one year before you can get divorced. You must be divorced before you can remarry.
Yes, it’s possible to live separate and apart from your spouse in the same residence. For example, many separated spouses share a home but sleep in separate bedrooms.