Adoption and Fertility Law

Families are built and grown in many different ways.

If you are looking to build your family through adoption, or if you plan to use donor sperm, eggs, or embryos, there will likely be legal issues for you to consider and address. For example, you may require assistance in obtaining an Adoption Order or negotiating and drafting a donor agreement to protect yourself and your child(ren).

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Separation Agreement

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in Alberta  both parties must consult a lawyer in order to have a legally binding separation agreement. 

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Separation agreement is a comprehensive contract, negotiated outside the courts, that details how the parties will split. It covers everything from pensions to child custody to debt division. A separation agreement can be drafted collaboratively between the two spouses, and I encourage you to do so. Once the document is drafted however, one person will have to seek independent legal advice elsewhere. 

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In Alberta a couple usually must wait 12 months for a legal divorce. A Separation Agreement puts a plan in place right away so that the parties can start moving on with their lives. a separation agreement also opens the door for any future disputes to be dealt with outside of the court system. 

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There are lots of things that you and your spouse may not consider when separation. How will you decide who pays for soccer practice? What are your obligations to pay child support for children over 18? What happens to the things that you can't split?

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You do not require a Separation Agreement to get a divorce, but a separation agreement will make the process much smoother. A Separation Agreement will also get a plan in place right away, whereas the average couple must wait 12 months for a legal divorce.  

 

These are the problems I would love to help you solve. I provide compassionate guidance on how to navigate these difficult issues. 

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Independent Legal Advice

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Most aspects of family law require two separate lawyers, one for each spouse. If the parties are amicable one person's lawyer typically drafts the document, and the other person seeks independent legal advice to review the document once it is finished. Independent legal advice can be sought at the very beginning of the drafting process or once both parties have settled on the terms. 

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Independent Legal Advice is more than just getting a signature from another lawyer. It is about making sure that both parties are fully aware of what they are signing, that there has been no coercion, and that no party is giving up their rights unknowingly. 

 

I take independent legal advice very seriously. If you need advice on a Cohabitation Agreement, Pre/Post nuptial agreement, or Separation Agreement that has been drafted by another lawyer, I would be happy to assist. 

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Joint/Uncontested Divorce

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