One of the benefits of living in a federation is the freedom accorded to each province and territory, even so far as adjudication. Family law falls under federal jurisdiction and distinguishes between the dissolution of a formal marriage and that of a common-law...
Family Law
Man owing child support arrested for violation of family law
There are many ways people may attempt to evade child support or spousal support obligations. These family law violations can have serious consequences for both the violating payer and the dependants involved. Recently, one man made news in Calgary, Alberta...
Under family law, child support applies even if mom commits fraud
While most child support and custody conflicts occur after a child is born, occasionally these issues arise as soon as a pregnancy is announced. This is certainly true for men who are expecting fatherhood after former partners dishonestly assured them they were...
Obscure Latin terms and what they may mean in Alberta family law
It can be intimidating for anyone to plow through texts sprinkled with terms and phrases in a foreign language, whether on a restaurant menu or in a legal document. Botany, medicine and the law all feature Latin--a language once considered universal, now known as a...
Breach of promise, property division and Alberta family law
The tradition of publicly declaring a commitment to formally marry by giving an engagement ring began some time in the 1400s. Evolving from rings made of posies or carved out of wood, the diamond eventually became the signature of this classic emblem of betrothal....
Family law may order wealthier spouse to pay legal expenses
Divorce can be a challenging legal process, especially if one spouse has significantly more resources than the other. Alberta divorcees may be concerned about obtaining the same level of legal counsel as their wealthier exes. Under Canadian family law, the spouse...
New statistics show diverse families and family law needs
Statistics can reveal many things about a country and the people who live there. Statistics Canada has released new data about the makeup of families in Alberta and the rest of Canada. The findings show that households are becoming more diverse and that many kinds of...
Alberta family law does not provide automatic grandparents rights
Are you a grandparent who is denied the privilege of having a relationship with your grandchildren? Sadly, many grandparents in Alberta face this situation. Your son or daughter may be divorced, with limited custody, and the other parent may prevent you from having...
Alberta court backlog means family law disputes have to wait
There are numerous reasons why people might choose to go to court after a divorce or separation. Sometimes situations can change and one party feels it's time to amend an agreement. Perhaps what once seemed like a workable arrangement is no longer meeting the needs of...
Defining a father under family law
It is said that any man can be a father, but not every father can be a dad. On the flip side of that coin, not every dad is actually a father. The distinction between a biological parent and a nurturing caregiver, and corresponding obligations the roles encompass, may...