Serving Burnaby
Family lawyers serving Burnaby, BC
Burnaby clients meet with us at our Surrey office, across the Pattullo Bridge, and the first consultation is free.
Many Burnaby families own a condo in Metrotown or Brentwood, or have a presale unit still under construction. A presale contract is family property even before completion, and deciding who keeps it and who pays the remaining deposits has to be settled early.
How we help Burnaby clients
- Divorce & SeparationEnding a marriage or common-law relationship, from the first weeks after separating to the final divorce order.
- Parenting & CustodyParenting time, decision-making and guardianship arrangements built around your children after separation.
- Child & Spousal SupportSetting, reviewing, changing and enforcing child support and spousal support.
- Division of Property & DebtDividing the home, pensions, savings, businesses and debt under the Family Law Act.
- Marriage & Cohabitation AgreementsPrenuptial, marriage and cohabitation agreements that settle the big questions before any dispute exists.
- Mediation & Collaborative LawResolving family disputes through mediation, collaborative practice and negotiation rather than a trial.
- ArbitrationA binding decision from a private arbitrator instead of waiting for a court date.
- Relocation & MobilityMoving with a child after separation, or responding when the other parent plans to move.
- Protection OrdersCourt orders under the Family Law Act that protect you or your children from family violence.
- Common-Law SeparationYour rights when an unmarried relationship ends, which in BC are often broader than people expect.
Courts that hear Burnaby matters
- Burnaby does not have its own courthouse. Depending on the type of matter, Burnaby files are generally heard at the New Westminster Law Courts, 651 Carnarvon Street, or at the Vancouver courthouses.
- Civil Resolution Tribunal (online): small claims up to $5,000 and most strata disputes.
Questions from Burnaby clients
We bought a presale condo together and are now separating. What happens to it?
The contract and the deposits paid are family property. The options are usually for one spouse to take it over, to assign it to a buyer before completion, or to complete and sell. The developer’s deadlines and assignment rules decide which options are realistic.
How long does it take to get a divorce in BC?
Once you have been separated for a year, an uncontested divorce with the documents in order is usually granted a few months after filing, depending on the registry’s workload. A contested case takes much longer, and the delay nearly always comes from the parenting, support or property issues attached to the divorce rather than from the divorce order itself.
Do we have to be separated for a year before anything can happen?
No. The one-year period applies only to getting a divorce on the basis of separation. Parenting arrangements, support and property division can all be dealt with right away, and it is usually better to address them early.
How is child support calculated in BC?
Under the Federal Child Support Guidelines. The starting point is a table amount based on the paying parent’s annual income and the number of children. Parents then share certain extra costs, called section 7 expenses, generally in proportion to their incomes. Shared parenting, split parenting and disputed income can all change the result.
Family Law in other communities
Book a consultation
Tell us what has happened. We will tell you where you stand.
The first consultation is free, at our Surrey office on 120 Street.