Serving Delta
Family lawyers serving Delta, BC
Our office on 120 Street sits on the Surrey–North Delta border, so most North Delta clients are only minutes away. Ladner and Tsawwassen clients usually book a time that suits the drive.
Delta families sometimes have property, work or relatives in Washington State. A separation with cross-border elements needs extra care with property disclosure and with travel consent for the children.
How we help Delta 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 Delta matters
- Depending on the type of matter, Delta files are generally heard at Surrey Provincial Court or the New Westminster Law Courts.
- Civil Resolution Tribunal (online): small claims up to $5,000 and most strata disputes.
Questions from Delta clients
Can my ex take our children across the border to Washington after we separate?
It depends on the parenting arrangements in your agreement or order. Many families include a written-consent clause for travel outside Canada. If there is no agreement, guardians should agree in writing before the trip, and a court can decide if they cannot.
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.