Frequently asked questions

Yes. The first consultation is free and takes place in person at our Surrey office. It is a chance to explain your situation and hear where you stand, with no obligation to hire the firm.

Yes. What you tell a lawyer for the purpose of getting legal advice is confidential and privileged, even if you decide not to hire the firm.

Lawyers must check that they have never acted for, or received confidential information from, the other side in your matter. We run that conflict check before the consultation so that nothing you share has to be set aside later.

We serve clients in English, Punjabi and Hindi. Tell us your preferred language when you get in touch.

Your first consultation is free. Fees depend on the work your matter needs, so we discuss them with you before anything begins. Please contact us for fees on any matter.

Often, yes. A limited-scope retainer means you hire us for specific tasks, such as reviewing an offer, drafting an agreement or preparing you for a court appearance, and handle the rest yourself.

No. A lawyer-client relationship begins only once a conflict check is cleared and we both sign a written retainer agreement. Until then, please do not send detailed confidential information.

Our office is in Surrey and we act for clients across Surrey, Vancouver and communities across the Lower Mainland.

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.

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.

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.

If the home was bought during the relationship, it is family property and presumed to be shared equally, whoever is on title. If one spouse owned it beforehand, its value at the start of the relationship may be excluded, but any growth in value during the relationship is shared. Proving the excluded portion takes documents.

For property division and spousal support, largely yes, once you have lived together in a marriage-like relationship for at least two years. The main differences are that there is no divorce, and the two-year deadline to make a claim runs from the date of separation.

If the move would significantly affect the child’s relationship with the other guardian, you must give written notice at least 60 days in advance. The other guardian can object, and a court may need to decide. Moving without following that process can cause serious problems in any later case.

Most family matters are resolved without a trial, through negotiation, mediation or collaborative practice. Court becomes necessary when the other person will not disclose information or negotiate reasonably, or when protection is needed. We will tell you early which way your matter appears to be heading.

Whatever you have on hand. Useful documents include tax returns or notices of assessment for the past three years, recent pay stubs, a list of assets and debts with rough values, any agreements or court orders, and a short written timeline. If you have none of this, still book the meeting. Working out what to gather is part of it.

No. In a separation your legal interests differ, so one lawyer cannot represent both spouses. Where you have reached an agreement together, each of you should get independent legal advice before signing. Skipping that step makes the agreement easier to challenge later.

Ask about a limited-scope retainer. Instead of hiring a lawyer for the whole matter, you hire one for specific tasks, such as reviewing an offer, drafting an agreement or preparing you for a court appearance, and handle the rest yourself. We offer this where it suits the situation, and the free first consultation is a good place to ask about it.

It is almost always worth exploring. Most civil cases settle before trial. A settlement gives you certainty and control over the result, and a sensible offer made early can also affect who pays legal costs later.

In BC Supreme Court the successful party is usually awarded costs, but those are set by a tariff and typically cover only part of the actual legal fees. In small claims and at the Civil Resolution Tribunal, the costs you can recover are more limited.

A small claim can be resolved in months. A contested Supreme Court action commonly takes one to three years to reach trial, although most settle well before that.

Every few years, and straight away after a marriage, separation, birth, death, a significant purchase or sale, or a move to or from another province or country.

Somewhere safe, accessible and known to the executor. The location can also be filed with the BC wills registry, so that a search after death finds it.

Usually the set is prepared over two: one to take instructions and one to sign. Where something is urgent, such as surgery scheduled for the week ahead, tell us and we will work to it.

No. You can apply on your own, and many people do. Legal help matters most when your history is complicated, you have been refused before, there are admissibility concerns, or a mistake would be serious. Anyone you pay to represent you must be a member of a Canadian law society, a Quebec notary or a licensed immigration consultant.

IRCC publishes processing times for each type of application and updates them regularly. Actual times also depend on how complete the file is and whether IRCC asks for more information.

It depends on the application and your current status. Leaving Canada can affect some applications and your ability to return. Ask before you book.

Either can handle a straightforward conveyance in British Columbia. A lawyer can also advise on the contract, act if the deal turns into a dispute, and deal with related family or estate issues, which matters when the transaction is not straightforward.

Typically Property Transfer Tax where it applies, title and registration charges, adjustments for property taxes and utilities, and any strata fees. Please contact us for our fees.

Yes, that is standard on residential purchases and refinances, and the lender’s instructions come with their own requirements that we follow.