Rsolve Legal Group

That our Client Support Coordination services are here to support you with any non-legal assistance you might require throughout your legal matter, and there is no charge for this service!

We have several businesses that care about helping families financially through times of transition – check out our “Step Forward Program” for a list of these companies that offer discounts to help your family while you reset your budgets during your legal matter. Our Step Forward Partners also extend their discount to your former partner to ensure that the entire family receives this benefit.

That children have a right to have a relationship with each parent. While you may not get along with your former spouse, your child sees that parent through a completely different lens. If this is a struggle for you, Dr. Wes Thiessen can assist and coach you through your parenting challenges.

That one of the best gifts you can give your child is a positive, healthy coparenting relationship with the other parent? We do recognize that this is easy said than done at times and in some families where abuse, addictions, mental illness and other factors come into play, it can be extremely difficult. There is hope and we can help.

That if parents share parenting 50/50 and they have not re-cohabited with a new partner, each parent can use the equivalent to spouse tax deduction – BUT CRA will only process this for parents if the child support agreement or order is drafted with the specific wording required and only when parents pay each other their share of support without an “offset” calculation.

The number one question asked by clients is “how much is this going to cost and how long is this going to take”. Although many lawyers attempt to give quotes or often offer flat rates, this is not always possible to achieve since the needs of every family is different. Parenting is often the most expensive issue in Family Law with a myriad of facts to consider. Resolve has developed a parenting program however, called “Kids in Mind” which is a multidisciplinary med/arb process that has a flat rate as well as a set period of time to achieve the goals of each parent. This program is run by Dr. Wes Thiessen our resident mediatior/arbitrator and parent coordinator. To find out more, contact Wes@resolvelegalgroup.com”

That almost all judges will agree that parenting outcomes tend to be better for both parties when parents use a parenting coordinator. Sometimes judges don’t have a background in family law or sometimes you might get a judge that has never had children therefore never been a parent! Parent coordinators are less expensive than courts and more often than not parties get better parenting plans from the outcome of parent coordination. To find out more, go to our podcast about parent coordination.

That you can give a mediator/parent coordinator “arbitration powers” so that binding decisions can be made on your behalf when you and your former partner cannot agree? This ensures that decisions are made expeditiously and always with the best interests of the child at the forefront.

That generally speaking the Courts cannot make any significant decisions on parenting time changes on “first appearances” nor can they do so for any “docket appearances” in Provincial Court nor any “Chambers appearances” in the Court of Queen’s Bench. In fact it can take months to get before a Judge for a decision on Parenting. A more cost effective and relatively immediate process on parenting is “Parent Coordination” – best part? You do not have to pay lawyers to attend in that process.

That Alberta does not recognize what is often referred to as a “common law” relationship. Canada Revenue Agency recognizes it, so it still applies to Albertans in that context, but it doesn’t apply to Family Law matters in Alberta.

The term ‘custody’ actually refers to who has “decision making power”, it does not have anything to do with which parent a child lives with although you will often hear that word being misused to explain where a child lives.

That Resolve Legal Group sponsors peer support groups for men, and women which is facilitated by a family lawyer and two volunteers per group who have completed the legal process. Find out more, by clicking on the resources tab on our website.

That separated parents are obligated to support their children through their post secondary studies, but there is also an expectation that the student will pay 1/3 of the cost and the parents then share 2/3rds of the cost according to their proportionate share as prescribed in the federal child support guidelines

That most lenders will need a fully signed separation agreement before they will provide you with a mortgage or refinancing?

There are free resources available to help when you cannot afford a lawyer – click on our “can’t afford a lawyer” link to find out more!

For a separation agreement to be legally binding in Alberta, you need 1) to exchange financial disclosure, 2) a certificate of independent legal advice from a lawyer and 3) the parties to sign the agreement in separate rooms from each other?

That if either party owes monies to Canada Revenue Agency on their personal taxes during the marriage, both parties are responsible for repayment of any monies and penalties owing that were accrued during the time they are married?

Pets and animals are considered property and Alberta Courts do not have jurisdiction to address who will have “time” with them? They can only make a ruling on who gets to keep the pet?

Without a Will after your death your executor could be unable to access your bank accounts or deal with your financial assets for months while they wait for the court to grant them probate?

Your bank will require you to use a real estate lawyer on a mortgage because that lawyer will prepare all the paperwork on behalf of both you and the bank?

Generally speaking, you can only go back three years, or to the time of notice, to seek retroactive child support. Recent changes in the law however have made it so that, in some circumstances, you can go back further - Find out if this applies to you by contacting us!

If a married person receives a monetary gift from his or her family to purchase a joint asset with their spouse in joint names, half of the monetary gift is considered to be Family Property for the purposes of the law. Only half of the monetary gift remains exempt from division upon the end of the marriage or Adult Interdependent Partnership

If you have children, you likely have to give notice to your former spouse before you change where you live. Even if it’s in the same city?

If there has been family violence, it can influence a Judge’s decision on a parenting schedule?

A limited scope retainer allows you to hire a lawyer for specific tasks on your matter, such as drafting pleadings or attending Court, without the requirement of a full retainer?

Grandparents must get permission from the Court before bringing an application to have any contact with the grandchild, unless their contact with the grandchild has been terminated due to divorce or death?

If you have significant assets coming into a relationship, you can lose your claim to keeping 100% of them upon a separation unless you take steps to keep the assets separate?

You could be held responsible for paying spousal or partner support for up to 18 years for a spouse or partner from a very short-term relationship if a child resulted from the relationship?

You have to be ordinarily resident in Alberta for at least one year before you can file for divorce in Alberta?

There is a new law that allows you to access police information about a partner that you suspect might have a history with family violence? It’s called Claire’s Law and since its inception on April 1, 2021 it’s already had a huge impact in the prevention of family violence according to reports from CPS.

Resolve Legal Group has partnerships with community leaders such as the Calgary Counselling Centre and Sagesse in order to better address the needs of our clients experiencing family violence?

That while ‘do it yourself’ Will kits can be helpful, if they don’t comply with the legislation they can be rendered null and void. A simple Will is only $300, so why take chances?”

The correct date to value property in Alberta during a separation is either the date that the separation agreement is made or the date of trial, even when there has been a prolonged separation without any wrongdoing on the part of either party?

That in many circumstances, someone’s line 150 on their tax returns is not the number used for determining one’s income for the purposes of calculating child support?

That a separation agreement is not legally binding unless the parties have each had independent legal advice and their respective lawyers sign a Certificate of independent legal advice to evidence that this has occurred?

A separation agreement is not legally binding unless the parties exchange their full financial disclosure?

There is free mediation available to you at the Calgary Court Centre if your family has children and if one party makes less than $40K per year.

Our enduring power of attorneys and our personal directives together cost $150 plus GST. If you end up incapacitated due to an accident without these documents it could cost your family thousands of dollars to be appointed these powers by the court. These delays can have severe consequences to your health and finances.

There is no difference between ‘custody and access’ and ‘guardianship and parenting time’ other than the laws used to create or enforce a parenting and decision-making regime?

If you live in Alberta but have property outside of Alberta and you separate from your spouse, unless you can come to an agreement, you will need to attend Court in each jurisdiction where your property is located. With proper planning you can avoid this, such as with an internationally enforceable prenuptial agreement or property agreement.

That while regular child support is calculated on income up to $150k, the amount of child support calculated on income made after the first $150k is discretionary. Call us to find out if you’re paying too much!

You cannot contract out of child support – child support is the right of the child!

If you pass away and own a home on “joint title” with another person, that title will automatically go into the other person’s name leaving them 100% ownership. This is not the case for “tenants in common” – your share of the ownership passes down through your estate! Call to make sure your assets have the estate plan you want!

Exposure to chronic toxic stress affects and can even negatively change a child’s brain chemistry? See the research at www.albertafamilywellness.org

Resolve Legal Group has lawyers on call 24/7, so we are always available when you need us most!

In certain circumstances you can go back more than three years to collect retroactive child support?

You could be on the hook to pay child support for a step child, even when a biological father/mother already pays?

There was a significant change in the law affecting the division of ‘Common Law’ property as of January 2020?