Family Lawyers in Vancouver, BC
Guiding Clients Through Sensitive Family Law Matters
If your marriage is headed for divorce, you’ll benefit from hiring a skilled Vancouver family lawyer to help you navigate the next steps. When you contact Lam Legal Trial Lawyers, we’ll provide clarity on the process so you can focus on moving forward.
Our lawyers understand that family law issues are difficult to go through. No one plans for separation when they get married, but sometimes it is the best option. If you’ve recently come to this conclusion, you have many important decisions to make before you can proceed with the divorce. These include asset and property distribution, child and spousal support, and more. Contact our Vancouver family lawyer today to speak with our caring family lawyers.
How Does Property Division Work in British Columbia?
One of the most complex family law matters is the division of property, which may be handled differently in each province. The British Columbia court system uses the equitable division model guided by the Family Law Act, which states that couples must divide property fairly, not necessarily equally. This means a BC Supreme Court judge will consider several factors to ensure family property is divided equitably rather than simply granting half to each spouse.
Family property typically includes anything you and your spouse bought together or anything either of you acquired during your time together. In most cases, this consists of:
- The family home
- Bank accounts
- Investments
- Pensions
- Household goods
- Vehicles
- Business interests
There are some exceptions to what’s defined as family assets. For example, if you received an inheritance or gift meant specifically for you, a BC Supreme Court judge will likely let you keep it rather than share it with your spouse. If you’re unsure of what property you must split during this stage of your family law case, contact our family lawyers in Vancouver today.
Protecting Business and Professional Assets During Property Division
When a marriage ends, dividing family property becomes a major concern—especially when it involves business ownership, professional practices, investments, or real estate portfolios. In British Columbia, the Family Law Act requires the equitable division of family property, but this does not always mean a simple 50/50 split.
Complex property division issues, such as ownership stakes in corporations, partnerships, medical or legal practices, or valuable intellectual property, require a legal team with both family law experience and financial insight.
Our family law team collaborates with accountants, appraisers, and valuation experts to identify, protect, and divide assets fairly, taking into account both short-term needs and long-term interests. Whether through mediation, arbitration, or litigation in BC Supreme Court, we work to protect your financial security and guide you toward practical, sustainable outcomes.
If you are facing separation and divorce and have concerns about business ownership, investments, pensions, or the family home, our family lawyers in Vancouver are ready to support you through this sensitive time.
Who Gets Spousal Support?
Some family law cases involve spousal support, which describes regular payments from one spouse to the other after the divorce. This type of financial support is typically only ordered when one spouse makes much less money than the other, putting them at a financial disadvantage once the partnership ends. If this is the case for you, ask an experienced family lawyer about this issue.
In most family law cases, a Supreme Court judge will only agree to submit a court order for spousal support if the recipient of the support payments would struggle to find a job that makes up for the loss of their spouse’s income. For instance, if you stayed home to care for your children for years and now lack the job skills or education to find a job that would pay your bills, this additional support may be added into your separation agreement until you can support yourself with your career.
The duration of support will depend on how long you were married, as payments typically last anywhere from half a year to one year for each year of marriage. However, your spousal support could be indefinite if you were married for 20 years or more. This ruling is also the case if you were married for at least five years, and your age plus the length of your partnership add up to 65 or more. An experienced family lawyer can help with this matter, so contact our Vancouver family law group for advice.
What Family Law Matters Involve Your Children?
If you and your spouse share children under age 18, you’ll have to resolve disputes regarding child support and child custody. You and your spouse must create a parenting plan that outlines the adult guardianship arrangements you want. These can include sole or joint custody, depending on whether one parent plans to be solely responsible for the child or if both parents want to be involved.
Child Support
In most cases, the parent with less parenting time with the child will pay child support, especially if they make more money than the custodial parent. However, child support can be complicated and may require guidance from a skilled family lawyer. If you have questions about spousal and child support in British Columbia, contact our family law firm for answers. Our family lawyers understand how complex issues involving your children can affect your family for years to come, so we’re happy to provide you with quality family law services and legal advice.
Child Custody
In British Columbia, the best interests of the child are the guiding principle for all parenting arrangements, child custody, and support decisions. The BC Supreme Court carefully considers factors such as the child’s emotional well-being, safety, stability, cultural connections, developmental needs, and the nature of each family relationship. When parents cannot reach an agreement on their own, the court may suggest or appoint a parenting coordinator to help reduce conflict and create workable, long-term parenting plans.
At our boutique family law firm in Vancouver, our family lawyers support clients with both mediation and collaborative law to help resolve disputes outside of court whenever possible.
In high-conflict family law matters, especially those involving parenting plans, relocation, or scheduling disputes, a parenting coordinator plays a vital role in implementing agreements, addressing communication breakdowns, and helping parents make constructive decisions that protect the child’s well-being. Whether you are creating a separation agreement, modifying an existing custody order, or preparing for litigation, our Vancouver family lawyers provide a strategic perspective to help you move toward a healthier, more stable future for you and your child.
Navigating Relocation and Mobility Disputes in Family Law Cases
Relocation cases—also known as mobility cases—are among the most emotionally charged family law matters, especially when one parent wishes to move to another city, province, or even another country with their child. Whether due to employment, new relationships, lifestyle changes, or financial reasons, any relocation that affects existing parenting arrangements must be reviewed with a focus on the best interests of the child.
The BC Supreme Court examines factors such as the reason for the move, the child’s need for stability, the strength of both parental relationships, schooling, community connections, and the long-term impact on the child’s well-being. As experienced family lawyers in Vancouver, we help clients prepare compelling cases—either supporting or opposing relocation—by carefully documenting parental involvement, support needs, parenting history, and the child’s developmental considerations.
Our legal team employs both collaborative approaches and litigation when necessary to protect your rights and your child’s future. If you are considering a move or seeking to prevent one, our Vancouver family lawyers will help you understand your legal options and guide you through the appeals process or court procedures when needed.
Are You Ready to Call Our Vancouver Family Lawyers?
We pride ourselves on being reasonable and striving to keep your legal journey cost-effective. Our lawyers often start with alternative dispute resolution options, such as mediation, during separation and divorce cases. However, we realize that some conflicts involving family members cannot be resolved amicably out of court. If that is the case for your family law matter, we will fight aggressively for you in court, as we have extensive experience offering litigation services for clients.
The team at Lam Legal Trial Lawyers knows how to properly defend your rights so you can have peace of mind during this difficult time. We also know ending your spousal relationship and initiating family law disputes in court can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone.
You can count on our firm to simplify the divorce process, litigating in court when necessary and ensuring you understand your legal options during your family law case. If you’re ready to focus on your future and moving on, call our family law firm in Vancouver, BC, at 604-800-0774 for a Discovery Call.