Archive for month: September, 2015

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Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner attend divorce counseling

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On behalf of Laughlin & Company Lawyers Mediators posted in High-Asset Divorce on Thursday, September 24, 2015.

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are one of many celebrity couples to announce they are going their separate ways this summer. The couple has made headlines for their continuing commitment to co-parenting their children and have even gone so far as to take the children on joint outings as a family.

The couple was recently photographed coming out of a counselling centre, and this led to some media speculation that they were attempting to reconcile. However, reports later surfaced that the parents made a decision to attend counseling through their divorce process to help smooth the transition for the children and work on keeping their personal issues out of their parenting relationship.

While it may initially seem odd to go to counseling with your ex after the decision to divorce has been made, it can be helpful in many ways. Divorce brings up many issues, and no matter how prepared you think you are to deal with your ex as a coparent and keep your relationship civil, it’s very common for situations to get contentious as the parties move forward with their lives, establishing separate residences, executing the visitation schedule and even dating other people.

Keeping the lines of communication open with your ex is crucial to keeping a divorce centered on the two most important aspects: property division and the best interests of any children involved. Attending counseling as a couple or as a family if the children are not too young can help give everyone a safe space to express their feelings and work through budding issues before they become legal battles.

Source: International Business Times, “Ben Affleck-Jennifer Garner Visit Marriage Counseling Center To Make Divorce ‘As Easy As Possible’,” Minyvonne Burke, Sep. 04, 2015

Laughlin & Company Lawyers Mediators
2755 Lougheed Hwy #710, Port Coquitlam, BC V3B 5Y9
(604) 945-4370

Child support and changing needs

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On behalf of Laughlin & Company Lawyers Mediators posted in Child Support on Tuesday, September 15, 2015.

Having children is expensive, and it can seem as if the cost of raising children only increases as they get older. The list of needs and wants expands to include more expensive items. Add in supplies and fees for sports and other extracurricular activities, and it can seem as if all of your money is spent before it arrives in your bank account. While determining child support is rarely a pleasant process between the two parties, determining if the child support amount needs to be modified can lead to more contention.

It’s important to understand that like anything else involving the children, child support orders are not set in stone. The family courts understand that the needs of the children change as they get older and what may have been appropriate at the time of the divorce may no longer fit years later.

Custodial parents may be worried about asking for a child support review because of fear of upsetting their ex-spouse and creating tension. This may be especially true in cases where the couple is fairly civil and is able to communicate appropriately most of the time. These parents may wonder if it’s really worth it to risk upsetting the other parent by pursuing a review of the child support order.

It’s also normal for noncustodial parents to feel like they are already paying more than their fair share in child support and to balk at any review requests. However, it is important for both parties to remember that child support is to further the best interests of the children. If the family situation has changed, a child support review may be the appropriate choice, and an attorney can help you understand what all is involved.

Laughlin & Company Lawyers Mediators
2755 Lougheed Hwy #710, Port Coquitlam, BC V3B 5Y9
(604) 945-4370

Can I move out of the area with my child in a custody case?

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On behalf of Laughlin & Company Lawyers Mediators posted in Child Custody on Sunday, September 6, 2015.

When you have a child with someone else and you aren’t a couple, you have to deal with a variety of child custody issues. One of these issues has to do with moving away. If you are the custodial parent of the child, you have some specific responsibilities that must be met prior to the move.

Do I have to let my child’s other parent know about the move?

You have to inform the other parent about the move if you have a written court order regarding the child. This notice must be given at least 60 days prior to the move. It should include information about where you are planning to move.

Can the other parent block the move?

It is possible for the other parent to block the move if the court agrees with the other parent that the move isn’t in the child’s best interests. Once you give notice of the move to the other parent, that person has 30 days to file an objection to the move. If that filing doesn’t occur, you and the child can move. If an objection is filed, the court will step in to decide how to handle the situation.

Are there any exceptions to the requirement to give notice?

If the child’s other parent doesn’t have a relationship with the child, you can ask the court to excuse you from giving notice. The same is true if giving notice would put you or your child at risk of family violence.

A lot of factors go into whether a move is suitable or not. Generally, the parent who isn’t moving would have to show why the move isn’t suitable for the child. If you are considering a move, learning how the court might react might help you plan your steps.

Source: Family Law in British Columbia, “Can you move — With or without your child?,” accessed Sep. 06, 2015

Laughlin & Company Lawyers Mediators
2755 Lougheed Hwy #710, Port Coquitlam, BC V3B 5Y9
(604) 945-4370

Post-divorce finances: What you need to know

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On behalf of Laughlin & Company Lawyers Mediators posted in Division of Property on Tuesday, September 1, 2015.

A divorce is a major, life-changing event. While many people are focused during this time on the change in their relationship status and any family issues, it’s also important to understand that your financial situations will also likely be undergoing significant changes. Learning how to adjust to what your budget and finances look like after divorce is crucial to getting back on your feet.

One of the first things to understand is that life will be different. If you’re a single parent, it can be exhausting just to keep up with the day-to-day and work one job. Divorce often leads people to reexamine many parts of their lives. You may be considering going back to school, moving, a career change or even picking up a second job to make ends meet or boost your savings.

Remember that you are only one person and can only tackle so much. Doing too much will just add more stress to the situation and can quickly lead to burnout. Start small and add things in one at a time as you feel you are able. Take the time you need to adjust to living on one income or figuring out how to balance managing the household with working full time.

It’s also a good idea to take stock of your finances as soon as you realize you’re heading toward divorce and be brutally honest about your situation. If you’re debts and bills are going to be more than your income is now, it’s important to take action instead of pretending the numbers will magically equal out. You may also want to talk with a lawyer about how assets will be divided and any spousal or child support.

Source: Money Sense, “Picking up the pieces: Retirement after divorce,” Julie Cazzin, accessed Sep. 01, 2015

Real Estate Lawyer in Coquitlam 

Laughlin & Company Lawyers Mediators
2755 Lougheed Hwy #710, Port Coquitlam, BC V3B 5Y9
(604) 945-4370
https://www.laughlinlaw.ca