MAKING IT REAL
Family Law Agreements
Be it your marriage contract, prenup, or separation agreement, we are here to help you and your partner protect your wealth and emotional well-being and avoid future battles. We will guide you through negotiations and help establish a bulletproof contract, with the goal of preventing any future conflicts, legal costs, and the unpredictability of a negative outcome.
Craft Your AgreementFocus Areas
Cohabitation Agreement
A cohabitation agreement promotes security and trust, as well as creates peace of mind by outlining a joint vision for your future. It is a practical choice for anyone entering into a new relationship, but especially for those with unique financial or family situations. We understand it is important to you that your interests and wealth are protected as a precautionary measure. Contact our family lawyers to discuss your next steps.
Prenuptial Agreement
A prenup is a legal document that outlines the financial rights and obligations between partners before they marry. It provides a framework for asset division and financial responsibilities in the event of a breakdown, and it is particularly important if you have accumulated assets prior to the relationship. We will help you craft an agreement that protects your entitlements in the areas of property division, finances, family maintenance, and support.
Marriage Contracts Lawyers
A marriage contract helps you and your spouse outline your obligations during the marriage and in the event the marriage ends. Without one, in the case of breakdown, the division of your assets and financial support will be governed by Alberta law. We can help you establish a bulletproof domestic contract to avoid future conflicts, legal costs, and the unpredictability of a negative outcome.
Separation Agreement
A separation agreement can help avoid judicial intervention and litigation down the road. A comprehensive separation agreement should cover all critical aspects of a separation, ensuring fairness and clarity for both parties. Our lawyers can ensure that your settlement complies with Alberta law and that all legal requirements are met. We will also provide valuable advice on your rights and obligations, helping to protect your interests.
Alberta Lawyer For Family Law Agreements
Family law agreements, aka domestic contracts, can promote a sense of security and transparency, as well as create peace of mind by outlining a joint vision for your future. In case of separation, a family law agreement can help avoid judicial intervention and litigation down the road.
We will guide you through how to structure an agreement that protects your interests and assets in the areas of property management, ownership, and division, as well as rights and obligations of parties, family maintenance, and support.
As your lawyer, we can only represent one party. Your spouse or partner will need to seek independent legal advice from another family law lawyer to ensure their interests are also well represented. This step is crucial to maintain fairness and ensure that both parties fully understand the implications of the proposed agreements. However, during our work together you will discuss the procedures and work in progress with your spouse to ensure they consent to the proposed agreements and are comfortable signing off.
Types of Family Law Agreements
A cohabitation agreement is for common-law couples who would like to benefit from similar rights and liabilities as a marriage in terms of spousal support, child support, and entitlements to family property. This written agreement is similar to a marriage agreement in that it may outline what will happen during the relationship, such as how household expenses will be covered and what will happen in case of separation. For example, the agreement may outline how the property is to be divided and whether there will be financial support for one of the partners should they wish to separate.
Also known as a prenup or a marriage contract, you and your soon-to-be spouse can outline your obligations during the relationship and in the event the marriage ends. In addition to promoting transparency and creating peace of mind, prenuptial agreements are typically set to protect financial wealth by outlining a joint vision for your financial future.
Like a prenuptial agreement, a postnuptial agreement is a marriage contract simply executed after you are married. It documents the rights and obligations of the spouses during the marriage, financial responsibility, and what will happen in case of separation.
A separation agreement can help avoid future conflict during the hardships of separation by providing a framework for child support, spousal support, parenting arrangements, family dispute resolution, property division, and other legal issues. This kind of agreement allows you to have more control in decision-making, keeping your interests in mind over a potential court ruling on the divorce judgment.
How It Works
Regardless of your agreement, we will start with a meeting in person, over the phone, or online to discuss the process and possible direction for your family law agreement. This includes determining whether you need a cohabitation or marriage agreement, a prenup or postnuptial agreement, or a separation agreement.
Once we decide which agreement you would like to proceed with, we will send you a questionnaire to gather the necessary information. The questionnaire will also walk you through the different components of the agreement to make sure we leave no stone unturned. We will then meet again to review your circumstances and finalize the direction for the agreement.
Once we have decided on the best approach for you, we will take some time to draft your agreement according to the Family Law Act. When the agreement is complete, we will send it over to you for review. After your approval, we will send it to your spouse or partner (and their lawyer) for review and signing.
Once your spouse or partner and their lawyer agree to the fairness of the agreement, we will meet to sign the four original contracts, one for each party and lawyer.
At DLegal, we offer reasonable fees for uncontested family law services. We are one of the few law firms in Calgary offering flat rates for drafting standard family contracts and publishing them transparently on our website here.
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