by Michael Butterfield on November 4th, 2014
Collaborative Law made simple The Collaborative Family Law Group or CFL, was formed 15 years ago in Victoria B.C. The CFL members are the only certified provider of Collaborative Law services in Victoria. It was created by a group of independent lawyers, counselors and financial specialists to take the conflict out…
by Michael Butterfield on October 27th, 2014
Negotiation is something we do everyday with our spouses, colleagues, children, and even strangers. Most people are pretty good negotiators because they know what they want and what they are willing to give up to get it. The corner stone of negotiation is compromise. So why do spouses have such…
by Michael Butterfield on October 15th, 2014
Is Family Mediation right for you? This is an important question. Many people want to try family mediation because they fear going to court. This is understandable as court is expensive and time consuming. Is Family Mediation the answer? In most the answer is yes. The research shows that Mediation is successful…
by Michael Butterfield on August 8th, 2014
Documentation Requirements for One Parent Traveling with Kids: If your child is travelling out of Canada with only one parent, a friend or a relative, it is important to be prepared with appropriate documentation. As the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) states on their website: “Border services officers watch for…
by Michael Butterfield on June 17th, 2014
On May 28, 2014, Bill C-560, referred to as the “equal parenting bill”, was defeated at Parliament (174:80). The Bill proposed to amend the Divorce Act in a way that would create a presumption for the courts to grant equal parenting time and responsibilities to each parent, with the opportunity…
by Michael Butterfield on March 15th, 2014
Court Procedure made simple After you have received your notice for a first appearance in Provincial Family Court, the next step in a court process is to have a case conference with a judge. This is normally arranged at your first appearance in court. A Family Case Conference (FCC) is…