Family Lawyer in Surrey
Family law issues can affect many areas of our lives. Our Surrey family lawyers at Gertsoyg & Co. understand this all too well. We are committed to providing solution-oriented and compassionate family law services in Surrey. Our family lawyers in Vancouver and Surrey are experienced in a wide range of family law issues. We regularly assist clients with issues like divorce, child and spousal support, child custody, adoption, separation agreements, domestic contracts, prenuptial agreements, and family law cases. We resolve family law issues through negotiation procedures like arbitration and mediation. We only consider litigation when we are unable to reach an out-of-court settlement. Our Surrey family lawyers help clients with empathy while also safeguarding their rights. We pay attention to our clients and their individual needs.
Separation & Divorce Lawyer Surrey
For many people, filing for a divorce is a stressful and daunting experience. A divorce may have significant implications for issues like the possession of the matrimonial home and remaining a beneficiary to your spouse’s medical cover. For these reasons, it’s crucial to seek the counsel of an experienced lawyer to ensure that your rights are safeguarded throughout the divorce process. At Gertsoyg & Co., we provide reliable legal representation tailored to your unique needs during separation and divorce. All our lawyers are understanding and passionate when representing clients but aggressive if need be. We adopt a customer-centred approach to family law practice. We don’t just focus on providing exceptional legal counsel but also offering efficient customer service.
Most people use the terms “divorce” and “separation” interchangeably, assuming that both terms are the same. A separation means that you and your spouse are living separately or apart, but you are still legally married. In this case, you could choose to enter into a separation agreement to resolve issues like property division, child support, and child custody agreements. A divorce involves changing your legal status from married to single.
Child support and custody, division of property, spousal support, and other corollary issues are some of the things that a couple must address when obtaining a divorce. Our experienced divorce lawyers will provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision. We handle both contested and uncontested divorce proceedings.
We ensure that our clients have all the resources and information they need to make the best decisions throughout the divorce process. We are focused on our clients’ concerns and will do everything possible to ensure that their needs are met. We will do our best to provide you with a satisfactory outcome, assuring you of satisfaction and closure. Our lawyers take time to listen to our clients’ needs to provide the most acceptable legal counsel.
Division of Property
When your common law or marital relationship ends, your family property is divided between you and your spouse. You are in a common law relationship if you and your spouse have been in living together in a marriage-like relationship for a minimum of two years. The process of dividing the property that has been acquired together during the marriage is known as the equalization of net family property. The property includes land, pensions, stocks, vehicles, bank accounts, and RRSPs. Some assets, collectively known as excluded property, are not included when determining a person’s net family property. For example, the gifts and inheritances that you received during the marriage may qualify as excluded property.
It’s crucial to note that during the equalization of family property, the matrimonial home is given a unique treatment. To discuss property division and matrimonial home issues, contact our family lawyers at Gertsoyg & Co. We advocate for fair property division arrangements for our clients; we are not afraid to be aggressive when necessary.
Child Support & Custody
In Surrey, child support is payable to the custodial parent along with any additional extraordinary expenses. Child support agreements are usually straightforward if handled correctly. However, certain factors may complicate child support cases. These factors include claims of financial hardships, undisclosed income and custody arrangements. It is important to seek legal advice regarding child support early in the separation process to ensure that you fully understand and protect your legal rights.
Child support is not the right of the parents but that of the child. Child support in Surrey does not automatically end when the child attains the age of 18 years. The child support amount will vary depending on the custody arrangement. One parent may have sole custody, meaning that the children remain with them throughout. In a shared custodial arrangement, parents share time with their children equally.
Child support is calculated according to the child support guidelines. When determining the child support amount that the custodial parent should receive, the court considers the number of children involved and the non-custodial parent’s income.
The entire child support amount goes to the benefit of the children. The judge can deny the divorce if he or she suspects that the child support and custody requirements will not be honoured. If the payer fails to make the child support payments, the potential consequences include imprisonment and suspension of driver’s license.
Our lawyers at Gertsoyg & Co. provide unparalleled legal counsel and representation in child support and custody matters. During the difficult divorce process, it is our duty to ensure that you make the right decisions.
Spousal Support & Maintenance
Spousal support, commonly known as alimony, can be difficult to quantify, unlike child support. Even if guidelines on spousal support exist, these guidelines have no force of the law. The guidelines do not provide a set amount but flexible ranges. Alimony agreements must address issues like unemployment, re-marriage, and the form and duration of payment. Unlike the common misconception that only women seek spousal support, any spouse can seek spousal support when a couple separates.
When determining whether a person is entitled to spousal support, the court considers the length of the marriage/common-law relationship, both spouses’ financial means and needs, the care of the children, and the role of each spouse during the marriage or common-law relationship. The goal is to encourage the recipient of spousal support to be self-sufficient. The court will also consider the age of the spouses at the time of the divorce.
Our experienced and knowledgeable lawyers at Gertsoyg & Co. provide clients with the insight they need to handle spousal support issues.
Collaborative Family Law Matters
- Estate planning after divorce
- Cohabitation agreements
- Prenuptial agreements
- Separation
- Mediation
