What is one to do when faced with a marital separation? How is one to understand their situation going forward? What will each person have available to meet their most basic needs once their life together legally ends? At first glance ending a marital relationship may seem simple, str

If you have children you know the sound of little voices coming from the back seat plaintifly asking “are we there yet”? This is also one of the feelings associated with the journey towards a Separation Agreement or Divorce Order. In discussions with Smartsettle Family cli

Recently I did a survey of the literature around Emotional Stages of Separation and Divorce. The emotions associated with separation and divorce were consistently the same as the feelings triggered by the death or loss of a loved one. For those of you facing a separation or divorce th

Every relationship is unique, every partner special. At the beginning of a relationship it is clear that the person we love is one of a kind, exceptional and irreplaceable. But later other emotions can emerge, emotions that are connected not with the beginning of a relationship but wi

Emotional Stages of Separation and Divorce Has anyone told you there are identifiable “emotional stages” experienced by people involved in the separation and divorce process? If someone told you this would you believe them? I suppose some people find comfort in the knowledge that othe

The Family Law Act (2012) is now fully implemented in British Columbia. Family Lawyers, Mediators, Parenting Coordinators and companies bringing family law technologies to the public are all studying the legislation, rules and regulations to see what it all means. Common-law relations

James Loewen, Director of the Smartsettle Centre for Family Resolutions was recently interviewed by Justice Harvey Brownstone as part of the 24 episode TV series,  Family Matters. The episode highlighted three alternatives to court, Mediation, Collaborative Law and the use of eNegotia

It is early January, Christmas has passed and those who have stayed in their marriages for the sake of preserving Christmas or for the sake of the children are reviewing their options. For some spouses the Christmas season has gone well and renewed their hope for their marriage. For o

Couples considering separation come to a moment when they realize counselling is not enough to produce change, the advice of friends is not enough to hold the relationship together and the desire to save the relationship is not sufficient either. It is important to have an emotionally

Smartsettle Family Advantage I was recently encouraged to read the article “Four is the ‘magic’ number for our mind coping with information”. The article is found in the November 28, 2012 issue of Psychology & Psychiatry. It is also found on the Medical Xpress website