Separation Agreements in Victoria BC
Once you have reached agreement through mediation, I help you finalize those decisions in a clear, legally binding separation agreement that works in real life.
How we Create Separation Agreements in Mediation
​
In mediation, I help you and your spouse work through the decisions that need to be made about parenting, support, and property in a practical and organized way. I guide the conversation and provide legal information so you understand how BC family law applies, while you remain in control of the outcome.
​
The focus of mediation is on creating a clear, workable plan for the future of your family. Rather than negotiating legal positions, you make informed decisions together about how you want to move forward.
​
Learn more about the process for creating a separation agreement in mediation.
Drafting a Separation Agreement After Mediation
Once those decisions are made, I draft a separation agreement that reflects and supports the plan you have created. The agreement records your decisions and makes them legally binding under British Columbia law, but it is grounded in the practical choices you made together in mediation.
​
I provide separation agreement services for couples who have reached agreement through mediation and want those decisions carefully documented in a clear, reliable contract. As a family lawyer, my role is to translate your shared decisions into an agreement that meets legal requirements in BC and works in real life.
​
A separation agreement is not simply a formality at the end of mediation. It is the document that governs parenting arrangements, financial obligations, and property division going forward, and it will be relied on by both of you and by third parties. For that reason, careful, precise drafting matters.
A Neutral, Legally Binding Document
Once mediation is complete, I draft your separation agreement based on the shared decisions you have reached. I approach drafting as a continuation of the mediation process. As a family lawyer and neutral mediator, I do not advocate for one person over the other. This allows the agreement to be written in clear, balanced language and helps avoid unnecessary defensiveness or back and forth.
My legal experience informs how I structure agreements, anticipate issues that can arise later, and ensure the document addresses the requirements of BC family law. The result is a complete, internally consistent agreement that is practical to implement, binding and reliabile, and reduces the risk of future misunderstandings or conflict.
​Before anything is finalized, both of you review the draft separation agreement to ensure it reflects your intentions and that you understand how it will operate in practice. Each of you then obtains independent legal advice from your own lawyer before signing.
​
Independent legal advice is an important safeguard. It allows each person to receive advice specific to their own circumstances, strengthens the enforceability of the agreement, and provides reassurance that the process has been fair and informed.
Review, Understand, and get Independent Legal Advice
A Practical and Efficient Approach
Creating a separation agreement through mediation allows you to do most of the substantive work together, share the cost of that work, and reserve individual legal advice for the final stage. For most couples, this approach is more efficient and less expensive than traditional lawyer-to-lawyer negotiation, while still providing strong legal protection.
Review and select the right mediation process for creating a separation agreement. ​Or get started by scheduling a premediation meeting.