KitsSolutions: Focused Mediations

Introducing Focused Mediations! It’s half-day, issue-specific session that helps families work through one key concern quickly and constructively – without the long hours or waiting around in chambers.

The simple answer to the question of why families should stay out of the litigation process: court is expensive! 

It is a conversation that family lawyers have been having for years - how can we better provide services to separating families that are effective and affordable? Simple, by creating an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) hub to provide separating families options.

Introducing: KitsSolutions an ADR hub, that provides cost effective options to families who need it the most.

When we think of the term ‘child abduction’, we often think about children being kidnapped by strangers. However, in many cases, children are taken abroad or kept in another country by one parent (called the “abducting parent”) without the permission of their other parent (the “left-behind parent”).  

Navigating and understanding a family law case with full representation can be daunting; now imagine doing this on your own. This is what approximately 40% of British Columbian’s are currently having to do in their own family law case.

An insightful reflection from Kits Family Law’s very own summer student, Isa Nafissi, on her experience working at a family law firm and the legal industry itself.

Under British Columbia’s Family Law Act (“FLA”) (and the Divorce Act), Queer couples enjoy the same legal rights as heterosexual couples. This means that the processes for separation, including obtaining orders or agreements on parenting arrangements, child support, spousal support, property division, and divorce, are the same for all families in British Columbia. 

On January 24, 2024, amendments (changes) were made to the Family Law Act (FLA) to reflect the long-held sentiment that pets are members of the family. It is no wonder why animals can become part of the dispute during a separation; the prospect of a person being separated from their pet can cause fear and distress for individuals. Before these changes took place, the decisions about pet custody were made based on other types of personal property, but now that’s changed…

On May 5, 2024, BC observed Red Dress Day in honour of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (“MMIW”) also referred to by many as “Stolen Sisters”. For many families, Red Dress Day can be a painful reminder that their loved ones were either never found or their cases never investigated; leaving many unanswered questions. For other families, Red Dress Day allows loved ones to honour their sisters by keeping their legacies alive.