Child Support in the Wake of COVID-19: Banaszek Family Law explains your legal rights and obligations

In the wake of COVID-19, the financial stability of many Canadian parents is threatened. More than 3 million Canadians have applied for jobless benefits and emergency income aid with the federal government since mid-March. In the midst of all the financial uncertainty, many parents are wondering what their legal obligations are to pay child support pursuant to a Court Order which was made in a more favorable economic climate.

Banaszek Family Law explains the paying parent’s obligations during this challenging time and the rights of the recipient parent who relies on support to ensure the children’s needs are met:

Varying child support during the COVID-19 pandemic

Among Canadians, Albertans are overwhelmingly experiencing the negative financial effects resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak. At the beginning of April 2020, Calgary’s unemployment rate was the highest in the country. Alberta’s energy sector is especially impacted as a result of COVID-19 and the oil price war, dimming the prospects of global oil demand. Oil prices have taken the biggest plunge in decades, creating further uncertainty and financial stress. This stress is spilling over into financial obligations, like child and/or spousal support payments for many Albertans.

The Federal Child Support Guidelines make it very clear that children should benefit from the income of both parents. When parents lose their jobs or their income is reduced, their ability to continue paying child support at a previously Court-ordered or agreed to amount is no longer financially feasible.

Under regular circumstances (pre-COVID-19), when a parent experiences a loss of income, they are responsible for obtaining a new judgment (a Variation Order) from the Court before the Maintenance Enforcement Program of Alberta (MEP) will change the amount they collect.

If you would like to learn more about child support and the role of the Maintenance Enforcement Program, read our blog post here: The Basics of Child Support.

A variation in child support or spousal support is permitted under the Family Law Act (Alberta - provincial legislation) and the Divorce Act (Canada - federal legislation). The Court may consider changing a child support Order if there was a change in circumstances experienced since the previous Order was made. These circumstances include a change in any of the following:

• the number of children who are dependent on the parties;

• employment that results in a long-term change in income;

• special or extraordinary Section 7 expenses incurred for the children; and

• the access costs for visits between the parties and their children.

The Court may also consider the payor’s ability to make the current payments, or other factors based on legislation the Order was made under.

Note: If the parties entered into a separation agreement, the agreement may limit how and when a variation may occur. Provide your separation agreement to your lawyer at the initial consultation so that they may review it and provide you with accurate legal advice.

MEP’s role during the pandemic

Without a Variation Order, MEP will continue to enforce the Court Order currently registered with them. MEP does not have the same jurisdiction to make changes to child support as the Court. With access to the Courts being reduced during this time, the ability to bring a claim to vary support promptly is impacted.

MEP recognizes the hardship experienced by many payor parents as a result of COVID-19 and reduced access to the Courts. The Law Society of Alberta has recently released the following statement:

The Maintenance Enforcement Program (MEP) recognises COVID-19 may impact a payors’ ability to meet their court ordered child support obligations. Similarly, it is recognised recipients are also impacted by COVID-19, and still have monthly obligations for the child(ren). Therefore payors making no payment is not an option.

To assist payors, the MEP will offer a temporary payment arrangement for less than the ordered amount or a temporary decrease in their current payment arrangement. This applies to payors contacting MEP looking for assistance during the pandemic due to loss of income as a result of COVID-19 diagnosis, self-isolation, loss of job (or reduced hours) or impact of childcare/school closure. Assistance to these payors will be temporary, and it is the responsibility of these payors to keep in touch with MEP month-to-month.

If you have experienced a change to your financial situation as a result of COVID-19, you should contacted your MEP case officer immediately to arrange for a payment plan and receive further information. Banaszek Family Law assists clients requiring legal support during this time. We can assist you with negotiating a new child support order or agreement, or setting up an interim payment plan with MEP to assist you financially until the Courts reopen or your economic situation changes.

Banaszek Family Law is here for you

If you require independent legal advice with respect to your family law and/or divorce matter, contact Banaszek Family Law to schedule a telephone consultation with Adrianna Banaszek, HERE. We are pleased to continue offering a discounted rate during May 2020 for telephone consultations.

Banaszek Family Law is here to assist you with your child support matter during this unprecedented time●

Follow Banaszek Family Law on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn for more updates on how COVID-19 is impacting family law issues.

The Basics of Spousal Support

This blog post is from the Banaszek Family Law’s “Family Law Basics” series. This blog series is meant to be a resource and provide some information regarding specific family law topics. These blog posts should not be taken as legal advice as most family law and divorce matters are circumstance-driven and require further analysis and advice from a legal professional. This week, Adrianna Banaszek, Calgary family and divorce lawyer, covers the basics of spousal support in Alberta:

Who is elibigle to claim support?

For married couples, spousal support is governed by the Divorce Act (federal legislation, meaning that it applies across Canada) and the Family Law Act (Alberta’s provincial legislation). Support for unmarried couples in Alberta is governed by the Family Law Act and the Adult Interdependent Relationships Act.

Under the federal Divorce Act, spousal support is most likely to be paid when there is a big difference between the spouses' incomes after they separate. NOTE: Just because one spouse earns significantly more income does not mean that their spouse will automatically be entitled to support payments. A court may decide that the spouse with the lower income is not entitled to support. The court may reach this decision if that spouse has a lot of assets, or if the difference in income cannot be traced to anything that happened during the marriage or relationship to require financial wealth be distributed more evenly between the parties.

Unmarried couples may be eligible for support if they meet the threshold requirements to be considered “Adult Interdependent Partners” as defined in the Adult Interdependent Relationships Act . In Alberta, you are considered an “Adult Interdependent Partner” of another person if you have lived together in a relationship of interdependence (section 3 of the Act):

• for a continuous period of not less than 3 years, or

• of some permanence, if there is a child of the relationship by birth or adoption, or

• have entered into an adult interdependent partner agreement with the other person under section 7.

There are limited legal protections to guarantee financial support from your separated partner if you do not meet the threshold requirements of the legislation. At Banaszek Family Law, we suggest entering into a Cohabitation Agreement to either ensure that financial support is paid or waived upon separation if you do not wish for the current legislative framework to apply.

How is entitlement to spousal support determined?

Unlike child support, spousal support is not an automatic right of a party who earns less than their spouse when they separate. The federal and provincial legislation strive to compensate spouses who have suffered financially as a result of the marriage/relationship or due to its’ breakdown. Judges consider various factors in determining if a spouse should receive support after a divorce. Some of these factors include:

1. the financial means and needs of both spouses;

2. the length of the marriage;

3. the roles of each spouse during their marriage;

4. the effect of those roles and the breakdown of the marriage on both spouses' current financial positions;

5. the care of the children;

6. the goal of encouraging a spouse who receives support to be self-sufficient in a reasonable period of time; and

7. any orders, agreements or arrangements already made about spousal support.

Judges must also consider whether spousal support would meet the following purposes:

1. to compensate the spouse with the lower income for sacrificing some power to earn income during the marriage;

2. to compensate the spouse with the lower income for ongoing care of children; or

3. to help a spouse who is in financial need if the other spouse has the ability to pay.

At the same time, the judge must consider that a spouse who receives support has an obligation to become self-supporting, where reasonable.

Types of spousal support entitlement

There are 3 categories of entitlement to spousal support: compensatory, non-compensatory and contractual (Moge v Moge; Bracklow v Bracklow). Compensatory spousal support is based on an economic disadvantage caused by the marriage to one of the spouses. Non-compensatory is needs-based support. The non-compensatory category acknowledges that married couples often become economically interdependent, and require financial support from the other to continue to meet their basic needs following separation. Contractual spousal support is agreed to by way of contract between the spouses.

Try this FREE spousal support calculator to obtain a general estimate of spousal support entitlement based on the duration of your relationship and each parties’ respective incomes. The Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines are not law but suggest appropriate ranges of support in a variety of situations for spouses entitled to support. The Guidelines are taken into account by lawyers in support negotiations and judges in making decisions about spousal support quantum and duration.

At Banaszek Family Law, we suggest you meet with a family lawyer to obtain independent legal advice as there are many factors which must be considered in confirming your spousal support obligations and potential entitlement to claim a particular amount (and length) of support following your separation from your spouse.

How does child support affect spousal support?

If either spouse is paying child support, the judge must also determine how a requirement to pay spousal support would affect child support payments. The Divorce Act clearly states that a judge must give priority to child support when a person applies for both child and spousal support. Both parents have an obligation to support their children.

To learn more about child support in Alberta, read our blog post: The Basics of Child Support.

How can I collect spousal support?

The Maintenance Enforcement Program (“MEP”) is a Government of Alberta program which collects court-ordered child support, spousal and partner support, and takes care of enforcement as needed. MEP is a free service which allows either the payor or the recipient of support to register the spousal support order. Introducing MEP into the mix may help reduce tensions for parties as the accounting and enforcement of financial matters is outsourced.

If you have a court order, you can register your order with MEP here. If you require assistance obtaining a court order for spousal support (whether it is a litigious situation or an amicable one which would be accomplished by consent of both parties) contact Banaszek Family Law to learn how we can assist you.

Need help calculating or obtaining spousal support? Banaszek Family Law is here for you.

A great free resource to assist you in understanding the process and documents required to vary spousal or partner support is found at the Government of Alberta website.

We highly suggest entering into a cohabitation agreement or prenuptial/postnuptial agreement to ensure that support obligations are either waived or secured in the event of a separation or divorce (depending on your desired outcome). To gain a better understanding of how a marriage or cohabitation agreement may be beneficial to you, read our blog: Prenups are for Lovers.

At Banaszek Family Law, we offer flat rate Spousal Support Analysis to provide you with a better understanding of what your support obligations or entitlement may be. Banaszek Family Law also offers independent legal advice and full representation with respect to spousal support matters in both Alberta and British Columbia. Make the next move by scheduling your initial consultation with Adrianna Banaszek today, HERE ●

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Virtual Parenting: Banaszek Family Law explores the impact of virtual parent-child contact

The increase of virtual technology options, paired with ease of accessibility, has removed many barriers for parents to communicate with their children post-separation. But, we should not kid ourselves - all that glitters is not gold! Parents who rely (to varying degrees) on virtual technology to maintain relationships with their children often experience additional conflict with the custodial parent due to the introduction of the technological “godsend”.

Adrianna Banaszek, family lawyer and founder of Calgary-based law firm Banaszek Family Law, explains how the booming virtual technology sector has both positive and negative effects on children and their parents post-separation, and how common use of these alternate parent-child contact methods may develop a new legal landscape in Alberta.

What is Virtual Parenting?

“Virtual parenting” refers to parent-child contact and communication through the use of virtual technology.  Virtual parenting is usually parenting from afar through a plethora of communication means, including, text messaging, email, Skype, FaceTime, communicating through social networking sites, and good old-fashioned telephone calls.

Technology allows separated parents the option to increase communication and contact with their children when they are not the primary (custodial) caregiver or during the other caregiver’s parenting time. Whether the risks outweigh the benefits of these alternate modes of communicating for parents and their children is still out for debate.

Virtual tech is shaping the legal landscape

What is certain, however, is the judicial notice that virtual technology is receiving in the Alberta Courts when it comes to decisions about parenting arrangements. There is no doubt that technology has allowed parenting time to take place in situations where it likely would not otherwise. For instance, long-distance parenting arrangements are made possibility with communication technologies. The Alberta decision of BRH v RPS, 2016 ABQB 346, highlights that the use of virtual technology is a factor weighed in mobility applications (parents who wish to relocate the child to another jurisdiction) and long-distance parenting arrangements. Justice R.A. Graesser stated as follows:

[107] Technology will undoubtedly play a role. With technology, the absent parent can have daily face-to-face time with their child via Skype or Facetime, such that communications during non-parenting periods are not limited to one-dimensional telephone calls or written communications.

Although this particular case did not turn on maximizing contact between the parties, notice was taken of the parenting opportunities technology would afford (para 108). This decision was later appealed and the appellant mother was granted primary care of the child with the ability to relocate the child to Spain. Although the success of the appeal did not hinge on the role virtual technology would play, it was considered in allowing the father (non-custodian parent) generous access to his child who was to move overseas in between holidays and summers when in-person parenting time would be realized.

Is virtual technology an aid or a grenade for co-parenting?

Although virtual technologies are common place in the Western world today, there has been minimal research conducted about whether and how virtual parent-child contact impacts children, their parents and the parenting relationship post-separation. The minimal empirical research is most concerning when it comes to families involved in high-conflict disputes, which often stem from poor communication, lack of trust between the parties, and/or mental health issues.

Luckily, Dr. Rachel Birnbaum, is asking these very important questions through her research. Dr. Birnbaum is a social work professor at King’s University College, Western University, where she focuses her research on family justice issues. She conducted a survey which asked the following questions:

1. What conflicts, if any, do adult and child clients report as a result of using any type of technology for parent-child contact?

2. What benefits and challenges do family justice professionals believe about the use of virtual technology as a means of parent-child contact?

The Parents Report

The parents participating in the survey reported that the majority of conflicts occurred as a result of the following:

• 60% reported that the other parent listened in on their conversation with the child.

• 35% reported that the other parent alleged that the child is too busy doing something else at the designated virtual parenting time.

• 41% reported that the child is not available for the call at the designated time.

• 4% reported that the other parent alleges that they do not know how to use or set up the virtual technology to allow for the access.

• Other reasons conflict occurred: using the time to harass the custodial parent, using the child to harass the non-resident parent and child support/inappropriate discussions with the child, and some parents reported that they don’t want their children using technology due to safety or confidentiality concerns.

The Children Report

The children participating in the survey reported that the majority of conflicts sometimes occurred as a result of the following:

• 55% reported that conflict arose as a result of the child being busy and not always wanting to talk to the other parent at the time.

• 45% reported that the child does not have a lot to say to the other parent and the other parent gets upset due to this.

• 39% reported that the other parent is listening to the conversation during the parent-child contact.

Children mostly expressed that although virtual parenting was advantageous, virtual access did NOT alleviate their longing for their parent, and that the virtual parent contact increased their anxiety and sadness about the absence of physical contact with their non-resident parent.

The Lawyers Report

The survey found that from the perspective of family justice professionals, the risk of using virtual parent-child contact is for evidence gathering, meaning the contact is sometimes focused on planning future litigation rather than to strengthen the parent-child bond. The majority of professionals concluded that the benefit of virtual contact is that the child may maintain contact with their parent over geographical distances (beneficial for mobility applications and to foster the parental-child bond).

Benefits and challenges of parenting via virtual tech

Dr. Birnbaum’s survey findings support that there are both risks and rewards surrounding virtual parent-child contact. The risks as identified by the parents result mainly from privacy and confidentiality and the burden placed on the custodial parent to organize the parent-child contact. The benefits include that the child may maintain an ongoing relationship with a parent that they are not constantly in-person contact with. It also has the potential of reducing hostility between parents because they have no contact (or minimal contact) with each other – this is more relevant for children who are older and able to use the technology without assistance or supervision from the other parent.

The findings are important as this is a time when virtual parent-child contact is increasingly being recommended by family justice professionals and the court as a means of maintaining parent-child relationships post-separation. Dr. Birnbaum notes that more research is required to determine the impact of the relative costs and burdens to parents having to provide the technology and how much adult assistance is required to organize and have the child available at the designated time, along with examining the safety risks underlying the use of the different types of technology.

*The study is limited by the sample size.

Implementing virtual parenting post-separation: Whose job is it, anyway?

The short answer is: it is the responsibility of both parents. Although the custodial parent may not believe that they benefit from their child interacting with their ex-spouse or the other parent in situations of high conflict, Canadian courts are very clear that for children to maintain relationships with both parents, both parents must be involved. Maintaining relationships with both parents after the parties have separated is highly valued by the Courts and it is considered to often be in the best interest of the child.

Canadian courts have ruled that custodial parents have an obligation to promote compliance with custody and access orders and cannot simply leave the questions of custody and access up to the child. This means that there is an obligation on the custodial parent to actively facilitate access with the other parent by ensuring that the children are available for the virtual or in-person parenting time. For more information on access enforcement, read the Department of Justice Canada’s Overview and Assessment of Approaches to Access Enforcement: An Update by Dr. Martha Bailey.

Need help crafting a parenting plan post-separation? Banaszek Family Law is here for you.

At Banaszek Family Law, we offer independent legal advice and representation to serve your custody and parenting needs, whether that is drafting a Separation Agreement which includes a comprehensive parenting plan, or representing you in your family law and divorce litigation.

Make the next move by scheduling your initial consultation with Adrianna Banaszek today, HERE ●

Follow Banaszek Family Law on Twitter: @BanaszekLaw, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

View from the Driver’s Seat: Banaszek Family Law prepares you for your initial consultation with a family lawyer

Working up the courage to attend at an initial consultation with a family and divorce lawyer is a hurdle for many people to overcome. Many people believe that they must be prepared to walk away from their relationship or be prepared to endure protracted litigation if they are scheduling a meeting with a lawyer. Adrianna Banaszek, family lawyer and founder of Banaszek Family Law, explains that this perspective should not be the norm, and illuminates why initial consultations are very important meetings for her and her clients:

“The most rewarding aspect of my job is empowering people dealing with family law issues so that they feel less hopeless during an emotional and very stressful transition in their life. When I meet with clients for the first time, I focus on gaining an understand of where they would like to see themselves, and their families, in the future.

Every client has a different definition of “resolution”. During the initial consultation, I focus on understanding what each client perceives to be a resolution of their matter because that will inform the legal options I propose and the level of representation I can offer. The decisions made as a result of the legal advice obtained can have significant impacts for the client and their family, and that aspect of the initial consultation is never taken lightly by me.”

What is an initial consultation?

At Banaszek Family Law, initial consultations provide the opportunity for clients to canvas their questions about their family law and divorce matter. The lawyer’s job is explain the legal framework and the available options to move towards a resolution. Some clients wish to use their initial consultation as an opportunity to obtain independent legal advice about a discrete issue so that they may confidently take next steps as a self-represented litigant. Initial consultations are also an opportunity for clients to interview lawyers before retaining them. The initial consultation should provide the client with insights into the lawyer’s ability to communicate confusing concepts in an understandable manner, and confirm if the lawyer is the right fit as a legal representative in a very personal matter.

The meeting with the lawyer is completely confidential - this means that the lawyer cannot share anything about the conversation you have with anyone else, unless it would be valuable to do so and permission from the client is first obtained. The lawyer is also precluded from representing your spouse/the opposing party in the future, so there is no reason to worry about the private information you are divulging being used against you in any manner. Whatever your desired purpose for the initial consultation, it is important that you come prepared to ensure that you reap all the benefits of the valuable meeting.

Preparing for your initial consultation at Banaszek Family Law

For many family law clients, the initial consultation is the first time they have ever explained their very personal concerns to a stranger. Due to nerves, stress, and the novelty of the experience, many clients do not take full advantage of their initial consultation. We have compiled 5 TIPS that will help you prepare for an initial consultation with Banaszek Family Law:

TIP 1: Complete the Initial Consultation Form

For starters, complete and send back the Initial Consultation Form before attending at your initial consultation. The From will be emailed to you once your consultation is scheduled with Banaszek Family Law. The Initial Consultation Form allows you to provide details about the parties involved and a description of your matter in advance of meeting with the lawyer. Jot down some of the questions you would like to have answered by the family lawyer – this will provide the lawyer with a heads-up of which issues should be prioritized so that they can better structure your consultation to take advantage of the scheduled time. There have been occasions where the Initial Consultation Form has confirmed that the client’s legal issue is not of a family law or divorce nature, allowing us to redirect the client to another lawyer in the appropriate practice area.

TIP 2: Prepare your documents (and bring them with you!)

You should bring the following documents and items to your initial consultation:

• Your government-issued photo identification – the Law Society of Alberta and British Columbia require that the lawyer takes steps to verify the identity of the client. We will keep a scanned copy of your photo ID on file.

• Filed Court documents – these documents will alert the lawyer to any upcoming Court dates or filing deadlines. Reviewing filed Court documents will also provide the lawyer with a better understanding of the opposing party’s position so that a comprehensive strategy that meets your needs can be prepared.

• Your notes and any questions you may have (check out TIP 3 below). The initial consultation will go by very fast and we want to make sure that most of your questions are canvassed, so don’t leave it up to memory.

• A notepad and pen - if you don’t bring your own, we will provide these for you so that you may note useful resources or information explained during the consultation.

TIP 3: Write down your questions

Jot down some of the questions you would like to have answered by the family lawyer in advance of stepping foot in their office, and bring them with you to the consultation. You will likely think up many questions you would like answered in the days (or hours) leading up to your consultation. Your list of questions will guide the consultation and increase the productivity of the meeting. The initial consultation goes by quickly and we want to make sure that most of your questions are canvassed, so don’t leave it all up to memory!

TIP 4: Know the history

Be prepared to outline a history of your litigation or a general overview of what has occurred since your separation/conflict arose, if relevant. For example, what has the parenting arrangement looked like since separation? How were the finances organized in the household during the marriage and after separation? If you come prepared to explain your situation, the consultation will run more smoothly.

TIP 5: Arrive on time

Once your initial consultation is booked, make sure you know where the lawyer’s office is located and how you are going to get there. It is important that you come on time to your consultation so that you are calm, collected and can take advantage of the entire time scheduled. We guarantee that there is an hour blocked off for your consultation.

Banaszek Family Law is located on the 30th floor of the TD Canada Trust Tower, downtown Calgary. We are conveniently located on the C-Train line at the 4th Street SW stop. If you are driving in, the CORE parkade is located on 4th Street, between 8th Avenue SW and 7th Avenue SW and is open during our hours of operation.

Disclaimer: Initial consultations should be MORE than a sales pitch 

If a lawyer only uses the initial consultation as a sales pitch and promises you the ‘moon and the stars’ but does not provide you with any valuable information, be wary of their ability to represent you. You should be comfortable with the family lawyer you hire because they will be representing your interests during what is usually a highly emotional and stressful time in your life. Use the initial consultation as a time to interview your potential new lawyer – remember, it’s a two-way relationship. The lawyer must understand your perspective, goals, legal and emotional budget. They must also be able to communicate legal issues in an understandable manner. The lawyer should be able to explain what they can do and what their limitations are (whether that be time constraints or general litigation constraints).

At Banaszek Family Law, we want to make sure that your initial consultation is productive and that you receive the necessary information to take next steps on your own, or understand what our involvement in your legal matter looks like. The initial consultation is your chance to interview your future family lawyer and confirm that the relationship is a good fit.

You are one click away from taking control of your life and finding answers to your family law and divorce questions. Make the next move by scheduling your initial consultation with Adrianna Banaszek today, by clicking HERE ●

Follow Banaszek Family Law on Twitter: @BanaszekLaw, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

PROVIDE, DON'T HIDE: Banaszek Family Law explains disclosure in Alberta family law matters

“Non-disclosure of assets is the cancer of matrimonial property litigation” (Cunha v Cunha).

Many individuals resist providing complete financial disclosure in their family law and divorce proceedings, which invariably increases delays and sparks the potential for excessive litigation. During the financial disclosure exchange process, some parties feel that documents being requested from them are private and should not be shared. Some parties may feel that the opposing party (or their lawyer) is trying to gain the upper-hand by exploring every aspect of their financial situation. Talk about feeling exposed!

The “hiding” or “withholding” of disclosure by one spouse, or the perception that the spouse is avoiding full disclosure, is likely rooted in mistrust. These issues tend to be heightened in situations where one party did not have much control of the family assets or financial matters during the marriage or relationship.

Banaszek Family Law helps clients understand which documents they must produce to ensure efficient resolution of their legal matter. The legal guidance of an Alberta family lawyer will help reduce feelings of mistrust and ensure you are only producing the necessary documents to the other side. We are prepared to guide you through the confusing, but critical, process of disclosure exchange. 

I was served with a Notice to Disclose - NOW WHAT?

What is a Notice to Disclose application?

The Notice to Disclose is an Alberta Court application that compels the production of necessary financial documents within a specified period of time, being within 30 days of the filed document being served on you. Some of the information/documents which must be produced include the following:

• income verification documents (tax returns, notices of assessment, pay statements, financial statements for parties who are self-employed in an unincorporated business, where applicable);

• confirmation of all partnership and trust interests, assets and liabilities held in your name (Schedule A, bank statements, credit card statements, statements for all investment interests);

• list of exemptions of assets claimed, where applicable;

• list of special and extraordinary expenses claimed with supporting documentation, where child support is claimed; and

• monthly budget of expenses, where spousal or partner support is claimed.

What should I do after being served?

If the party served with the Notice to Disclose fails to produce the relevant information/documents within the specified time, the party serving the Notice to Disclose is entitled to seek an Order for Costs for non-compliance and an Order for production of the missing documents at the upcoming Court appearance. Therefore, it is vital that you begin organizing the requested documents and seek independent legal advice from a family lawyer right after being served. By booking an initial consultation with an Alberta family lawyer, you will gain an understanding of whether your documents are complete pursuant to the Notice to Disclose and which documents you should NOT produce. A family lawyer should guide you through the disclosure process to ensure that you are not producing privileged (confidential) documents to the opposing party.

What’s the point of Notices to Disclose?

The Court created Notices to Disclose as a way to efficiently compel and expedite the exchange of relevant financial information in family law matters. Where Notices to Disclose are not filed, and if parties are reluctant to exchange documents, it often takes a great deal of time and effort to get relevant financial information from the parties in an action. The Notice to Disclose application puts pressure on the parties to produce the documents because they know there is an upcoming Court date at which an explanation for why the documents are not produced must be given. The sometimes onerous process of document exchange is thereby streamlined with this the Notice to Disclose.

Notices to Disclose can be used in divorce, matrimonial property, parentage and maintenance actions. They are not mandatory, but they are efficient and a good measure for future protection. A Notice to Disclose benefits a family law client in many ways, including reducing the potential for the opposing party to hide assets and income because they are obligated to disclose all aspects of their financial situation.

Other options for disclosure exchange

If the parties are efficient and forthcoming with exchanging disclosure documents without the need of Court intervention, the Notice to Disclose can be used as a guide to cover off most of the relevant documents required to confirm which assets and liabilities will be divided between the parties or exempt, and each parties’ guideline incomes for the purposes of calculating child and/or spousal or partner support. Consult with a family lawyer before making a disclosure request from the opposing party to confirm if you are entitled to receiving this information.

To help ensure that you are producing the correct documents to the opposing party/counsel, or if you wish to gain a better understanding of how you can compel the opposing party to provide you with documents and information relevant to your matter (with or without Court intervention), consult with a family lawyer in your jurisdiction.

Schedule an initial consultation with Adrianna Banaszek of Banaszek Family Law to learn about your legal rights and obligations. During May and June 2019, Banaszek Family Law is offering free 30 minute telephone initial consultations - Make the next move and book yours today!

Follow Banaszek Family Law on Twitter: @BanaszekLaw, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

The Basics of Child Support

Banaszek Family Law explains how Alberta’s and Canada’s child support regimes strive to create financial equality in the households of separated parents to benefit children:

Child support is a legal right of every child, which is safeguarded by the Alberta and Canadian legal systems. Children of intact families benefit from both parents' incomes, and that should not change if their parents separate or divorce. Child support is meant to equalize the financial situations in both households to ensure that the child is receiving the full benefit of both incomes as it is the duty of both parents to financially provide for their children.

Types of child support

In Canada, there are two types of child support obligations: section 3 (base/table support) and section 7 (special and extraordinary expenses) support. Section 3 child support is what most people are familiar with. It is the monthly support payment that rappers explain is a hassle, and something that you must pay until the child is “18 years old”. If your child support education is purely based on references from pop culture, please continue reading this blog post…

Unless otherwise provided under the Federal Child Support Guidelines (the “Guidelines”), the amount of section 3 support is the amount set out in the applicable table for the province, the amount of children for which the support is required, and the income of the parent against whom the order is sought.

Special and extraordinary child-related expenses are governed by section 7 of the Guidelines, and are apportioned between separated parents based on each of their respective incomes (each party pays the expense in proportion to their incomes). Section 7 expenses capture those expenses which exceed the ones the parent requesting the support can reasonably cover (they are not the “every day” expenses). Special expenses may include tuition, medical expenses, extracurricular expenses, child care expenses, and other child-related costs.

NOTE: If the section 7 expenses are eligible to be processed through a health benefits plan, you must only share the outstanding out-of-pocket cost as the section 7 expense. in determining the amount of a section 7 expense, the court will take into account any subsidies, benefits or income tax deductions or credits relating to the expense, along with any ELIGIBILITY to claim a subsidy, benefit or income tax deduction or credit relating to the expense.

How do I calculate child support? (Disclaimer: It’s not always easy math)

Your eligibility to pay or receive child support and the recommended amount payable are determined by federal and provincial guidelines as well as specific rules and formulas. Many factors come into play when determining child support in Alberta.

Guideline Incomes

Child support payments are impacted by how the parties earn income. If a party earns income through self-employment, if they hold substantial investments or trust interests, their “guideline income” (total annual income used to calculate child support) will not be as clear cut as an employee of an at arms-length business or institution.

Guideline incomes may be imputed by a court if the total income the parent is claiming is not appropriate for the circumstances. Some circumstances (and there are many more than listed below!) where imputation of guideline income may be reasonable, include:

• when a party is intentionally under-employed or unemployed;

• when a party resides in a country that has effective rates of income tax that are significantly lower than those in Canada;

• it appears that the party’s income has been diverted which would affect the level of child support to be determined under the Guidelines;

• the party’s property is not reasonably utilized to generate income;

• the party has failed to provide income information when under a legal obligation to do so (AKA: We can’t figure out the party’s total income so we need to produce evidence and make arguments for why that party’s income should be imputed to a certain amount);

• the party unreasonably deducts expenses from income (this can become relevant when a party is self-employed); and

• the party derives a significant portion of income from dividends, capital gains or other sources that are taxed at a lower rate than employment or business income or that are exempt from tax.

Parenting Arrangement

Child support payments can also be affected by the type of child custody or guardianship arrangements in place. "Shared parenting” applies where both parents each have at least 40% of total parenting time. In shared parenting arrangements, child support is sometimes “set off” by each party’s table child support amount, with the difference of child support being paid to the lower income-earning parent. In a shared parenting arrangement, child support is sometimes reduced to take into account the potentially increased costs of a shared parenting arrangement. The court will also take into account the conditions, means, needs and other circumstances of each party and of the child for whom support is sought before deviating from the applicable table support.

There is a FREE child support calculator available online which can help you obtain a general estimate of your monthly section 3 child support payments.

More factors to consider…

There are many other factors (than listed above) which should be considered in confirming a parent’s child support obligations. For example, just because a “child” has reached the age of majority (18 years old in Alberta) does not mean that they are no longer a “child” for the purposes of calculating child support. Child support may continue to be owed (to the other parent or to the child directly) if they are over the age of majority but are unable, due to illness, disability or other cause, to withdraw from their parents’ charge or to obtain the necessaries of life on their own. This may include a child who continues to rely on their parents for financial support while attending post-secondary education.

If you are a payor of support and you earn income in excess of $150,000, the Court may stray away from applying the Guidelines as the children’s needs are taken care of with support that does not correspond with the total income earned. Alberta courts will consider the amount of child support that is appropriate for the child, taking into account the circumstances of the child who is entitled to the support.

A party who stands in the place of a parent for a child ("in loco parentis”) may also have a child support obligation for the child if he/she separates from the child’s other parent. Meet with a family lawyer to confirm whether you are standing in the place of a parent for a child.

At Banaszek Family Law, we suggest you meet with a family lawyer to obtain independent legal advice as there are many factors which must be considered to confirm your child support obligations and entitlement to claim a particular amount of support for the children.

What is MEP?

The Maintenance Enforcement Program (“MEP”) is a Government of Alberta program which collects court-ordered child support, spousal and partner support, and takes care of enforcement as needed. MEP is a free service which allows either the payor or the recipient of support to register the child support order. Introducing MEP into the mix may help reduce tensions for parties as the accounting and enforcement of money matters are outsourced.

If you have a court order, you can register your order with MEP here. If you require assistance obtaining a court order for child support (whether it is a litigious situation or an amicable one which would be accomplished by consent of both parties) contact Banaszek Family Law to learn how we can assist you.

Need help calculating child support? Banaszek Family Law is here for you.

At Banaszek Family Law, we offer flat rate Child Support Analysis to provide you with a better understanding of what your support obligations are and to confirm the amount of support your children are entitled to.

Banaszek Family Law also offers independent legal advice and full representation with respect to child support and parenting matters in both Alberta and British Columbia. Make the next move by scheduling your initial consultation with Adrianna Banaszek today, HERE ●

Follow Banaszek Family Law on Twitter: @BanaszekLaw and LinkedIn: Banaszek Family Law.  

Legal Coaching: Banaszek Family Law offers legal support that fits your needs

At Banaszek Family Law, we understand that retaining a lawyer to represent you in your family law or divorce matter can be an unexpected and costly expense. We also understand that no one else knows your family law matter and family dynamic better than you do, so self-representing may be the most effective option.

To help alleviate the financial burden and to provide clients with the amount of legal support they require, Banaszek Family Law is proud to offer legal coaching and unbundled legal services to better serve Albertan and British Columbian family law clients.  

What is legal coaching?

An increasing amount of family law litigants find themselves stuck between being unable to afford a lawyer and not qualifying for Legal Aid services. Many people who want to (or need to) self-represent in their family law proceeding can also obtain assistance from a family lawyer to ensure that the documents they are filing are completed adequately, to gain a better understanding of the court process, or to prepare for and feel confident about attending at court, mediation, arbitration or Questioning (Discovery) on their own.

Legal coaching, often called “unbundled legal services”, gives clients the control and convenience of contacting a lawyer at their discretion to obtain assistance. With legal coaching, the client receives the advice and support on any discrete aspect of their family law case. The resulting legal bill can therefore be significantly reduced as the client is only paying for the assistance they requested along the way.

If you are a legal coaching client, the firm and lawyer you have hired will not be on the Court record as your counsel. This means that you would represent yourself in court and receive all correspondence and court documents from the opposing party, the opposing counsel or the court, directly. It would be your responsibility to contact Adrianna Banaszek to request specific assistance at any step in the proceedings.

As a legal coach, Adrianna Banaszek works in the background to assist you. Legal coaching clients can contact Banaszek Family Law to obtain legal advice like a fully retained client would, but taking next steps in your matter would be your responsibility. It is essentially a dial-a-lawyer legal service option, but the lawyer picking up the call or responding to your emails understands where you are in the legal process so that you are receiving efficient advice.

Am I married to one type of representation?

Family law and divorce proceedings are unique and dynamic. If you enter into a legal coaching relationship, you are not stuck with it if you crave more support and wish to have full legal representation. On the other hand, you may need to reduce the level of representation received from your counsel, which is why we understand that sometimes full representation will turn into a legal coaching relationship. The type of legal services required to serve you best may change as your case evolves, and Adrianna Banaszek is prepared to adapt to your situation.  

It is recommended that you first meet with a family lawyer practicing in the jurisdiction in which your family law matter is located before making a decision about the level of legal support you wish to obtain. Adrianna Banaszek practices family law in both Alberta and British Columbia.

Contact Banaszek Family Law to learn more about the legal services we offer to fit your needs. Make the next move by booking an initial consultation today, HERE ●

Follow Banaszek Family Law on Twitter: @BanaszekLaw and LinkedIn: Banaszek Family Law.