Flat Fee Packages for Separation Agreements

We offer a streamlined & peaceful process to help you complete a legal Separation Agreement in British Columbia.

Instead of each hiring your own lawyer, together you hire one highly-experienced family lawyer/mediator to act as your neutral facilitator - not to represent either of you but instead to help you create solutions that work for both of you.

The terms of your arrangement will be documented in a Separation Agreement: this is a legally-binding contract between spouses or common-law partners in British Columbia that documents how they will divide property, handle debts, manage their parenting responsibilities, and fulfill support obligations.

Why Choose Modern Separations?

  Flat Fee Packages
Daytime & Evening Meetings
Convenient Video Chat Access across British Columbia
16+ Years in Family Law
Nearly 1000 divorce mediations completed
Accredited by the Law Society of British Columbia and the Alternative Dispute Resolution Institute of Canada

Our approach for documenting your legal separation contract works whether:

you have a verbal agreement that simply needs to be ‘papered’ into a legal Separation Agreement; or
you have complicated disagreements that need to be resolved.

Step #1:

Schedule Your Pre-Mediation Initial Consultation

    Pre-Mediation Initial Consultation
    Required for each participant before joint sessions begin. Meetings are private & confidential.
  
$230
per person

We are required by the Law Society of British Columbia to meet with each participant individually before we meet all together. This is a requirement even if you are amicable.

The Initial Consultation gives you the opportunity to tell our neutral family lawyer/mediator about your situation, and to get information about family law in British Columbia and about our process. It also allows the mediator to ensure that mediation is appropriate for your situation.

Book Your Initial Consultation

Step #2:

Choose a Flat Fee Package

Quick Package

A highly-focused process for couples who have already verbally agreed on all important issues

$1,400

per person

Joint meetings: 1

Services available for: 1 week

Secure Client Portal to share your financial documents

Family law information

Meeting to discuss your verbal agreement to be documented

Separation Agreement drafted

Combined net worth up to $3 million

Regardless of which package you choose, you will:

  Share and organize your financial documents in our secure Client Portal.
Receive family law information about your rights and responsibilities for dividing property and debt, paying or receiving child support and spousal support, and your parenting plan.
Get guidance with approaching sensitive topics and brainstorming to understand potential options.
Document your terms of agreement with a legal separation contract (the Separation Agreement) as appropriate in British Columbia and in consideration of the Family Law Act and/or Divorce Act.

Your Separation Agreement will address all of the topics that are relevant and important to you, which may include:

  Determination of family property and debt
Division of family property and debt (for example, documenting the details of one of you buying the family home from the other so that you can get bank re-financing approved, pension division, etc.)
Parenting arrangements and parenting time (formerly referred to as custody and access)
Child support
Special and extraordinary expenses for your children (such as daycare expenses, extra-curricular activities, medical expenses, etc.)
Spousal support (also known as alimony)
Decision-making and communication guidelines
Interim arrangements, such as use of the family home, management of household expenses, and support, pending the final transfer or sale of the family home
Other details specific to your family

Step #3:

Sign Your Separation Agreement

Once you’ve agreed on the terms, the final step is to formalize your arrangement by signing the legal separation contract, known in British Columbia as the Separation Agreement. We will provide you with detailed instructions on how to sign your Separation Agreement so that it will be a legally binding document. You have the option of obtaining Independent Legal Advice before you sign the agreement (recommended but optional).

Done!

Please know that your separation doesn't have to be the awful battle that you've heard about from your friends. The vast majority of our clients complete their legal Separation Agreement within the timeline of our innovative divorce mediation process.

A fundamental aspect of our innovation in the family law field is ethical pricing as a means of harm reduction for families who are already experiencing the significant financial and emotional stress of separation.

In recent years, the model of flat fee mediation for Separation Agreements which we created has proliferated. Unfortunately though, many firms simply shifted their crushing family law fees into different packaging.

We deliberately keep our prices in a manageable range for families by:

having developed extremely efficient processes through nearly 1000 mediations;
strategic use of technology; and
prioritizing the social benefit of passing on the associated savings to our clients.

Ethical pricing is part of our contribution to the social good.

Frequently Asked Questions

We've agreed on everything. Do we really need a written agreement?
A verbal agreement between separating spouses is not legally enforceable in British Columbia. Without a written Separation Agreement, either party can change their position, and disputes about what was agreed upon can be costly and stressful to resolve. In addition, there are certain limitation periods that will limit one's ability to make certain claims after specific periods of time have elapsed. A properly executed Separation Agreement gives both parties legal certainty and protection, and makes it much easier to move forward with confidence.
Is a Separation Agreement legally binding in British Columbia?
Yes, a properly executed Separation Agreement is a legally binding contract under the Family Law Act of British Columbia.
Do both spouses need to agree to use mediation?
Yes. Mediation is a voluntary process, which means both spouses need to be willing to participate. However, one spouse can complete the Pre-Mediation Initial Consultation first and then share the information they've obtained with their spouse. If it seems like an appropriate process, the other spouse can then complete their Pre-Mediation Initial Consultation. Many couples find that once they understand how the process works, both of them are willing to try.
Do I need Independent Legal Advice before signing a Separation Agreement?
Independent Legal Advice (ILA) means consulting your own independent lawyer to review the agreement before you sign. It is recommended but not required in British Columbia. If you choose to get ILA, this may strengthen the enforceability of the agreement and ensure you fully understand what you are signing. Regardless of whether you choose to sign your Separation Agreement in front of a lawyer, the mediation process remains the same. You can choose how you'd like to sign at the end of the process.
What is the difference between separation and divorce in British Columbia?
Separation occurs when spouses decide to live apart and at least one intends the relationship to be over — there is no formal application required. A Separation Agreement documents the terms of the separation: how the couple agrees to handle property and debt, parenting, and support. Divorce is a separate legal process that formally ends the marriage and requires a court order. Many couples resolve all of the terms of their separation without resorting to court processes at all.

For more detailed information, see our FAQ page.