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Family Law

Support when
you need it most

At Hayes Fry Law, we believe it is our job to guide clients through an often long and difficult process, step by step, keeping them centered and focused on what matters when tensions are high and emotions charged. Our approach to Family Law is one of understanding, compassion, and practicality. We care about your end game, not the fight of the day. We’re here with support and know how to move difficult issues forward to find solutions.

Our Services

We can assist with all, or just a few, of the issues arising from separation and relationship break-down: parenting and guardianship matters, child and spousal support matters, and the division of assets and debts.

Services include:

  • Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
  • Drafting Divorce and Separation Contracts
  • Drafting Prenuptial and Cohabitation Agreements
  • Division of Property, including complex corporate and high value estates
  • Child and Spousal Support, including income determination for high income and self-employed individuals
  • Parenting:
    • Custody and Access
    • Guardianship
    • Seeking variations of parenting orders and agreements
    • Relocation and Mobility matters
    • Parenting Plans
  • Retroactive support and arrears
  • Independent Advice on Spousal Agreements (ILA)
  • Common-law separation
  • Uncontested Divorce
  • Adoptions

Family Law FAQ

What family law services do you offer in Grande Prairie, Alberta?

In Grande Prairie, our team assists with everything from mediation and separation contracts to property division. We also handle matters involving parenting, guardianship, custody, and support (including child, spousal, and retroactive support), as well as adoptions and Independent Legal Advice (ILA) on contracts.

What should I do if I’ve been served, or want to initiate a Divorce/Separation?

The first step is to book a consultation with a Hayes Fry lawyer. Keep in mind that you generally have 20 days or less to respond once you’ve been served with documents. We will sit down with you to explain the legal process, identify ways you can keep costs down on your own, and clarify your rights and entitlements. We’ll also provide a rough cost estimate and explore options for resolving things both in and out of court.

How much does family law representation cost?

Legal fees depend on how complex your specific case is. To give you options, we have lawyers with different levels of experience and areas of focus. For full transparency, we provide itemized monthly billing. Our hourly rates range from $195 to $500, plus GST.

What should I do before the consult?

To make the most of our time, please gather your financial disclosure. It is also helpful to have important dates handy, such as birthdays, your marriage date, or the dates of major purchases. Finally, take a moment to think about your immediate needs and long-term goals, and bring a written list of questions that are important to you.

What are the basics of family law?

In Alberta, married spouses and adult interdependent partners (usually those who have lived together for at least three years) generally have a presumptive right to share family property equally. This applies whether the property is held individually, jointly, or through a corporation.

When it comes to child support, the amount is mainly based on the payor parent’s income and the number of children involved. Support is often still required even in shared parenting arrangements. Spousal support isn’t automatic; it’s awarded based on factors like income, the length of the relationship, and the roles each person held during the marriage. Above all, parenting arrangements are decided based on what is in the best interests of the children, prioritizing their safety, stability, and well-being.

 


Resources

The HUB Network, Grande Prairiehttps://www.familyeducationsociety.org/family-resource-network/ – engage with programming and courses relating to parenting after a separation.

Parenting After Separation Seminarhttps://www.alberta.ca/pas and High Conflict Parenting After Separation – https://www.alberta.ca/pashc completion is mandatory before proceeding before the Courts.

MySupportCalculator.cahttps://mysupportcalculator.ca/calculatorfor for a basic and rough estimate of possible child and spousal support.

The New Family Focused Protocol in Alberta: Click Here

Financial Disclosure Guidelines: Click Here

Budget Template: Click Here

Statement of Income Assets & Liabilities: Click Here

Family Property Table: Click Here

Statement of Personal Benefits (Self-Employed Persons): Click Here

Testimonials

Have dealt with Leah for 2 of my real-estate purchases and sales, both times were great, her and her team have good communication and take the time to explain things to you and are quick at answering questions. her prices are very competitive, and the service received from all there is always top notch.
Tyler M
Trevor J. Latawiec was fantastic to work with. I am very pleased we got this finished in an efficient matter. His communication and response time was excellent. Thank You Hayes Fry Law.
Randy Rempel
I highly recommend Nathan for family law matters. Acquiring him as my lawyer was the best thing I could have done. He is straight to the point and gets the job done immediately. It is easy to see he takes pride in his job and is not the typical lawyer that will feed you nonsense and prolong your case. If you are looking for fairness in a custody case, he is the lawyer you need.
Reagan Doerksen
I had a very difficult and unusual property deal that Leah handled. The type of deal that no one involved has had any experience with. Leah made sure that I was kept in the loop every step of the way, as the process was being carried out. When other lawyers dropped the ball Leah made sure there was a plan in place if we needed to act.
Ross Saunders
My realtor recommended dealing with Leah Hayes and her team at Hayes Fry, and I’m glad he did. Very professional, very helpful, and well-priced. Will definitely use in the future, and would definitely recommend.
William Higgins

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