Advantage Family Law
Calgary Divorce & Separation Law Firm
Your story is important to us — let us find a resolution in your favour
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Advantage Family Law helps clients with any matter relating to separation and divorce. Our firm provides support for all types of cases, from a simple divorce to more complex issues involving property, spousal support and child custody.
Specifically, we help our clients in the following ways:
- We try to resolve your matter by cooperation and settlement – Whenever possible, we do our best to avoid conflict and keep legal fees to a minimum.
- If your issue cannot be settled more peacefully, we take action to enforce your legal rights. These include your rights as both a spouse and as a parent (if there are children involved).
Experience You Can Trust
At our law firm, one senior lawyer will help you. Any problems you have, from start to finish, will be dealt with by a legal professional with over 20 years of experience. Your case will not be passed down to junior lawyers and staff. We give your family dispute the experience and attention it deserves to be successful on your behalf.
Christopher Bungay, our senior lawyer and founder, has been representing clients across Canada since 2003. He has significant experience in mediating and settling legal disputes. Chris is always mindful of the amount of money his clients should be spending. Whenever possible, he uses his negotiation skills to resolve matters in a peaceful way instead of fighting in a courtroom.
Experience You Can Trust
At the same time, when push comes to shove, Chris will do whatever is necessary to make sure your rights are upheld. He has represented clients successfully at tribunals, mediations, provincial courts and Appeals courts in Canada. Chris is currently an active member of the Canadian Bar Association (CBA), the Alberta Family Law subsection of the CBA, and is a member in good standing of the Law Society of Alberta.
Chris moved with his family to Calgary in 2019. Prior to that, he owned and managed a law firm in BC that spanned three (3) cities in the BC lower mainland and Fraser Valley.
At our law firm, one senior lawyer will help you. Any problems you have, from start to finish, will be dealt with by a legal professional with over 20 years of experience. Your case will not be passed down to junior lawyers and staff. We give your family dispute the experience and attention it deserves to be successful on your behalf.
Christopher Bungay, our senior lawyer and founder, has been representing clients across Canada since 2003. He has significant experience in mediating and settling legal disputes. Chris is always mindful of the amount of money his clients should be spending. Whenever possible, he uses his negotiation skills to resolve matters in a peaceful way instead of fighting in a courtroom.
At the same time, when push comes to shove, Chris will do whatever is necessary to make sure your rights are upheld. He has represented clients successfully at tribunals, mediations, provincial courts and Appeals courts in Canada. Chris is currently an active member of the Canadian Bar Association (CBA), the Alberta Family Law subsection of the CBA, and is a member in good standing of the Law Society of Alberta.
Chris moved with his family to Calgary in 2019. Prior to that, he owned and managed a law firm in BC that spanned three (3) cities in the BC lower mainland and Fraser Valley.
Family Law and Only Family Law – We are Focused on Your Needs
Our team is 100% committed to family law. We do not dabble in other legal areas. Our senior lawyer and his staff spend all of their working hours on separation and divorce. This gives us a sharp focus on the family law issues you need resolved.
Divorce and
Separation
Our firm specializes in separation and divorce for both married and common-law couples.
Dividing
Property
We help clients understand their property rights, and to protect what is yours.
Spousal
Support
Our goal is to ensure fair treatment in spousal support matters.
Child Custody
/Child Support
With our expertise in child custody, we guide you on your rights and legal options.
Divorce and Separation
Most of our work involves separation and divorce matters. This includes both married couples and common law separation. Our firm has expertise in handling all aspects of separation.
Dividing Property and Money
Deciding ‘who gets what’ after divorce or common-law separation can be tricky. There is often a difference between what your spouse thinks is fair and what the law says is fair. Most property is divided 50/50, but there are exceptions to this rule.
Many clients are also surprised at what counts as “property” according to the law. For example, people are often surprised to find out that their spouse has a right to part of their pension. This can apply even if you are still working and you have not yet retired and used your pension. Similarly, if one spouse owns a business, the ex-spouse may be entitled to part of the value of the business.
Dividing Property and Money
Deciding ‘who gets what’ after divorce or common-law separation can be tricky. There is often a difference between what your spouse thinks is fair and what the law says is fair. Most property is divided 50/50, but there are exceptions to this rule.
Many clients are also surprised at what counts as “property” according to the law. For example, people are often surprised to find out that their spouse has a right to part of their pension. This can apply even if you are still working and you have not yet retired and used your pension. Similarly, if one spouse owns a business, the ex-spouse may be entitled to part of the value of the business.
We help our clients understand their property rights. After we provide you with an explanation of what you are owed, we then move on to protecting what is yours. Our goals with property division are as follows:
We help our clients understand their property rights. After we provide you with an explanation of what you are owed, we then move on to protecting what is yours. Our goals with property division are as follows:
- To make sure you pay only what you need to pay
- To ensure you receive any money or property you are entitled to receive
Spousal Support–Determining What Is Fair
Spousal support can apply to either divorce or common-law separation. It is important to note that an ex-spouse is not automatically entitled to support. Whether a spouse must pay support (and how much) is determined by a legal analysis of your past relationship.
For example, if a wife stayed home to raise the children while her husband worked, there is a high likelihood the husband would have to pay spousal support after separation. At the same time, if the husband and wife were both employed and made similar income, there may be no spousal support owing.
Unfortunately, the rules for ‘who pays and how much’ are not always black-and-white. Calculating spousal support can also get mixed in with other important issues such as property, money and childcare.
Our goal is to make sure our clients are treated fairly. If you are owed spousal support, we make sure you are paid a correct amount. If you must pay child support, we fight on your behalf to ensure you pay only what is legally owed.
Child Custody/Child Support - Protecting Your Rights As a Parent
After a divorce or common law separation, significant conflict can arise over who will raise the children. For example, a wife may disagree with her ex-husband’s parenting methods. A husband may not want the children around his ex-wife because of her behaviour. The couple may not agree on who should live in the family home with the kids.
Money can also be a major area of disagreement between divorcing parents. Arguments often involve which parent is obligated to pay child support, or how much support should be paid. Our law firm can help you learn about the following:
- How much access/custody you should have for your children
- How much child support you are entitled to receive or are obligated to pay
Child Custody/Child Support - Protecting Your Rights As a Parent
After a divorce or common law separation, significant conflict can arise over who will raise the children. For example, a wife may disagree with her ex-husband’s parenting methods. A husband may not want the children around his ex-wife because of her behaviour. The couple may not agree on who should live in the family home with the kids.
Money can also be a major area of disagreement between divorcing parents. Arguments often involve which parent is obligated to pay child support, or how much support should be paid. Our law firm can help you learn about the following:
- How much access/custody you should have for your children
- How much child support you are entitled to receive or are obligated to pay
Armed with this knowledge, we can then help you and your ex-spouse come to an agreement on all issues relating to parenting and custody. Ideally, we can settle these matters in a cooperative way with your former partner without incurring significant legal costs.
If your ex-spouse is not cooperative or is demanding more than he/she is owed, we can use legal tools to protect your rights. Using our legal knowledge, we can ask a judge to make an order requiring your ex-spouse to obey the law and respect your rights as a parent.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to hire a lawyer?
Legal fees for family lawyers can range from $150 to $500+ per hour. However, you may not need a lawyer for your entire separation process. Depending on your situation, you may not need a lawyer at all to get divorced.
Should I meet with a lawyer?
After you decide to separate, meeting with an experienced lawyer for a consultation can give you valuable insights about how to move forward. We recommend doing a careful search online to try and find a law firm that suits your personality and needs.
From our perspective, a good lawyer will be objective and non-emotional about your situation. A good lawyer should listen carefully to you, review your facts, and help you see the big picture moving forward.
Your Story Is Important To Us
We are a small law firm who are sharply focused on our clients’ needs. Our service is personalized. Your story is important to us. Let us help you move on from your relationship and live the best way you can moving forward.