Advantage Family Law
About Us – What We Do
Calgary Divorce & Separation Lawyer
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Advantage Family Law is a Calgary law firm that helps people with Divorce and Separation. We assist spouses/partners when their relationship is ending. Whether you are legally married or in a common-law union, our team is here to guide you through the process and make sure you are treated fairly by your ex-spouse.
Our specific areas of practice are as follows:
Our Story
Christopher Bungay is the owner and founder of Advantage Family Law. His story began in small town Nova Scotia, where he was born into a rural family of fishermen. Chris grew up knowing the value of hard work. He also grew up knowing he would rather be a lawyer than work on a boat.
Chris first became a lawyer in 2003. He then travelled to BC where he spent 20 years building up the business that would eventually become Advantage Family Law. While in BC, this law firm grew to cover 3 cities and served 700 clients per year.
In 2023, Chris packed up his young family in Vancouver and made a fresh start on an acreage just outside Calgary. His family includes his wife Marette and their young twins, Benjamin and Samantha. Chris and his family have been thriving in Calgary.
Our Story
In the past 20 years, Chris has been a part of 3 different law societies in multiple Canadian provinces. He has represented hundreds of clients in a variety of different disputes. Chris has appeared in mediations and Courtrooms from coast to coast. He is currently a member of the Law Society of Alberta. He also regularly participates in the Family Law section of the Canadian Bar Association.
Chris spends most of his time either in the office or with his wife and children. However, he also finds time to be engaged in the community. In what spare time he has, Chris serves as president of a national charity known as Sober Kids Canada. This is a non-profit with a mission of keeping all Canadian children safe from the harms of substance use and digital media.
Christopher Bungay is the owner and founder of Advantage Family Law. His story began in small town Nova Scotia, where he was born into a rural family of fishermen. Chris grew up knowing the value of hard work. He also grew up knowing he would rather be a lawyer than work on a boat.
Chris first became a lawyer in 2003. He then travelled to BC where he spent 20 years building up the business that would eventually become Advantage Family Law. While in BC, this law firm grew to cover 3 cities and served 700 clients per year.
In 2023, Chris packed up his young family in Vancouver and made a fresh start on an acreage just outside Calgary. His family includes his wife Marette and their young twins, Benjamin and Samantha. Chris and his family have been thriving in Calgary.
In the past 20 years, Chris has been a part of 3 different law societies in multiple Canadian provinces. He has represented hundreds of clients in a variety of different disputes. Chris has appeared in mediations and Courtrooms from coast to coast. He is currently a member of the Law Society of Alberta. He also regularly participates in the Family Law section of the Canadian Bar Association.
Chris spends most of his time either in the office or with his wife and children. However, he also finds time to be engaged in the community. In what spare time he has, Chris serves as president of a national charity known as Sober Kids Canada. This is a non-profit with a mission of keeping all Canadian children safe from the harms of substance use and digital media.
Our Goal for You
Our goal is to help end your relationship with dignity and respect. Divorce/separation is widely recognized as the most stressful event a human being can experience. You may lose your relationship, but this does not mean you have to lose your dignity or sense of purpose. Advantage Family Law believes every client deserves to be treated with respect. By this, we mean you deserve to be treated with respect by both your ex-spouse and by the legal system. Our job is to help bring your relationship to an end in the fairest way possible.
How We Help You
Here are some of the ways we help you get treated fairly:
How We Help You
Here are some of the ways we help you get treated fairly:
We Listen to Your Issues and Make Sure Your Story is Known.
Every case is different. Your best chance of success is making sure the legal system has all the right facts unique to your situation.
We Use Legal Tools to Help You.
The law has a lot of solutions for you. We know the law and use it to your advantage.
We Try to Settle Things Peacefully.
Separation can be a great source of conflict for everyone involved. Our approach is to try and find a cost-effective solution in a cooperative way with your ex-spouse.
We Take a Collaborative and Cost-effective Approach.
Separation can be a great source of conflict for everyone involved. Our approach is to try and find a cost-effective solution in a cooperative way with your ex-spouse.
We Fight When Necessary.
If your ex-spouse will not cooperate, we use the legal system to aggressively defend your rights.
The Process - Beginning to End
While every case is different, the following is an example of a timeline for a separation/divorce case:
The Process - Beginning to End
While every case is different, the following is an example of a timeline for a separation/divorce case:
Separation
The first step in the process begins when a couple decides to separate. At the point where one spouse believes the relationship cannot be fixed physical separation usually occurs. Both spouses do not have to give up on the relationship to start the process.
Meeting a Lawyer
The next step for either spouse is meeting with a lawyer. You will have lots of worries and questions about what the future holds. An experienced lawyer can meet with you and help give you some clarity about how to best move forward.
Attempts to Settle Disputes Peacefully
The legal system will require spouses to make some efforts to try and resolve their differences and agree (if possible) on how they can move forward. A good lawyer will also try and guide a client to act peacefully and attempt to resolve their separation without fighting in a Courtroom. Often, with the guidance of a lawyer, spouses canned come to an agreement dividing property/assets and child custody
When Settlement Fails
If attempts to settle your case fail, you and your spouse will move into the litigation process. This means you will each have to file documents with the Alberta Courts. This next step involves a higher degree of conflict and legal argument. There may be a need to attend Court from time to time and speak to a judge. However, even at this point, most separation cases can be resolved between the parties or their lawyers.
Trial As a Last resort
If there is no chance the spouses can reach a peaceful settlement, the matter may end up going to a trial, in a courtroom, in front of an Alberta judge. In such a case, the judge will ultimately make decisions on all issues the spouses could not agree upon. The judge can make legally binding orders and decisions on a range of matters from child support, parenting time, division of property and spousal support. Thankfully, most cases do not reach the point of going to a courtroom. With the right mindset, and the right lawyers involved, spouses can settle their cases and find agreement without the need to go to Court.
We Are Your Advantage
Our senior lawyer and his team are here to help, 24/7. As a smaller firm, we can offer personalized, one-on-one service. We believe this gives you an Advantage. You may not have an army of lawyers helping you, but you will have one dedicated advocate in your corner. Contact us today to set up a meeting with our senior lawyer.