Planning on Getting Married

Planning on getting married?

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Congratulations!  You have a big day ahead of you and we wish you the very best.

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Similarly to moving in together, it is not easy to fully understand all the legal implications of marriage.  Most people will benefit from knowing the implications of getting separated and getting divorced, so they can make plans accordingly.  You might want a marriage agreement (which is also called a pre-nuptial  agreement).  Particular when there are complex assets, or assets that you own jointly with family members or business partners, there is value to planning ahead.  You might be surprised to learn that legal documents such as shareholder agreements or legal entities such as trusts might not protect you as much as you thought.  

 

In addition, when you get married, the Divorce Act, a federal law, begins to apply to you, which is not the case if you are living together unmarried.  However, there are a number of things that are still governed by the Family Law Act, a BC law, whether you are married or not.  Because of this, every province has some portions of divorces that are consistent with other provinces, and others that are entirely different.  Because of this, where you choose to live can have a profound impact on what you are entitled to in the event of a separation. 

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These are just a few examples of how we can help you better understand your situation and help you plan for any contingency.  Get in touch with us and we can walk you through what you need to know. 

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