Illuma Family Law

09/18/2023

A separation or divorce can trigger spousal support obligations under BC’s Family Law Act, read our blog about the duty to provide support, entitlement, how to calculate support, and different pathways to obtaining spousal support in BC. ✍

www.illumalaw.com/blog/how-does-spousal-support-work-in-bc

A separation or divorce can trigger spousal support obligations under BC’s Family Law Act , read our blog about the duty to provide support, entitlement, how to calculate support, and different pathways to obtaining spousal support in BC.

09/07/2023

Significant changes to the Supreme Court Family Rules (SCFR) came into effect on September 1, 2023. This post from our team of Vancouver Family Lawyers provides an explanation of the amended rules so that it can serve as a helpful resource for those resolving their family law matter in the Supreme Court of British Columbia. ⚖

Katie Browning Amrita Atwal

Significant changes to the Supreme Court Family Rules (SCFR) came into effect on September 1, 2023. This post from our team of Vancouver Family Lawyers provides an explanation of the amended rules so that it can serve as a helpful resource for those resolving their family law matter in the Supreme C

08/22/2023

Happiest birthday wishes to our paralegal/future articling student/future lawyer! 🎂🎈

08/21/2023

At Illuma Family Law, we understand you want to prioritize your child's best interests during divorce or separation. Reach out to our team of Vancouver Family Lawyers for a consult!

📲 (236) 429-2464

08/18/2023

Parentage of a child can change child support obligations. 🧒

Read our blog to learn more:

https://www.illumalaw.com/blog/paternity-tests-after-separation-and-child-support

08/17/2023

Ever wonder how parentage affects child support obligations? 🤔

A parent in a family law proceeding can ask or be asked to do a DNA test, also known as a paternity test, before making an order for child support. 🧸

If you are involved in a family law matter where you should be receiving or paying child support, but you're not sure about the parentage of the child, reach out to one of our Vancouver Family Lawyers to discuss your options. 📞

08/15/2023

In case you missed it, read our blog post about paternity tests and how they can affect child support obligations. 🔬



llumalaw.com/blog/paternity-tests-after-separation-and-child-support

08/10/2023

Does a parent have child support obligations if a paternity test shows that the child is not their biological child? Can the courts order paternity tests? Read about:

👣 Child support obligations

👣 How parentage issues are dealt with in BC courts

Have more questions? Reach out for a consultation with our Vancouver Family Lawyers! 📲(236) 429-2464.

In BC, parents have a duty to provide child support, but a parent may ask or be asked to complete a paternity test to prove parentage.

07/24/2023

Have you heard about the recent changes to the BC Family Law Act? These changes could affect your family law matter:

🐶 Pet Custody
🏡 Excluded Property
💌 Presumption of Advancement and Presumption of Resulting Trust, No More!

Visit our website for full blog!

07/24/2023

As of May 11, 2023, notable amendments to the Family Law Act on the issues of pet custody, excluded property, and evidentiary presumptions received Royal Assent to become law in British Columbia. The amendments were first proposed by the Attorney General through Bill 17, the Family Law Amendment Act 2023, in late March 2023. Read Katie Browning's blog post which summarizes the new changes!

New Amendments to the Family Law Act in BC: What Vancouver Family Lawyers Want You to Know

07/20/2023

Grandparents can seek custody of a child, especially if the parents have a turbulent, unstable relationship.

🧸 The courts must only consider the best interests of the child.

🧬This means, that the courts will consider the best interests of the child over a mere biological tie.

Click on our bio for the full blog!

Custody Rights for Grandparents in BC

07/11/2023

The litigation process can be stressful. We're here to help you decide on options for settlement.

Talk with us. Book a consultation now.

07/11/2023

Let's talk about your initial consultation.

We have assembled a quick 3 step process to prepare for your initial consultation. We know it can be stressful and time-consuming finding a lawyer, and we want you to make the best use of your time during your initial consultation.

Read more about our process on our blog. 🖋

07/07/2023

Divorce may be an adverse experience for children and youth. This list of resources is for children and youth going through a family separation and divorce. 🙇‍♀️

Save this post for reference and consider reaching out to these amazing organizations for support. 💪🏼

# VancouverLawyer

Resources for children who need help with advocacy or abuse.

06/29/2023

What is parental alienation? 🫥

Here are some examples:

👉🏻 exerting control
👉🏻 sharing inappropriate information with the children
👉🏻 limiting contact or communication

If you feel that this may be happening after your separation, reach out for a consult! 🙇

06/28/2023

Illuma Law welcomes Katie Browning to the team! 👏

Katie enjoys going on seawall walks or bike rides, listening to good psychology podcasts, and taking care of her vegetable garden. 🍄🥕🍓

Welcome, Katie! 🌟

06/24/2023

Divorce Checklist!👩🏻‍💼

1. Learn about the process for filing for divorce.
2. Learn about asset division and support.
3. Hire a lawyer ASAP. 👈🏻

Contact us for a consult! 📲

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/legal/divorce/divorce-checklist/

06/23/2023

What is an uncontested divorce? 🤔

Not all divorces have to be disputed or litigated. If the parties are in agreement, a party can file an uncontested divorce application. 🥰

Once the timeline has passed to dispute the claim, an application can be filed for a final order for divorce. ⏳

Only a Supreme Court of BC judge can grant orders in BC in order for the parties to be legally divorced. 👩🏻‍⚖️

Want more information? Reach out for a consult! 📲

06/21/2023

We’re more than ecstatic to introduce our latest member of the team, senior associate Kiran Duhra! Follow the link below for Kiran’s bio! 👇

Learn more about Illuma Family Law Vancouver divorce lawyers Abby Pang, LLB (principal/founder) and associate Lisa Harris, JD.

06/20/2023

Are you a late bloomer in love? Maybe you’re right on time! ⏰

As family lawyers, we say, take your time in getting to know your partner and discuss all issues before tying the knot! 💒

We’ve teamed up with our friends at to devise a list of topics! 📝

When you’re ready, reach out to us to discuss your marriage agreement/prenup! ❤️

https://www.illumalaw.com/blog/things-to-discuss-before-getting-a-prenup

06/16/2023

If you are a step-parent, or other adoptive parent, looking to adopt a child, you must apply through the BC Supreme Court. The Illuma team can help you with the court documents required to apply and finalize adoption. In addition, we help with disputes relating to parental rights and adoption. We provide consultation and representation in court. 👩‍👩‍👧

Want to learn more? Follow link in stories!

06/16/2023

Top Reasons for Divorce 🔪

Source: National Library of Medicine

Lack of commitment 75%
Infidelity or extramarital affairs 60%
Too much conflict and arguing 58%
Getting married too young 45%
Financial problems 37%
Substance abuse 35%
Domestic Violence 24%
Lack of support from family 18%
Health problems 17%
Religous Differences 13%
Little or no premarital education 13%

Want to see more stats? Follow the link!

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/legal/divorce/divorce-statistics/

06/15/2023

Judicial case conference coming up? How can you prepare?

🏡 Exchange financial information;
🙅🏻‍♀️ Determine the issues in dispute;
👂 Bring a listening ear!

06/14/2023

Thinking about getting a cohab agreement? How can your family lawyer help?

🙇🏻‍♀️ Consultation;
🏦 Financial Disclosure;
✍🏻 Drafting;
👂Negotiation;
🎗️Finalize;
✒️ Sign!

Check our FAQs on the blog!

06/08/2023

The Illuma team are experienced trial lawyers, however going to court is not always the best solution. We will consult with you on the best approach for legal matters addressing co-habitation agreements, prenuptial agreements and marriage agreements. For couples looking to separate, we consult on divorce, spousal support, division of assets & debts. For those with children, we are experts on parenting arrangements and child support. ❤️

06/07/2023

Celebrating one year at Illuma Family Law and welcoming Katie Browning! ✨

06/06/2023

We are looking for a junior family lawyer to join our team. Please follow the link below for more details!

Illuma Law is looking to add a Junior Family Law Lawyer to their office in the heart of downtown, Vancouver!

05/25/2023

We’ll say it as many times as you need to hear it:

Get a prenup. 🧠

But, if it’s too late for that, and you’re dealing with the consequences of a relationship breakup, you’ll need to get informed. Here’s a roundup of the most frequently asked questions we receive about division of property!

Have more questions? Put them in the comments below and we’ll get you your answers! 👩🏻‍⚖️

05/23/2023

Divorces among the wealthy can be complicated and often, highly contested court battles become public information. (If this headline caught your eye, read the full story at forbes.com!)

To protect families and their privacy and confidentiality, Illuma Family Law encourages out-of-court settlements, or a collaborative approach through negotiations or mediation.

However, if the parties (especially super-wealthy parties) cannot come to an agreement and a court action is commenced, there are ways to protect property:

- applications for financial disclosure
- applications to restrain the disposition of family property
- liens or certificates of pending litigation on property
- orders for the sale of family property
- interim distribution of funds of family property
- business valuations

💡But here’s our best tip:

Prevent a long and dramatic divorce in court by getting a marriage agreement! Don’t forget to update the agreement when there are major changes to the parties’ circumstances.

05/11/2023

Divorce in high-worth families is always complicated. For the Roy family, whose members are vindictive and self-serving, the evolution of marriages is a slog.

*spoilers for Succession’s fourth season follow!*

In a recent episode of the show’s final season, media magnate Logan Roy’s legal wife reappeared—after a long hiatus, just in time to don her widow’s attire and emphasize how close their relationship was before his death. Meanwhile, the eldest Roy son arrives to mourn his father with his new bride, who’s now legally entitled to her share of the family wealth. The two women—the power wives in this article headline—share a moment, clearly finding allyship in their new statuses.

Meanwhile, Roy’s only daughter, Shiv, is in the middle of a separation, starting the process of divorce from her husband Tom… who just so happens to be tossing his name into the ring to be elected new CEO of the family company after a successful run as Logan’s right hand man (or maybe a glorified assistant… it was hard to tell).

The divorce and marriages are fictional, but there are very real families who go through harrowing legal processes when relationships break down. Our recommendation?

Get. A. Prenup. ✍️ We sure hope Shiv has one.

Marriage agreements can be tough to talk about, but they always save time, money, and drama in the end. If you don’t have one, we can help. Get in touch for an initial consultation.

05/04/2023

We don’t know who needs to hear this but divorce can be a long, gruelling and emotionally-draining process. We know this, and that’s why we aim to get our clients through the process as efficiently as possible, and with minimal harm to the children of the relationship.

Of course, not all divorces require all 10 steps—specifically, only if the parties cannot agree on the issues would ligitation be necessary.

So, we’ve constructed a helpful blog post that details all 10 steps in the process, so you don’t have to add guess-work to your long list of to-dos. Read on, and save for later! 🤓

04/26/2023

During any divorce, a family law lawyer will help negotiate a fair division of assets between both partners.

For business owners, like Phoebe and her wife here, the business may need to be valuated in order to determine a fair division of assets.

The valuation would depend on the type of business, the number of employees the business employs, whether the business has any assets and more.

As always, you can book a consultation to find out what’s necessary for your own divorce or separation—and ideally, like at Illuma, your lawyer will understand how sensitive these processes can be.

04/20/2023

At PUBLiSH, we are honoured to work with Abby Pang, Principal and Founder of Illuma Family Law, and to help her share her inspiring story.

The female-founded firm's recent move to offer parental leave and childcare top-up is particularly meaningful, considering the challenges that women in the legal industry face. Women make up only 34 percent of practicing lawyers in the province and 29 percent of lawyers in full-time private practice, as reported by The Law Society of BC.

We are proud to support Illuma Family Law's commitment to creating a more supportive environment for working parents, and we're excited to be part of their journey.

Do you have a story you want to share? Reach out to us at [email protected], we would love to chat with you!

04/06/2023

The Connecting the Community award provides an opportunity for Women of Distinction nominees to gain recognition
through social media, as well as raise awareness for YWCA Metro Vancouver’s programs. This award is determined by online vote, and will donate $10,000 to the winner’s chosen advocacy area of focus.

So vote for Abby this year as she advocates to advance gender equity! 💪

Voting is open from March 8th til April 12th. You can vote once every 24 hours per computer.

Vote here: https://ywcavan.org/women-distinction-awards

04/04/2023

We’re here to help. Here’s how:

🗣️ Confidential mediation and resolution;
✍ Cohabitation, marriage, and separation agreements;
👩🏻‍⚖️ Litigation in court; and
💡 Family law consultation.

Not sure what service you need? It depends on your family, your budget, and your time constraints. Book a consultation and we’ll find the best approach for your needs.

03/31/2023

Our founder, Abby Pang, is a passionate advocate for equity and justice in the legal industry. 👩🏻‍💼💪🏼

In following her lead, we believe in setting an example and pushing industry standards for the better. We always advocate for family—and that starts with supporting our employees.

Discover more about how we’re supporting our team with our new employee benefits on illumalaw.com: https://www.illumalaw.com/employee-benefits

03/30/2023

We want to provide *all* parents (maternal, paternal, or adoptive!) with the benefit of financial assistance when coming back to work, and recognition of parenthood rather than judgement. This equal opportunity benefit will help improve the quality of service over time as parents and guardians come back to work and contribute their POVs in the legal industry.

Learn more about the employee benefits we’re offering the team at Illuma: https://www.illumalaw.com/employee-benefits

03/29/2023

We have an acute awareness and sensitivity to your mental and emotional stress during tough legal proceedings. We understand that what you’re going through is tough—and we’ll use our expertise and passion to find the solution that protects your family best.

Talk with us. We’re here to help.

If you need support during your divorce process, book a consultation and we’ll make a plan.

03/28/2023

Hello Pre-Nups ✨

Pre-Nups are important agreements that can save you money, time, and emotional energy in the event of a relationship breakup. We ALWAYS recommend pre-nups. But what are they exactly? You might be asking:

😕 What’s the difference between a Pre-Nup and a Marriage Agreement?

😕 Why should I get one?

😕 What documentation do I need?

😕 Why does it cost so much?

Find the answers in our blog—stay informed. If you still have questions, book a consultation.

03/24/2023

We understand that balancing work, play, and parenting can be tough. So, we’d like to shoulder some of the financial burden of childcare. We now offer our employees both a parental leave top-up and a childcare top-up. This means, we’ll contribute towards your childcare costs with a monthly stipend. When employees feel supported, they’re better able to support clients. 🤝

We know that family comes first, and we challenge other BC law firms to adopt benefit policies that ease financial strain on parents. In 2023—what’s your plan?

Learn more about our industry-leading employee benefits: https://www.illumalaw.com/employee-benefits