Separation can be a confusing and emotional process, especially when legal terms and procedures come into play. In British Columbia, many people assume that separation requires formal steps like court filings or official agreements. The truth is quite different. BC law does not recognize a formal process called “legal separation.” Instead, separation is a status that arises from the actions and intentions of the spouses themselves. What Separation Means in British Columbia In

Separation brings many challenges, but when children are involved, the focus must always be on their well-being. For many parents, deciding how to care for their children after a separation can feel overwhelming and emotionally charged. While every family is different, the guiding question is always the same: what arrangement serves the best interests of your child? This post explains important considerations under British Columbia’s Family Law Act (FLA) and offers practical

Choosing a child’s name is often a meaningful and emotional decision. But when parents disagree, especially after separation, the question becomes legal: who actually gets to decide? Is There a Law That Says a Child Must Take the Father’s Last Name? There is no law in Canada that says a child must take the father’s last name. Parents are free to choose a surname, as long as they agree. The rules about naming children are found in the Vital Statistics Act, which governs birth

By: Paula Camila Monoga. Why half of marriages end in divorce? Disclaimer: This content does not constitute legal advice and does not represent the views of the organization. In recent decades, divorce has become a normalized feature of modern life, with nearly half of marriages ending in separation. It is increasingly common and even encouraged, which makes us wonder if marriage is just a complicated matter of human behaviour that we struggle to navigate, or if we might have

Part 3. Written by: Paula Camila Monoga. Putting a stop to Intimate Partner Violence begins from within, when we become aware of how we are treated, the respect we deserve, our value, our boundaries, and the fact that we cannot change our partner. Sometimes, we think it’s our duty to “save” the other person or transform their abusive behavior, like we're running a relationship rehab center. If he is more of a project than a partner, maybe we should leave it to Pinterest. And

Part 2. Written by: Paula Camila Monoga. When we’re in love, sometimes it’s easy to ignore the discomfort we feel in the relationship. We convince ourselves that we’re being overly sensitive, overreacting, or that the issues are temporary and will resolve on their own. This denial traps us in a cycle of arguments and apologies. Because we care deeply, we want to believe the apologies are genuine, the problems are solved, and happiness will return. But that happy resolution ne

Part 1. By: Paula Camila Monoga. Some people believe that love can be one of the most powerful connections between two people that every human being should be constantly looking for. Some other people experience that not all love stories unfold in healthy ways. Intimate Partner Violence is an issue that impacts millions of women globally, regardless of culture, background, religion, or ethnicity. Many women find it challenging to recognize when a loving relationship has cross