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If Your Divorce is Inevitable, Choose the Better P.A.T.H.
Legal separation and divorce can be overwhelming, expensive, and emotionally draining. But it does not have to be.
That is why, at Pathway Legal, we live and serve our clients by the P.A.T.H. method.
At Pathway Legal, our unique approach is that our clients don’t have to stumble through the separation and divorce process alone. The P.A.T.H. method is a clear, step‑by‑step approach that helps you make smart decisions, protect your kids, and move forward with confidence. We avoid court whenever we can. In fact, we are known to pursue a friendly divorce (one that avoids tumultuous court proceedings) whenever possible.
What Does Choosing the Right P.A.T.H. mean?
Practical: At Pathway Legal, we believe real solutions matter. We cut through the legal noise and deliver pragmatic direction and advice that steers your family into a brighter future—no jargon, just results you can use today.
Action-Oriented: Sitting on the sidelines isn’t our style. We roll up our sleeves and walk alongside you, turning obstacles into opportunities—step by step, we ensure your family law journey moves forward to conclusion with momentum. This means that we are with you, every step of the way.
Trustworthy: Trust is at our core. You deserve absolute transparency, so we make every communication, process, and even our legal bills crystal clear. We take the guess-work out of the legal process. This means:
- Transparent communication
- Transparent processes
- Transparent billing
Heart-Centred: Where law meets the heart. Our guidance is powered by compassion and courage, with your well-being as our north star through every twist and turn.
How the P.A.T.H. Method Works for Your Legal Journey:
Like we said, we are all about transparency. This is how you go from your separation to conclusion of your family law matter, step by step using the P.A.T.H. Method:
In family law, real life rarely follows a perfect checklist in exact order—and neither do we (even though Checklists are at the very heart of what we do in order to ensure that never is there an important step missed.
These steps describe the key parts of our process, but they are not always followed in strict order, and not every step appears in every matter. Some clients resolve things early through negotiation or mediation and never need court‑related steps. Others may need to deal with urgent safety or financial issues first, before we move into disclosure and formal resolution processes. Your P.A.T.H. is tailored to you: practical and flexible, action‑oriented where it needs to be, and always guided by what is most trustworthy, transparent, and heart‑centred for your unique situation.
Step 1: Practical first step – reaching out
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When you reach out to us, you’re taking a practical first step toward getting unstuck. You’ll set up an initial consultation with one of our family law lawyers, and we’ll make that as straightforward and low‑stress as possible. From the very beginning, we’re heart‑centred in how we listen, and action‑oriented in getting you booked in so you’re not sitting in limbo.
Step 2: Sharing what matters most
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Next, you’ll provide us with some key details: dates (like your marriage date), your children’s names and birthdates, and—most importantly—what matters most to you right now. We keep this process practical by only asking for what we truly need, and we’re trustworthy and transparent about why we need it. Underneath it all is a heart‑centred commitment to understanding your priorities, not just your paperwork.
Step 3: A clear picture of where you stand
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When you meet with your Pathway Legal lawyer, we’ll already have your information, so we can dive right in. We’ll walk you through BC family law, your rights, and your responsibilities in clear, plain language, not legalese. By the end of that first meeting, you’ll have a practical, big‑picture understanding of where you stand, an action‑oriented strategy for what to do next, and the trust that comes from a transparent, heart‑centred conversation, not a lecture from a suited up distant lawyer-type.
At your initial consultation, we’ll also discuss fees openly so there are no surprises later. Because transparency and trustworthiness are at the core of our P.A.T.H. method, we explain exactly how we bill and what you can expect. We bill weekly rather than in large, unexpected chunks, so you always know where you stand financially and can plan ahead. You’ll see what work was done, when it was done, and how it is moving your matter forward—keeping the process practical, predictable, and genuinely client‑centred.
Step 4: Turning strategy into action
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Once you’ve got that initial roadmap, you’ll book your next appointment, and we’ll begin working through your strategy step by step. This is where we shift from “What’s going on?” to “Here’s what we do now.” Our approach is deliberately action‑oriented and practical—no fluff, or mystery. You’ll always know what we’re doing, and why, because transparency is baked into every step of our process.
Step 5: Choosing the best resolution path for you
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By your next meeting, you and your Pathway Legal lawyer will explore which resolution method best fits your situation and your values. Often, that means asking: can we avoid court? If we can, we’ll walk you through the many alternative dispute resolution options, from negotiation to mediation to mediation‑arbitration. We explain the pros and cons transparently and practically so you can make a genuinely informed decision. Throughout, we stay heart‑centred—this isn’t just about “a file,” it’s about your family and your future. Our clients are at the very heart of Pathway Legal.
Step 6: Reaching out to your ex (or their lawyer)
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Together, with your lawyer, you’ll reach out to your soon‑to‑be‑ex or their lawyer to decide which process will be the best fit for resolving your matter. We lead this stage with trustworthiness and transparency—clear communication, no surprises. At the same time, we stay practical and action‑oriented, focusing everyone on finding a constructive process that keeps conflict as low as possible and keeps your needs, and your children’s needs, at the heart of the discussion.
Step 7: Full and fair financial disclosure
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Next comes the exchange of detailed financial information and other relevant documents. Both of you provide fulsome disclosure, even if you think you already know the other person’s financial situation. This step is the backbone of trustworthiness and transparency in any family law resolution. It’s also deeply practical: good, durable agreements are built on accurate information. We stay heart‑centred here too, remembering that behind every spreadsheet is a real life and a real future.
Step 8: Protecting you when urgency arises
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In some situations, we may need to apply to court for interim orders—for example, to get disclosure, secure financial support, protect property, or address urgent concerns such as family violence. When that happens, we move in an action‑oriented way to protect you and your children. We’re transparent about what we’re doing and why, and we remain trustworthy guides through what can feel like a daunting process. Even in urgent circumstances, we keep a heart‑centred focus on your safety and stability.
Step 9: Setting the stage for resolution
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You and your lawyer, in consultation with the other party and their lawyer, will set a date for your resolution process. That might be a four‑way meeting, mediation, mediation‑arbitration, or, in some cases, a trial. Your Pathway Legal lawyer will have walked you through every available option so you’re choosing with clarity, not guesswork. This is practical planning, transparent explanation, and action‑oriented movement toward resolution, all grounded in a heart‑centred understanding of what outcome you’re aiming for.
Step 10: Preparing together, step by step
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As your resolution date approaches, you and your lawyer prepare—together. At Pathway Legal, preparation is not something done behind closed doors. You’ll work collaboratively with your lawyer on your mediation brief, your documents, and your settlement strategy. This transparent process builds trust and helps you feel genuinely ready. It’s intentionally practical and action‑oriented, because we know that the most prepared people tend to achieve the best results. And we remain heart‑centred, checking in not just on the legal issues, but on how you’re doing as a person moving through all of this.
Step 11: Obtaining expert reports, if necessary.
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Sometimes you will need to have a properties value made clear, a report about parenting or another expert report. It is important that these reports are obtained in advance of any dispute resolution process.
Step 12: Reaching your agreement or order
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When you reach an agreement or obtain a court order, it gets written down in clear, accurate terms and signed. This is the moment when all of that practical work and action‑oriented effort crystallizes into something concrete. We make sure the language is transparent and understandable so you know exactly what you’ve agreed to. You can trust that we’ve focused on terms that reflect your priorities and protect your rights, all with a heart‑centred awareness of how this will play out in your day‑to‑day life.
Step 13: Bringing your agreement to life
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Finally, you implement the terms of your agreement or order. This is where your new reality begins. We stay practical by helping you understand what implementation looks like—what needs to happen, when, and by whom. Our role remains trustworthy and transparent: if questions arise, we’re here to clarify and support. And at every stage, we stay heart‑centred, remembering that the goal isn’t just to “finish a file,” but to help you step onto a more hopeful path for yourself and your family.
The Pathway Legal Family Lawyers' priority is to reduce the emotional and financial stress of divorce by offering compassionate and personalized support. We are committed to working collaboratively to find the best solutions for our clients and their families, helping them avoid the expense and emotional strain of litigation whenever possible.
The Origin of the P.A.T.H. Method
Val HemmingerOwner and Founder of Pathway Legal
The P.A.T.H. method was developed by Val Hemminger, the founder of Pathway Legal. With over three decades of family law experience, Val saw the same truth play out again and again: when people are informed, supported, and given real options, they can navigate separation with far less harm to themselves and their children. That lived experience is what gave rise to the P.A.T.H. method.
The P.A.T.H. method grew out of years of watching what actually works for families in crisis—what calms conflict instead of feeding it, what protects finances instead of draining them, and what helps people rebuild rather than stay stuck. Val saw that clients needed a way forward that was practical and grounded in real life, not theory; action‑oriented, so that clients weren’t left waiting and wondering what was happening with their family law matter; trustworthy and transparent, so they always knew what was happening, why, and what it would cost. This entire approach is deeply heart‑centred, because family law is never just about law or files or legislation, it’s about people and their families.
Pathway Legal was created to put that philosophy into practice with a team. Instead of one lawyer trying to do everything alone, we built a firm where every lawyer and staff member is chosen because they share this same approach: educate clients clearly, reduce conflict wherever possible, and make each step of the journey understandable and purposeful. Our aim is to offer processes that prioritize cooperation over conflict and make court the exception, not the default—while still being fully prepared to litigate when that is genuinely needed to keep someone safe or protect their rights.
The P.A.T.H. method is also a commitment to sustainability on both sides of the table: a way of working that is cost‑effective for clients while being financially sustainable for lawyers. When we focus on preparation, clarity, and early, informed resolution, clients save time, money, and emotional energy. When we design our work this way, we can continue to serve more families, better.
Today, the Pathway Legal family law team lives this method in every matter: by giving clients straight answers in plain language, by mapping out options instead of only one “track,” and by being intentional about reducing emotional and financial stress wherever we can. Our priority is to guide you along a clear path—not just to a legal outcome, but to a future you can actually live with.
A New Era of Family Law for British Columbia: Transforming Family Law in BC, One Family at a Time
At Pathway Legal, our vision is clear. We are transforming the landscape of family law in British We’re not just running a law firm. We’re on a mission to reinvent how families in British Columbia experience separation and divorce.
At Pathway Legal, we believe the future of family law is compassionate, bold, and unapologetically human. A great lawyer isn’t a distant figure in a suit who speaks in riddles and bills in mystery. A great lawyer is your partner in one of the toughest transitions of your life—someone who brings clarity, courage, and a steady heart into the room, while keeping your children as far away from conflict as possible.
We’re building a new kind of hub for families across BC: a place where conflict is dialled down, not cranked up; where innovation and humanity sit at the same table. We use modern, creative dispute resolution methods so that you and your lawyer work together, side by side, to design solutions that actually fit your life. Your voice matters. Your concerns matter. Your values matter. And we structure our processes so they’re heard.
Looking ahead, our vision is simple and ambitious: when families in British Columbia think “I want to get through this without destroying my kids, my mental health, or my finances,” Pathway Legal is the first name that comes to mind. We’re building the go‑to place for conflict‑light, future‑focused family law—where the goal isn’t to win a war, but to build a workable tomorrow.
That vision shapes everything we do:
- Our services are personal, one‑to‑one, and delivered by skilled family and divorce lawyers who work with clients all over BC.
- Our innovative flat‑fee pricing model brings transparency and predictability; clients know what things cost and why, and they love that they’re not bracing for surprise invoices.
- We help with divorce and separation agreements, marriage and cohabitation agreements, mediation and arbitration, court applications and trials when they’re truly necessary—and we’re developing practical, plain‑language educational resources like “How to Avoid Making Your Divorce Lawyer Rich” (coming soon!) to put power back in your hands.
- We offer legal coaching for self‑represented people who want smart, strategic support while keeping control of their own case.
The Pathway Legal P.A.T.H. Method is how we work and is our difference,, not just what we offer. We don’t disappear into a back room and re‑emerge with mysterious documents. We do most of the work with you present—whether in our office, on Zoom, or on the phone—so you understand what’s happening as it happens. We prioritize collaboration and involve you in key decisions, which makes everything more efficient. We book your next appointment before you leave so your separation and divorce process doesn’t stall. We even rely on checklists (yes, we love a good checklist) to stay sharp, focused, and cost‑effective.
Pathway Legal's Firm culture reflects this vision. We’re serious about the work and relaxed about the posturing. We blend professionalism with an energetic, approachable vibe because we’re dealing with real humans, not case numbers. Our team laughs together, learns together, and regularly gets together outside the office. It turns out clients feel the difference when the people working for them actually like working together.
Inside the firm, we want everyone to win. Our lawyers and support staff collaborate closely, sharing ideas and carrying family law matters as a team, not as silos. We encourage each person to pursue their career, financial, and personal goals, supported by competitive compensation and a culture of integrity and accountability. Social gatherings for our team and genuine connections aren’t “perks” here; they’re part of how we stay grounded enough to show up fully for you.
Front and centre is the key fact that our support team are the unsung heroes of this whole operation. They free our lawyers to focus on what truly matters: moving your matter toward resolution. Behind the scenes, they gather information, manage documents, coordinate communication, and sweat the details so you don’t have to. Their work is what keeps your case moving smoothly toward that crucial finish line: a final agreement or order that you can actually live with.
In short, we’re not interested in polishing up the old, stiff image of the “objective” lawyer. We’re replacing it. For Pathway Legal, being a great lawyer means bringing compassion, love, care, and real understanding into the work—and keeping kids as far out of the conflict as humanly possible.
We’re here to transform how family law is done in British Columbia, one file, one family, and one better outcome at a time.
About Pathway Legal’s Founder, Val Hemminger
Over more than 30 years in family law, Val Hemminger kept seeing the same thing: families already in pain being marched into court when they didn’t need to be there. The cost wasn’t just financial—it was emotional, human, and sometimes devastating. The system was supposed to help, yet too often it poured fuel on the fire.
Val watched parents dragged through public battles, their private lives laid bare on the record, with kids caught in the crossfire. The fallout didn’t just last months; it rippled through years, even into the next generation. And here’s the uncomfortable truth she saw up close: sometimes the lawyers made it worse. Not just for “the other side,” but for their own clients—turning separation into a war instead of a transition.
She saw the culture of “hire the most aggressive lawyer and destroy your ex” in action, and it didn’t sit right. Val started asking a different question: what if we flipped the script? What if, instead of treating families as enemies on a battlefield, we treated them as a family that looks different now—but is still a family? What if scorched earth wasn’t just seen as completely unnecessary, but seen for the harm it really causes?
That question became the spark for Pathway Legal Family Lawyers. Val wanted to build a 21st‑century solution: a firm that rejects the old divorce‑industry myths and replaces them with something better—something practical, sustainable, and deeply human. Pathway Legal had to work for everyone involved: clients, children, lawyers, and the support team. It had to be emotionally smarter, financially sustainable, and fiercely committed to helping families transition, not tear themselves apart.
That is why, at Pathway Legal, everything is baked into a practical, action-oriented, trustworthy, transparent, and heart-centred approach.
It is Val's legacy to transform family law for British Columbians for the better. She says that working for her clients over the years has been a significant honour. She hopes that families in transition will continue to turn to Pathway Legal and the PATH method for generations to come.
About Pathway Legal's Office Location
Pathway Legal serves families throughout the province of British Columbia. The physical hub of Pathway Legal is situated in Victoria, British Columbia at 310 Wale Road (right beside Rise Cannabis).
Google reviews for Pathway Legal
Rebekah Veilleux
If you need a reliable and effective Divorce and Family Law firm that excels in mediation and strives for positive outcomes, I can confidently say that Pathway Legal is the best choice. They truly care about their clients' well-being and deliver exceptional service, providing a peaceful resolution for families in need. Thank you, Pathway Legal, for guiding me through this difficult time and securing a brighter future for me and my children.
Lana Morris
I had the pleasure of having both Katie Sutherland and Val Hemminger as my lawyers! They both have a passion for family law and it showed in each and evening time I met with them. Not only were they both professional but they truly care about their clients… with both of them I could cry, express my frustrations and even though this was a hard year… we even had a lot of laughs together. Val and Katie always put my children first and encouraged me to seek counselling for myself! It was never only about the law to either of them, it was first and foremost about family.
Nick Accarion
I highly recommend this firm because they were able to understand our family dynamics even though we were coming from a place of desperation and it was complicated. They were able to navigate our needs in a courteous professional affordable way, and make our separation amicable. I hope to never go through an experience like this again but knowing there's a firm like this made it much easier for me and my loved ones. Highly recommend.
Content written by:
Val Hemminger, divorce lawyer with heart, founder of Pathway Legal, terrier lover, Mom, fun person, and because every great legal team needs at least one ADHD powered person!
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Val Hemminger, founder of Pathway Legal, her legal team of family law lawyers, paralegals, and admin support staff serve families throughout BC, including Vancouver, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby, Richmond, Abbotsford, Kamloops, Nanaimo, Victoria, Langley, Kelowna, Port Moody, and Maple Ridge.
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