Accurately fill out the firm intake form in its electronic format. Provide your Pathway Legal lawyer with a written-out draft of your proposed agreement. In addition to your initial consultation, you agree to meet with your Pathway Legal lawyer up to two further instances to review and confirm the terms of the agreement, or document that is to be prepared. Fully and accurately fill out the asset and debt section of the financial statement form (with your paralegal's assistance if you wish).

Legal drafting of a comprehensive, binding separation agreement, which will address matters such as the division of your assets, your parenting plan, child support, spousal support, conduct, and any other relevant matter arising from your separation. For more on these subjects, please visit our Divorce with Children and Spousal Support sections. up to two (2) one-hour meetings with your Pathway Legal lawyer. an overview of the law as it relates to you and your unique circumstances. legal advice associated with your planned agreement, so you clearly understand your rights and responsibilities. prepare the agreement based on your instructions. communicate with opposing counsel or party, for up to 30 minutes. Your lawyer will make reasonable, agreed-upon changes to the agreement in consultation with the other party, their lawyer, and you. attend with you to execute the agreement once finalized. execute the Certificate of Independent Legal Advice appended to your agreement.

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Legal Separation Services With Pathway Legal

Q: Are discounts available?

EAP clients: Clients who are a part of the Employee Assistance Program, receive a 25% discount on the legal fee. So, instead of the legal fee component being $2500, it would be $1875. Prior Pathway clients also receive a 25% discount. EAP client AND an existing Pathway client: You receive another 25% off the legal fees. So a whopping 50% discount on the legal fees making it $1250, instead of $2,500.

Book online >

Call 833-577-2636

Do You Need a Legal Separation Agreement?

A legal separation agreement sets out everything needed to create clarity between you and your to be ex-spouse, after separation. While you do not always have to have one, it is a must have if there are assets and children and a safety document even if there are not. It is highly recommended in all situations.

In BC, if you’ve lived together for more than two years in a marriage-like relationship — or if you have a child together — you are considered “spouses” under the Family Law Act.

That means, when you separate, you may need to make decisions about property, debts, parenting time, child support, and even pets. A legal separation agreement helps document these terms clearly and avoid future disputes.

A legal separation agreement will include details on:

How you will divide your assets.
What the spousal support obligation or entitlement is in your matter, if any?
Whether your children (if you have them) are entitled to receive child support based on your circumstances.
Your parenting plan (if applicable).
Legal releases, confirming that each of you is released from certain obligations under BC law.

There are multiple ways to create a separation agreement, many of which use Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) processes. At Pathway Legal, we often use mediation, mediation/arbitration, collaborative family law, and four-way meetings. Sometimes, however, our clients, after obtaining some initial legal advice from us, negotiate directly with their soon-to-be-ex spouse. In amicable situations that are not overly complex, negotiating directly with your ex-spouse can be efficient and save on expenses. Visit our FAQ for extra details.

Quick Links

1. Do I Need A Legal Separation?

2. Factors Affecting Costs

3. Pathway Legal Itemised Flat Fees & FAQs

4. Next Steps

5. All Pathway Services

6. Related Pages

What Affects The Cost Of A Legal Separation in BC?

When clients first meet with us, they will ask us what is the average cost of a legal separation in BC. This can be a very challenging question to answer. Of course, this depends upon many factors. These factors include:

Is your matter relatively straight forward or is it more complex with multiple issues that need to be addressed?
Do you anticipate that the negotiation and resolution of your matter will be amicable as opposed to a matter that is fraught with high conflict?
Are you confident that you can (after receiving initial legal advice) negotiate directly with your ex-spouse?
Are you confident regarding your family assets and debt, or are you concerned that your ex-spouse has been hiding assets?
Do you each have a clear idea as to what the other party earns via your employment?
If you have children, do you anticipate that you and your ex-spouse will be able to agree on a parenting schedule, and be able to agree on significant decisions regarding your children? Or, do you have significant concerns about the other parent and their ability to meet your children's needs?

Having helped many families through separation in BC, we’ve found that your investment for reaching a legally binding separation agreement has a very wide range.

In our experience, the average cost of a legal separation in BC ranges from $3,000 to over $100,000. That said, most people resolve their matters in the $10,000 to $15,000 or under range and up to $30,000 when there are one more issues that are "sticking" points in the negotiation and resolution of your matter.

In some cases, a flat fee legal separation or divorce is a fit. This means that you and your ex-spouse have been able to reach an agreement yourselves, but you want us to draft the legally binding agreement for you. Or, you have signed a legally binding separation agreement and you now want to get a divorce. Other times, your ex-spouse or their lawyer has presented you with drafted separation agreement and have suggested you obtain independent legal advice. At Pathway Legal, a flat fee applies to independent legal advice as well.

Our clients love it when they are able to use our flat fee structure. This means it is a win-win for the client and the lawyer. For clients, this is because they know at the outset, what the entire amount of their investment for the legal services we provide will be. For us lawyers, it is also beneficial because we can leverage our expertise and efficiencies in such a way that helps your case.

What Does Pathway Legal Charge for a Legal Separation Agreement?

In most circumstances, we charge an hourly rate for assisting you in reaching a legally binding settlement (or, in some cases, a court order). This is because we will assist you depending upon which dispute resolution you utilize. Whether your matter is resolved using four-way meetings, mediation, mediation/arbitration, collaborative law, or court, we can assist you using the hourly rate structure.

However, if your matter qualifies and you want a flat fee legal separation or divorce, you will see from the fully itemized costing below that it is quite possible depending on your circumstances. Need a flat fee divorce? Read more...

The flat fee cost for a Separation Agreement in British Columbia is $3,078.25 at Pathway Legal. This flat fee includes legal fees, disbursements, and taxes for a legally binding separation agreement.

These costs and services also cover Cohabitation Agreements, Marriage Agreements, Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements.

What is the cost breakdown of the Pathway Legal flat fee legal separation?

The breakdown includes:

$2,500; Legal services.
$125; Divorce Mate software fee.
$95; Cloud (encrypted and secure) storage and administration fee.
$20; Printing, scanning, photocopies.
$25; Agency fees and/or CSO. We utilize court agents that we have worked with for almost 30 years. They stand in line at the courthouse and file documents, so you don’t have to pay your lawyer or our support staff to do it.
$125; GST on legal fees.
$175; PST on legal fees.
$13.25; GST on disbursements.

Requirements

Accurately fill out the firm intake form in its electronic format.
Provide your Pathway Legal lawyer with a written-out draft of your proposed agreement.
In addition to your initial consultation, you agree to meet with your Pathway Legal lawyer up to two further instances to review and confirm the terms of the agreement, or document that is to be prepared.
Fully and accurately fill out the asset and debt section of the financial statement form (with your paralegal's assistance if you wish).

Inclusions

Legal drafting of a comprehensive, binding separation agreement, which will address matters such as the division of your assets, your parenting plan, child support, spousal support, conduct, and any other relevant matter arising from your separation. For more on these subjects, please visit our Divorce with Children and Spousal Support sections.
up to two (2) one-hour meetings with your Pathway Legal lawyer.
an overview of the law as it relates to you and your unique circumstances.
legal advice associated with your planned agreement, so you clearly understand your rights and responsibilities.
prepare the agreement based on your instructions.
communicate with opposing counsel or party, for up to 30 minutes. Your lawyer will make reasonable, agreed-upon changes to the agreement in consultation with the other party, their lawyer, and you.
attend with you to execute the agreement once finalized.
execute the Certificate of Independent Legal Advice appended to your agreement.

Are discounts available?

EAP clients:
Clients who are a part of the Employee Assistance Program, receive a 25% discount on the legal fee. So, instead of the legal fee component being $2500, it would be $1875.
Prior Pathway clients also receive a 25% discount.
EAP client AND an existing Pathway client:
You receive another 25% off the legal fees. So a whopping 50% discount on the legal fees making it $1250, instead of $2,500.

What can add extra, unexpected costs?

If your situation becomes more complex — for example, if your ex is uncooperative or if unexpected legal issues arise — additional fees may apply.

We’ll always discuss these with you first. Nothing will proceed or charged without your full understanding and consent.

Can I save money by negotiating a legal separation with my ex partner?

Sometimes, clients choose to negotiate directly with their ex-spouse after an initial consultation with us. In those cases, we are asked to simply draft the legally binding agreement—which is a perfect fit for a flat fee retainer.

Is there a money back guarantee?

Yes. If you are not completely pleased with your lawyer at your first initial consultation, you can have your money back.

How long does it take to get a legal separation agreement?

With Pathway Legal’s flat fee service, many agreements are finalized in weeks — depending on your circumstances and how quickly both parties respond.

Can I choose my own Pathway Legal Lawyer?

Yes. You can meet our lawyers here.

It is Important to Note that Flat Fees Do Not Always Apply:

If the other party is being difficult, uncooperative, or has an argumentative lawyer, a flat fee may not apply. It’s important to discuss this with the Pathway lawyer at your initial appointment to determine which fee structure is best for you.
A Separation Agreement can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $20,000 or more depending on the complexity of the case when billed hourly. To simplify this, Pathway Legal offers a flat fee of $2,500 plus disbursements and taxes—subject to the discretion of the lawyer handling your case after the initial consultation.
A divorce may range from $1,800 to over $30,000 depending on how contested it is. However, we aim to simplify billing by offering a flat fee of $2,500 plus disbursements and taxes, where appropriate. Once again, during your first appointment this is a subject that you and your lawyer can resolve.
The initial consultation is a paid session. If booked online, you will be able to pre-pay. If you make your initial appointment with a Pathway Lawyer, in person, you are billed after the meeting. During this initial consult, the Pathway lawyer will be able to determine whether a flat fee or hourly billing structure is appropriate.
If you are not fully satisfied with your initial consultation, that is, that you feel you have not received excellent value for. your investment for the paid consultation session, we will provide you with your money back. There are no questions asked.

What's Next?

If you are ready to take advantage of our family law services or need to discover more about how we work, simply contact our team.
If you are still deciding whether you are ready to take the step of separation or divorce, you may find our dedicated Pathway Legal Better Divorce series of emails very useful. You can subscribe for free, here and you can unsubscribe at any time. Your address will not be sold for information and you will not be sent marketing material.

The Pathway Legal Services

We offer flat fees for the following services:

Drafting your legally binding agreement:
Separation Agreement, Cohabitation (i.e. Marriage Agreement), Prenuptial Agreement Read more...
Your Uncontested Divorce:
(Ideal if your divorce is uncontested). Read more...
Independent Legal Advice:
(Essential for reviewing an agreement prepared by another party or lawyer)
Notarizing documents:
(Where no legal advice is required)

Note: If the other party is being difficult, uncooperative, or has an argumentative lawyer, a flat fee may not apply. It’s important to discuss this with your Pathway Legal lawyer. More...

How Are Pathway Legal's Family Law Services Unique?

Court as a last resort:
The last thing you need is to drag your changing family through the court system. If we can avoid court, we will.
Transparent billing:
Always know exactly what you are being billed, right the way through.
The goal of resolution:
It is stressful to have your family matter outstanding. You want it resolved. Every time you meet with us, we get you closer to the goal of final resolution.
Dispute Resolution:
We have lawyers at Pathway Legal who have dispute resolution training. The extra value to you is that it provides a powerful level of skill in keeping clients out of court while still getting your matter resolved.
Demystifying the law:
Nobody likes long-winded and stuffy sounding legal words. At Pathway Legal, we describe the law and your rights and responsibilities in straightforward terms.
Care and nurturing:
We mean it when we say you are in good hands. We are more than your lawyers, we are an entire legal team that cares about you and your changing family.

Val Hemminger
Principal Lawyer | Victoria

Content written by:

Val Hemminger, Divorce Lawyer and Owner of Pathway Legal

Make an appointment

Val Hemminger, divorce lawyer and owner of Pathway Legal, and her team serve families all over BC, including Vancouver, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby, Richmond, Abbotsford, Kamloops, Nanaimo, Victoria, Langley, Kelowna, and Maple Ridge.

If you are not completely pleased with your lawyer at your first initial consultation, you can have your money back

Office Hours
Mon to Thurs: 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
Fri: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Call 833-577-2636

reception@pathwaylegal.ca

Book online >

FAX: 833-250-7771

West Vancouver:
Park Royal South, Unit 200-100
West Vancouver, B.C. V7T 1A2
Available for
video conference meetings

Abbotsford:
Available for in-person appointments

Victoria office:
206-310 Wale Rd
Victoria, B.C. V9B 0J8
Available for in-person meetings or
video conference meetings

North Vancouver:
901-3rd Street West #100-1
North Vancouver, B.C. V7P 3P9
Available for video conference meetings

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It is with our honour and gratitude that we live, work, and play on the traditional territory of the Coast Salish peoples–Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations.