Sections marked as location-specific are showing the position in British Columbia. Rules change — confirm current deadlines before relying on them.
Four issues, resolved separately
Separation is usually broken into distinct issues rather than treated as one dispute. They can be settled at different times and by different routes, and it is common to agree on some and not others.
| Issue | Broadly about | Main inputs |
|---|---|---|
| Parenting | Where children live and how decisions are made | Existing routines, schooling, each parent's availability |
| Child support | Financial support for children | Income, number of children, parenting time |
| Spousal / partner support | Support between adults | Length of relationship, roles, income difference |
| Property | Dividing what was built up together | Valuations at set dates, debts, contributions |
Financial disclosure drives everything
Support and property outcomes are calculated from financial information, so disclosure is not optional and is usually ongoing. Incomplete disclosure is the most common cause of delay, and agreements reached without it can be reopened later.
What is normally exchanged
- Tax returns and assessments for recent years
- Recent pay records and any bonus or self-employment income
- Bank, investment and retirement account statements
- Property valuations, mortgage statements and vehicle values
- Debts, credit cards and lines of credit
- Business records where either party has an interest in a company
Ways of resolving it
Direct negotiation
Fastest and cheapest where communication works and disclosure is complete.
Mediation
A neutral helps reach agreement; often required or strongly encouraged before court.
Collaborative or arbitration
Structured private processes, usually faster than the court list.
Court
Used where safety, urgency, non-disclosure or deadlock make agreement impossible.
Whatever route is used, the outcome is typically recorded in a written separation agreement or a court order. Both sides normally need independent advice for an agreement to hold up, and unwritten arrangements are a frequent source of later disputes.
Timing in British ColumbiaBritish Columbia
British Columbia treats qualifying unmarried partners similarly to married spouses for property and support purposes, and applies a limitation period for property and spousal support claims running from separation or divorce.
Documents to gather
- Marriage certificate, or records establishing the relationship and its dates
- Any prenuptial, cohabitation or separation agreement
- Tax returns, assessments and income records
- Bank, investment, pension and retirement statements
- Property valuations, mortgage statements and title documents
- Records of debts held jointly and individually
Evidence that carries weight
- A dated record of the separation date and living arrangements
- A parenting calendar showing the actual schedule in practice
- Records of contributions to property, including before the relationship
- Evidence of income where a party is self-employed or paid variably
- Communications recording what was agreed informally
Want both lists in one printable page?
Common mistakes
- Making an agreement before full financial disclosure is exchanged
- Relying on a verbal parenting arrangement with no written record
- Moving a child's residence or school without addressing consent first
- Letting a property division limitation period pass while negotiating
- Using children as a channel for messages between adults
Frequently asked
Do we have to go to court?
Most separations are resolved by agreement. Court is generally reserved for urgency, safety, non-disclosure or genuine deadlock, and many systems require a mediation step first.
Does living together give the same rights as marriage?
It varies significantly by jurisdiction. Some treat qualifying unmarried partners much like spouses for property and support; others do not.
How is child support calculated?
Most systems use guideline tables driven by income, the number of children and the parenting arrangement, rather than negotiation from scratch.
What is the separation date and why does it matter?
It is generally when the relationship ended with no reasonable prospect of reconciliation, and it often sets valuation dates and starts limitation clocks — which is why it is sometimes disputed.
Can an agreement be changed later?
Parenting and support terms can usually be revisited on a material change of circumstances. Property terms are typically much harder to reopen absent non-disclosure or a defect in how the agreement was made.
Assess my situation
Concaso turns what you already know into a structured, confidential report — strengths, weaknesses, missing evidence, and the deadlines that matter. We will start you in the right place based on this guide, in British Columbia.
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This guide is general information, not legal advice, and Concaso is not a law firm. Reading it does not create a lawyer–client relationship. Deadlines and procedures differ by jurisdiction and change over time — confirm anything you intend to rely on.