Family Law Drafting Basics 2026
Course Date: April 22, 2026
Total: 5h 39min
Total Ethics: 1h
Family Law Drafting Basics 2026
Course Date: April 22, 2026
Total: 5h 39min
Total Ethics: 1h
Course Introduction and Land Acknowledgement (9:00 – 9:10)
Nadia Myerthall — Program Lawyer, CLEBC, Vancouver
Beatrice C. McCutcheon — Murrell & Ittah, Victoria
Beatrice C. McCutcheon — Murrell & Ittah, Victoria
Top Tips for Drafting, From a Judge's Perspective (9:10 – 9:35)
- top tips for drafting effective pleadings, applications, affidavits, and orders
Justice Lisa J. Hamilton — Supreme Court of BC, New Westminster
Pleadings and Affidavits (9:35 – 10:20)
- pleadings generally
- prudent practices
- drafting guidelines and pitfalls
- amending pleadings
- useful examples
- basics of affidavit drafting
Roja Safartabar — Daykin Walker Kaderly Wahid LLP, Vancouver
BREAK (10:20 – 10:30)
Drafting Financial Statements (10:30 – 11:25)
- form 8 (SCBC) and form 4 (PCBC) a wish list or an accurate reflection
- what information must you obtain from your client
- what information should you obtain from your client
- what documents should you request when reviewing the other party's financial statement
- using information in the other party's financial statement to your advantage
- avoiding your form 8 or form 4 being used against your client
- brief overview of imputing income from expenses shown
- consequences of inadequate and late financial disclosure
- common problems and unusual situations
Alex Boland — Connect Family Law, Kelowna
Julia Chalkley — Connect Family Law, Kelowna
Julia Chalkley — Connect Family Law, Kelowna
BREAK (11:25 – 11:35)
Drafting for Without Notice Short Notice (Urgent) Applications (11:35 – 12:25)
- the ethical obligations inherent to without notice applications
- how to properly advance a without notice and short notice issue
- the "do's and don'ts" of drafting content for without notice applications
- how to say no to your client: don't risk being the lawyer who cries wolf
Drafting Arguments for Short Chambers Applications
- when are they necessary
- when they are, what ought to be included and what ought not
- doing the cost-benefit analysis for the client
Samantha P. Simpson — Sena Law LLP, Vancouver
LUNCH (12:25 – 1:05)
Drafting Agreements (1:05 – 1:55)
- cohabitation agreements, marriage agreements, separation agreements
- procedural pitfalls
- lessons from the case law
Ian B. Hayward — Hayward Sheppard, Vancouver
BREAK (1:55 – 2:05)
Drafting Orders and Minutes of Settlement (2:05 – 2:55)
- drafting court orders and minutes of settlement (and when to use them)
- pet peeves of the Registrars
- tips on avoiding client complaints
Meghan Selinger — Silver Selinger LLP, Vancouver
BREAK (2:55 – 3:05)
Drafting Offers and Briefs (3:05 – 3:55)
- settlement proposals
- without prejudice communications
- mediation briefs
- judicial case conference briefs
- judicial settlement conference briefs
Kimberley J. Santerre — Owen Bird Law Corporation, Vancouver
Concluding Remarks (3:55 – 4:00)
Beatrice C. McCutcheon — Murrell & Ittah, Victoria
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Slides: Drafting Tips from a Justice’s Perspective
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Paper: Pleadings and Affidavits
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Handout: Financial Statement F4 Example
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