Michelle Kinney Law

Family & Fertility Law

Family Building and Assisted Reproduction ~ Cooperative Separation ~ Family Law Express Mediation

Serving:

As one of the architects of the British Columbia’s Family Law Act, Michelle Kinney has in-depth knowledge of the family law. Michelle is a family and fertility lawyer with over 16 years’ experience. She is licensed to practice law in British Columbia and Nunavut, Canada and is an accredited family law mediator and arbitrator.

Michelle’s practice focusses on “family building”, including through assisted reproduction and cohabitation agreements, and “cooperative separation” through mediation and legal coaching so clients can help themselves navigate their family law issues.

Michelle is doing law differently~ affordable flat rate, remote services help clients get what they need at the cost they expect. Michelle’s goal is to help clients navigate their legal path with knowledge, support, and collaboration. Michelle approaches her law practice with innovation, passion and integrity and with the goal of making the process simple, efficient, and cost-effective for clients.

FAMILY BUILDING

Creating the family and relationship you envision.

Fertility Law / Assisted Reproduction Agreements

Building intentional families.

If your path to parenthood includes assisted reproduction, Michelle will provide advice or draft your agreement for surrogacy, sperm, egg or embryo donation , or to support alternative family structures.

Michelle specializes in helping families navigate the legal world of family building through assisted reproduction. She can also act as a mediator in the event of a dispute.

Cohabitation Agreements

Make your own relationship rules.

Michelle’s most given and least taken advice to new couples is “get a cohabitation agreement”. A Cohabitation Agreement lets you opt out of the law and define your own rules that feel fair for your relationship respecting property, support and other matters. Michelle helps couples create the legal relationship structure that reflects their values and circumstances.

Michelle can also act as a mediator to help the couple neogiate their agreement.

COOPERATIVE SEPARATION

Working with you to help you un-couple cooperatively.
Navigate separation creatively & efficiently. Create amicable, workable solutions to relationship breakdown out-of- court.

Separation Agreements & Strategy Sessions

Michelle empowers those separating to help themselves through legal advice and creative coaching.

Strategy Session: Legal advice so you understand your rights, responsibilities and options so you can advocate for yourself. Book a Strategy Session to make a plan to navigate your separation, or to seek Independent Legal Advice on a Separation Agreement.

Separation Agreement (uncontested): If you and your partner agree to the terms of your separation, Michelle will draft a legally binding Separation Agreement.

Michelle does not represent clients as legal counsel in their separation negotiations or in court.

Family Law Express Mediation

Michelle offers a unique and innovative model -- EXPRESS MEDIATION. This is a quick, condensed and affordable option for separating folk who generally agree and don't need a full-on process, but do need some help sorting out the details. Michelle also offers regular mediation processes for more complicated separations, cohabitation and fertility law disputes.

Michelle helps parties resolve their disputes together cooperatively, creatively and equitably out-
of-court through remote mediation. With a focus on reducing conflict, mediation is a gentler, more efficient, satisfying and cost-effective way to finalize your matter.

As both a lawyer and a mediator, Michelle can provide legal information during mediation, as well as draft a binding Separation Agreement if agreement is reached.

Law Reform & Legal Education Consulting Services

Michelle has extensive experience with carrying out law reform initiatives, including legislation and policy changes respecting family law, family violence and access to justice, as well as legal writing and legal education projects. Michelle provides consulting services and advice to governments, legal educators, and fertility or legal service providers on an hourly or contract basis. Please contact Michelle directly about these services.