Back from Kelowna: What Every Family Lawyer Should Know

In this episode of Divorce Explained, Leanne sits down with Steve to unpack his experience attending Canada's prestigious National Family Law Program in Kelowna a conference that brings together the country's leading family lawyers, judges, academics, and experts to discuss the biggest issues shaping the future of family law.Steve shares his key takeaways from four days of thought-provoking discussions, including the groundbreaking impact of the Ahluwalia decision on intimate partner violence (IPV) claims, emerging legal questions surrounding compensation and family property, and how Canada's family law landscape is evolving in response to changing societal expectations.The conversation also explores one of the profession's newest challenges: artificial intelligence. How will courts determine whether financial documents, tax returns, or text messages are authentic in an era of AI-generated evidence? What safeguards are on the horizon, and what does this mean for separating couples?The episode also dives into practical issues surrounding prenuptial agreements, postnuptial agreements, and standstill agreements, highlighting the real-world challenges couples and lawyers face when trying to protect assets before and after marriage.Finally, Steve explains why mediation-arbitration (Med-Arb) may become an increasingly valuable option for resolving complex and sensitive family law disputes particularly those involving allegations of intimate partner violence offering privacy, efficiency, and practical solutions that traditional litigation often cannot.Whether you're navigating separation, interested in the future of family law, or simply curious about the legal issues shaping divorce in Canada, this episode provides valuable insights from the country's leading family law minds.