Going through divorce can feel like the end of the world, leaving you feeling lost and lonely throughout the process. But you are certainly not alone, and there is hope for a fresh start. Our goal is to guide you through this difficult period of life, offering you the support and legal advice you need to come out of this with a sense of optimism. After all, this is not the end, but the beginning of a new story for you, and we are here to help you through it.
When you reach out to Panko Collaborative Law & Mediation family lawyers in Saskatchewan, we will assist with all the legal matters surrounding divorce, from parenting arrangements to property division and more. Our objective is to help you settle important legal matters without going to court, so if the idea of facing your former spouse in a courtroom is overwhelming, let us help you avoid this scenario. Call our law firm at 306-518-8107 to learn more about what our caring family lawyers can do for you.
Family Law
Our family lawyers in Saskatoon have handled a wide variety of family law cases for clients looking for ways to improve their situation.
Read MoreChild parenting arrangements
Whether you want sole or joint decision-making, you’ll need proof that it’s in the best interest of the child. We can assist with this.
Read MoreChild Support
Determining the correct amount of child support is something that we can assist you with.
Read MorePaternity
Establishing paternity helps with child support and child parenting arrangements, so come to us for answers to paternity questions.
Read MoreProperty Division
We can assist you in determining a fair and equitable distribution of your family property.
Read MoreFamily Law
Our family lawyers in Saskatchewan have handled a wide variety of family law cases for clients looking for ways to improve their situation.
Read MoreDivorce
Seeking a divorce does not have to be adversarial. Our lawyers can help you get your divorce judgment.
Read MoreMediation
One way to avoid court is to use mediation to resolve legal matters with your spouse. Let our experienced mediators assist you.
Read MorePrenuptial Agrrement
Protect your financial future by hiring us to draft a prenup that addresses assets, debts, and more.
Read MoreVariations
If you need to adjust the amount of spousal or child support, requesting a variation is a start. Let us help with this.
Read MorePostnuptial Agreements
If you’re already married but don’t have a prenup, it’s okay. We can assist you in creating a postnuptial agreement.
Read MoreCollaborative Law
You can work through family legal matters with your spouse using a team approach with the help of our collaboratively trained lawyers.
Read MoreFamily Law
Our family lawyers in Saskatchewan have handled a wide variety of family law cases for clients looking for ways to improve their situation.
Read MoreChild parenting arrangements
Whether you want sole or joint parenting arrangements, you’ll need proof that it’s in the best interest of the child. We can assist with this.
Read MoreChild Support
Determining the correct amount of child support is something that we can assist you with.
Read MorePaternity
Establishing paternity is essential if you are unsure about your obligations to pay child support, so come to us for answers to paternity questions.
Read MoreProperty Division
We can assist you in determining a fair and equitable distribution of your family property.
Read MoreDivorce
Seeking a divorce does not have to be adversarial. Our lawyers can help you get your divorce judgment.
Read MoreMediation
One way to avoid court is to use mediation to resolve legal matters with your spouse. Let our experienced mediators assist you.
Read MorePrenuptial Agrrement
Protect your financial future by hiring us to draft a prenup that addresses assets, debts, spousal support, and more.
Read MoreVariations
If you need to adjust the amount of spousal or child support, requesting a variation is a start. Let us help with this.
Read MorePostnuptial Agreements
If you’re already married but don’t have a prenup, it’s okay. We can write a postnuptial agreement for you.
Read MoreCollaborative Law
You can work through family legal matters with your spouse using a team approach with the help of our collaboratively trained lawyers.
Read MoreWe understand that the legal needs of every couple can vary, but most divorces involve a few core legal issues that we’re happy to help with. Even if you’re expecting a somewhat simple divorce where the only issue to work out is who gets which asset, you might experience some difficulties along the way. If you’re not sure which of you should get a specific asset or who should be responsible for the payment of a debt, let us assist you with determining your property division.
If you have children, your divorce will be a bit more complicated and emotional as you try to work out your parenting arrangements. This alone can take months and it will be important to calculate child support as soon as possible.
At Panko Collaborative Law & Mediation, family lawyers in Saskatchewan understand how daunting the idea of going to court can be. This is why we do everything possible to settle every divorce out of court. We rely on some tried-and-true legal techiniques to aid us with this goal.
In mediation, a neutral third party assists the parties with their negotiations, during which a mediator oversees the negotiations between both parties until they arrive at an agreement. We’re also trained in the collaborative law process, which is where both parties work toward a resolution with their lawyer by their side. If you’re interested in additional ways to problem solve without involving the court, we encourage you to meet with us to discuss other civil ways to work through your separation and divorce.
Meet our Team
Charmaine Panko, K.C.
(Collaborative Lawyer, Mediator)
Dyson Panko
(Accounts Manager)
Donal Panko
(Paralegal)
Monica Fitzpatrick
(Lawyer)
Robert Braid
(Client Experience Manager)
While divorce can be painful, it doesn’t have to get ugly or result in a long legal battle in the courtroom. If you are hoping for the most peaceful route possible, look for a law firm that focuses on finding solutions that both spouses can agree on without going to court. This perfectly describes our law offices, so we invite you to contact us if this kind of divorce process interests you.
At Panko Collaborative Law & Mediation, we want to help you work toward the outcome you want while maintaining a civil relationship with your spouse, especially if you have to co-parent children with them. We believe that using mediation, collaborative law, and similar processes can achieve the results our clients seek. We have years of experience and positive reviews to back this up, so feel free to contact us to start your case.
If you’re intrigued by the possibility of avoiding court during divorce, you can call us to schedule an initial consultation. This can take place over the phone, on a video call, or in person at our office in Saskatoon. The choice is yours, as we want you to feel comfortable.
During the first meeting, we will listen to you describe which family legal matters you are most struggling with and what your desired outcome is. Once we have enough information, we can suggest the right legal method for you, whether it’s mediation, or collaborative law with your spouse or another option.
If you want to learn more about how our family lawyers can resolve your legal matters without going to court, we encourage you to contact our law firm to set up a consultation. Our legal team is known for being friendly and caring, and we’re eager to assist you, so call us at 306-518-8107 to get started.
Panko Collaborative Law & Mediation is located at 321 4th Avenue North, south of Highway 5 in Saskatoon, just west of the beautiful South Saskatchewan River. Kiwanis Park-North and the Kiwanis Memorial Fountain are both about a 3-minute drive away, and Kinsmen Park, Saskatoon is only 2 minutes north. Our law firm is a 10-minute drive from Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport (YXE).
A: Every divorce is different, so you won’t know how long yours will take until your case is underway. But the average separation and divorce process takes anywhere from three months to about a year. If you and your spouse can agree on property division, child parenting arrangements, and more, the process will go faster. If you’re struggling to come to an agreement, mediation or collaborative law might help. Depending on how things go, you could end up with a resolution within a few sessions, allowing your divorce to be finalized as soon as possible.
A: Contrary to what some believe, you don’t have to be wealthy to benefit from a prenuptial agreement. If you are entering the marriage with any assets you wish to keep in case of divorce, or if you have minor children to protect in the event of your death, consider a prenup. This document lets you and your spouse specify how you will handle property and debts if you ever get divorced, and it can state whether one of you will get spousal support. Our prenuptial agreement lawyers can walk you through the process of creating this contract.
A: It’s never too late to put measures in place to protect your assets. You can do this even if you’re already married. The name is different since it’s called a postnuptial agreement, but it works the same as a prenuptial agreement since you can use this document to state who gets which assets and debts. You can also discuss spousal support. However, you cannot use a postnup to make arrangements for child support or child custody, as this needs to be done separately.
A: A lot of divorces end up in court, but not all. In fact, if you want to avoid court, you’ve come to the right law firm since our lawyers specifically focus on coming up with solutions outside the courtroom. We use mediation, collaborative law, and similar peaceful techniques to help clients come to agreements on property division, child custody, and other legal issues they might struggle with. So, if battling your legal issues in court does not appeal to you, contact our law firm today.
A: If there are questions about paternity, getting a DNA test can provide quick answers. Establishing paternity can help the mother get child support from the biological father. It can also help the father get child custody or visitation rights so he is able to bond with his biological child. Additionally, if someone says you are their child’s father and you do not believe you are, a DNA test can keep you from being ordered to pay child support for a child that is not yours. Contact us if you have paternity concerns.
A: This is something many couples decide while they’re still married, as they can address this topic on their prenuptial or postnuptial agreement. If you and your spouse never discussed this and you’re heading for divorce, contact our family lawyers to learn if you may be eligible for alimony. In many cases, if you make a lot less money than your spouse, you may be able to request financial support, especially if you put your career on hold to raise the kids while married.
A: In most cases, the judge wants the child to have a relationship with both parents, so joint custody is preferred when possible. But in the end, judges rule according to what’s in the best interest of the child. So, if it’s clear that your child’s other parent cannot provide a safe environment or is not interested in raising them, you can pursue sole custody with our help. We will assist with overseeing mediation or similar tactics to come to an agreement that works for you and the other parent.
A: You might have agreed to a specific amount of child support or spousal support during divorce, but if your circumstances have changed since then, you can request a variation. This will require you to show a significant change in income, expenses, or other variables that affect how much money you can afford to spend or need to receive. Either way, our variations lawyers will provide the legal guidance you’ll need to show that the amount should be modified, so call us to get started.