Divorce, custody, support, or property that crosses the 49th parallel needs a plan that works on both sides of the border. Tell us what is happening and we will explain your options clearly.
Serving Washington residents in Blaine, Bellingham, Sumas, Lynden, Ferndale, Point Roberts, and across Whatcom County.
If your life, marriage, or assets span the 49th parallel, a standard divorce can quickly become an international legal maze. A Washington court cannot issue binding orders regarding real estate located in British Columbia, and U.S. custody agreements are not automatically recognized across the border.
We represent Washington state residents in the B.C. Supreme Court, providing clear guidance on the most common cross-border family law conflicts:
Read about child support across the border
We are a British Columbia law firm, so we advise only on B.C. law. We work with U.S. attorneys who have clients resident in the United States, so you receive coordinated advice that fits your U.S. residency and your B.C. issue. For questions that are only about Washington law, we will point you to a Washington lawyer.
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Your situation crosses the border. Your plan should too.
Start with a conversation by phone or secure video.
Do you or your spouse own a vacation property in Whistler, an investment condo in Vancouver, or corporate shares in a B.C. company? Under the B.C. Family Law Act, family property must be valued and divided according to Canadian statutory rules. We handle corporate searches, land title valuations, and ensure your B.C. assets are legally protected or fairly divided alongside your U.S. assets.
Has your co-parent moved your children to British Columbia without your consent? Or are you a Washington resident seeking to move back home to Canada with your kids? International custody disputes are governed by strict timelines under the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction. We act immediately to protect your parental rights and handle urgent cross-border jurisdictional applications.
If your ex-spouse lives in B.C. and has stopped paying child or spousal support ordered by a Washington court, you cannot easily collect it without Canadian legal intervention. Orders usually have to be changed by the court that originally made them. Orders from outside B.C. can be enforced here by registering them with a B.C. court, so your financial agreements are honoured.
If divorce actions have been filed simultaneously in both Washington state and British Columbia, determining which court has the proper jurisdiction (forum non conveniens) is critical. We work dynamically with your U.S. attorney to establish the most advantageous forum for your case, saving you time and preventing conflicting court orders.
Share the basics and the countries, provinces, or states involved. Your details stay confidential.
We explain which court has authority, what the timelines are, and what your realistic choices look like.
If your matter needs a Washington attorney alongside us, we will say so and help you coordinate.
We are a British Columbia firm, so we advise only on B.C. law. We work with U.S. attorneys who have clients resident in the United States, so you receive coordinated advice that fits your U.S. residency and your B.C. issue. For questions that are only about Washington law, we will point you to a Washington lawyer.
No. Consultations are by phone or secure video, so you can start from wherever you live.
Your enquiry is saved and waiting for our team, who will reply to you by phone or email to arrange a consultation.
Cross-Border Family Law for Washington Residents | Sea to Sky
Divorce, custody or property across the border? B.C. family lawyers serving Washington residents. Phone or secure video consultations. Call (778) 728-0208.
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Decades of experience in B.C. Provincial Court and B.C. Supreme Court
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