Valerie with her grandson
Valerie’s journey to finalizing the divorce of her 35-year marriage was filled with challenges, but with the support of Archway’s Family Legal Advocacy program, she found the help she needed to navigate the complex process.
Valerie first learned about the program while getting her taxes done through Archway’s Income Tax program for seniors. Unable to afford a private lawyer, Valerie thought the program could help amidst her stressful circumstances.
Valerie and her husband had been drifting apart for the last few years before their divorce. Once their children were grown up and left their family home, it became evident that they didn’t have as much in common anymore.
“I just wasn’t feeling that connection anymore, And I think we both could have put in more effort, but we were both working 2-3 jobs. I believe in trying to work marriage out, but sometimes you don’t have that option,” said Valerie.
After making the hard decision to go through with the divorce and with the support of her friends and family behind her, Valerie booked an appointment with our legal advocate, where she was met with a warm and professional environment.
“Everything just seemed so professionally laid out, organized, and felt pretty comfortable,” recalled Valerie.
“I would have had to save my pennies and go through a lot of anxiety and worry without Archway.”
The program provided Valerie with a sense of comfort and clarity. Frances, her legal advocate, patiently walked her through each step of the process, preparing her for the long road ahead.
“She made me comfortable in the office, pulled the computer screen over so we could both see it, and explained all the different steps,” Valerie said.
Another legal advocate, Julia, worked with Valerie while Frances went on maternity leave. Their team made sure to get Julia up to speed on Valerie’s case, so the transition was seamless for her.
One of the significant challenges Valerie faced was getting her ex-husband to accept service of the divorce papers. His reluctance to be served added a layer of difficulty to the process. However, with the continued support of her legal advocate, Valerie explored alternative methods to serve her ex-husband and eventually found a family member who could serve the papers.
“That was the biggest hurdle of all, and she helped me with that,” Valerie emphasized.
The Family Legal Advocacy program provides a range of family law advocacy services including legal information, advocacy, and assistance to individuals in the community that meet the financial eligibility threshold.
Because the advocates are not lawyers, they can’t provide legal advice but they can provide legal information.
“We help people understand complicated court processes and assist with paperwork for free. In addition, we can provide support to clients and their lawyers to reduce their Legal Aid BC hours,” said Frances DeBeir, legal advocate for the Family Legal Advocacy program.
The support from the Family Legal Advocacy program saw Valerie through to the court process, providing much-needed reassurance during a stressful time. Her advocate’s presence at the courthouse made the experience manageable and less intimidating.
“My advocate met me at the courthouse, thank goodness, because court was very overwhelming. It really was. It was scary because I’d never done anything like this before,” Valerie recalled.
Reflecting on her experience, Valerie expressed deep appreciation for the patience, guidance, and friendliness of the staff. Without Archway’s support, Valerie believes she would have faced even greater anxiety and stress. The program helped Valerie finalize her divorce with dignity and respect.
“I would have had to save my pennies and go through a lot of anxiety and worry without Archway.”
Today, Valerie looks back with gratitude for the assistance she received from Archway. She recommends the program to others facing similar situations, appreciating the critical role it played in her life.
Frances DeBeir, Valerie’s legal advocate
“We help people understand complicated court processes and assist with paperwork for free. In addition, we can provide support to clients and their lawyers to reduce their Legal Aid BC hours.”