Farris Partner Todd Bell authored an article in the most recent issue of Canadian Family Law Quarterly (Vol. 44.3), titled “Agreements: Where We Are, and Drafting for (Un)Certainty.” The article examines recent developments in how courts approach domestic agreements under British Columbia’s Family Law Act, including a trend toward greater deference to parties’ autonomy and an increased likelihood that agreements will be upheld. It also offers practical guidance for practitioners, encouraging a reassessment of standard precedents and drafting practices to reduce ambiguity and better withstand judicial scrutiny. The full article is available here.

Todd is an experienced family law litigator and trial lawyer. He practices parenting and custody litigation, assists parties seeking emergency protection from family violence and divides high net-worth assets such as corporate interests, trusts, foreign property, and pensions.