Our Story
At One Family Law we are changing the way clients experience divorce and separation by making it kinder, quicker and easier.
Melissa Bourgeois
Family Lawyer, Founder
Creator of the One Lawyer Divorce Method™
Melissa Bourgeois is a Canadian family lawyer, legal innovator and the creator of the One
Lawyer Divorce Method™ – a first-of-its-kind approach in North America that allows one family
lawyer to guide both spouses together through their legal separation from start to finish.
After more than a decade practicing within the traditional, adversarial model of family law Melissa saw firsthand how even couples who began their separation with goodwill could be pulled into unnecessary conflict, cost and confusion. Determined to change this, she began researching international models and discovered the concept of one neutral family lawyer, a professional who could assist both spouses collaboratively and transparently.
This discovery became the spark for what is now known as the One Lawyer Divorce Method™.
Melissa spent over two years petitioning the Law Society of Alberta to allow its practice in
Canada, ultimately gaining special approval to pilot her model through One Family Law. The
results were groundbreaking: couples were able to separate amicably, make informed decisions
together and transition into their new lives with clarity, respect and dignity.
Today, Melissa’s work represents a paradigm shift in family law moving the profession from
adversarial to consensual dispute resolution and redefining what it means to “separate together.”
Her leadership continues to influence lawyers, policymakers and families across Canada who
believe that divorce doesn’t have to destroy – it can transform.
Melissa brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work: to make kindness,
cooperation and clarity the new standard of family justice.
Innovation Sandbox
One Family Law is a proud member of the Innovation Sandbox of the Law Society of Alberta. Through a series of rigorous proposals and presentations, One Family Law now holds a waiver from the Law Society of Alberta allowing us to offer our innovative One Family Lawyer Model© to clients across the province of Alberta. The Law Society of Alberta’s commitment to supporting professionals who are working to increase access to justice for the public is well aligned to the ethos of One Family Law and we are grateful for their continued partnership.
Some protections applicable to legal services provided by Law Society of Alberta members may be different or may not be available. Any communications with or information provided to One Family Law are not confidential as between spouses using the services.
The Law Society does not approve, endorse or certify the quality of the Services, OFL’s qualifications, competence or fitness to provide the Services.
Please direct any feedback or complaints to contact@onefamily.law
Meet The Team
Cody Dub
Client Relations Specialist
Cody acts as CRS at One Family Law and brings with her over ten years of sales and customer service experience. Navigating a divorce or separation is an emotional and often overwhelming process. Cody plays a vital role in centering the client experience in One Family Law’s unique process. Her drive to deliver kind, responsive and informative care has helped our clients move through the process with less anxiety and ease. Cody is honoured to be a trusted resource to our clients during this important transitional time.
Ashley Goodnough
Paralegal
Ashley brings a keen eye for detail and a passion for meeting deadlines to One Family Law. Beyond ensuring all your documents and sensitive information are accurate, Ashley’s role is foundational in streamlining our in-house processes so that we can deliver the most cost-effective and simplified service to our clients. Ultimately Ashley shares the belief that divorce or separation doesn’t have to be a complicated or expensive process and is focussed on delivering an alternative one through her work at One Family Law.
As Featured In
One Family Law Benefits
Choosing One Family Law means more than just legal support, it’s about creating a faster, more affordable, and less stressful path forward. Through our streamlined process our clients reach a signed separation agreement in about 6-8 weeks.
How we are Different
Experience a separation that prioritizes understanding, not fighting.
Traditional Divorce
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Two lawyers—high fees & back-and-forth negotiations
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Often adversarial, driven by conflict
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Timelines vary, often drawn-out
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Unpredictable final cost structure
Our Approach
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One shared, neutral lawyer advising both parties jointly
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Cooperative process designed to minimize conflict
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Targeted timeline of 6–8 weeks to signed agreement
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Flat fee shared by both — no hidden extras
One Family Law Podcast
Check out our podcast if you’d like to listen to Melissa talk about more about One Family Law and the new way clients are experiencing divorce and separation
Financial Guidance for a Fair Future
Transitioning into separate households entails financial shifts. We guide you through spousal support options, budgeting strategies, and realistic income-sharing frameworks to ensure both stability and fairness.
Which Tier Fits You Best?
Help us tailor our approach—please answer a few quick questions:
Co-Parenting
Co-Parenting with Clarity and Care
Strong co-parenting starts with clear communication and thoughtful planning. Our Parenting Plan Booklet supports sensitive conversations and helps you create a shared parenting vision that works now—and for the future.
Testimonials
Real-life stories show how our process helps couples move forward peacefully and practically.
YC M.
Victor S.
Josiah H.
Jeremy B.
Michael S.
Jacquelyn C.
⭐ Rated Excellent – 5.0 / 5.0 on Google Reviews
Key Questions Answered
What is One Family Law?
We are a law firm offering couples a new way to separate or divorce. One couple jointly retains a single family lawyer to guide them through the process of separation with sound legal advice, minimizing conflict and cost along the way.
How is One Family Law different from other law firms?
In the traditional system, each party retains their own legal representation to advocate for them. While we understand this is sometimes necessary, we believe that by choosing to approach this transitional period together we can deliver a better outcome for everyone.
How do we know if One Family Law is the right fit for us?
If you are looking to transition through the separation process with minimal conflict between yourselves and to receive sound legal advice that sets you both up to move forward, then we are for you.
Is this process cheaper than other ways of separating?
Yes. By jointly retaining a lawyer you are sharing the fee for one lawyer instead of two. Our streamlined process is designed to eliminate the costly back and forth meetings between lawyers and to simplify the process of divorce so you can move through this transitional time effectively.
How is this different from Mediation?
There is certainly cross-over as we will address all aspects of your separation; parenting, property, support payments and future planning but unlike mediation, once we have a separation agreement, we can sign off on it and file it for you.
What happens if we can’t come to an agreement?
One Family Law is one of several options you have for Alternative Dispute Resolution. If you are not successful with us then we will help you transition to another option like Collaborative Practice, Mediation, Arbitration or Litigation.
Ready to Begin?
Schedule Your Free Consultation
Take the first step toward a smoother, more compassionate separation. Reach out, and let’s start the process together.