Family Law · Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Better endings. Stronger beginnings.
CommonSense guidance for Separation, Divorce, and Co-Parenting.
Panko Collaborative Law · The CommonSense approach to separation and divorce in Saskatoon — since 2015
“I felt that someone finally listened to my situation and concerns. They researched information that was extremely helpful for me going forward with my case.”
— Client, 2025 · 4.9 / 5 from 270+ reviews
You’re not alone
You didn’t plan for this.
If you’re here, something in your family has changed — or is about to. You might be scared. You might be angry. You might just want to know what happens next.
Whatever you’re carrying todayyou’re carrying tonightyou woke up carrying, you don’t have to carry it alone. And you don’t have to figure it all out right nowright nowtoday.
Whatever you’re facing, there’s a path forward.
Choose what’s closest to your situation. We’ll meet you where you are — no judgment, no pressure.
Deciding what’s next
A different kind of firm
Most people assume hiring a family lawyer means going to court. It doesn’t have to.
Panko Collaborative Law guides families through separation, divorce, and co-parenting without defaulting to litigation. When mediation is the better path, we provide the independent legal advice that keeps it on track.
The result: agreements you helped shape, not rulings imposed on you.
Collaborative, not combative
We are dedicated to resolving matters outside the courtroom — saving you months of conflict, often at a fraction of the cost of litigation.
Saskatchewan-first
Prairie-rooted, with deep knowledge of Saskatchewan family law, Indigenous law, and mediation.
Transparent pricing
No surprises. We explain what your consultation costs, how retainers work, and what to expect — before you commit to anything.
Saskatchewan’s Family Law Team at the Historic Train Station.
Ready to talk?
We’ll listen first.
Book a consultation with a lawyer who understands what you’re going through. We’ll meet you where you are — no pressure, no judgment.
Visit us at the Historic Train Station — 305 Idylwyld Dr N, Saskatoon
Family law, in plain language.
The signposts above are where most families start. This is the fuller picture — what each practice area covers, with a page that goes deeper when you’re ready.
Deciding what’s next
Ending Your Marriage
Divorce in Saskatchewan usually starts with conversations, not court filings. We help you understand what actually has to be decided — parenting, support, property — what’s negotiable, and what comes next, at your pace.
Collaborative Divorce
Both spouses sign a commitment to resolve everything without going to court. Each of you has your own collaborative lawyer, the work happens in four-way meetings, and the result is an agreement you shaped — not a ruling imposed on you.
Family Mediation
A neutral, trained mediator helps the two of you reach an agreement together — typically faster and less costly than litigation. When mediation is the better path, we provide the independent legal advice that keeps it on track.
Working out the terms
Parenting Arrangements
Parenting time, decision-making responsibility, holidays, relocation — every decision is made on the best interests of your children. We draft arrangements that hold up in real life, not just on paper.
Child Support
The table amount is based on the paying parent’s income, the number of children, and the federal guidelines — but shared parenting, special expenses, and income questions can change the analysis. We make sure the numbers are right and properly documented.
Spousal Support
Spousal support isn’t automatic — entitlement comes first, then amount and duration. We help you understand what’s owed, for how long, and how it fits alongside child support.
Dividing Property
In Saskatchewan, equal division is usually the starting point: the house, pensions, businesses, and debts are all part of the picture. We help you map what counts as family property, what may be exempt, and what a fair division looks like.
Changing a Court Order
Incomes shift, children grow, people move. When an existing order or agreement no longer fits your life, a variation updates it properly — so you’re not relying on an informal arrangement no one can enforce.
Planning ahead
Separation Agreements
A written contract that records how you’ll handle parenting, support, property, and debt — negotiated, not imposed. Drafted carefully and signed with independent legal advice, it’s the document most separating couples actually need.
Prenuptial Agreements
Decide together, before the wedding, how assets and debts would be handled if the marriage ended. Full financial disclosure and independent legal advice on both sides are what make it hold up.
Postnuptial Agreements
The same protection as a prenup, signed after the wedding — whether that’s months or years later. Many couples sign one while the relationship is strong, because it’s easier to be fair before any conflict exists.
Cohabitation Agreements
Saskatchewan’s family property rules can treat common-law partners much like married spouses after two years of living together. A cohabitation agreement lets the two of you set your own terms instead of the default rules.
The facts, in one place
Our family lawyers in Saskatoon: credentials and hourly rates
Panko Collaborative Law is a family law firm in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, founded in 2015 by Charmaine Panko, K.C. People reach us searching for a family lawyer in Saskatoon, a divorce lawyer, a collaborative divorce lawyer, or help with a separation agreement, child support, spousal support, parenting arrangements (what used to be called custody and access), or dividing family property. Whatever words brought you here, this is the firm at a glance — the same rates and credentials published on each lawyer’s profile page.
A consultation is a focused, one-hour meeting billed at your lawyer’s hourly rate, plus tax — you meet the lawyer who would actually handle your matter. Ongoing work is billed in six-minute increments, our standard retainer is $10,000 held in trust (any unused portion is returned), and limited-scope “unbundled” help is available when you don’t need full representation. The full breakdown is on How We Calculate Our Fees.
Charmaine Panko, K.C. — Founder · Family Lawyer & Mediator — $700/hour plus tax
Appointed King’s Counsel, Charmaine founded the firm in 2015 and is recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada. She teaches Dispute Resolution in Family Law at the University of Saskatchewan College of Law and trains lawyers and mediators through CommonSense Mediation Academy.
Razia Husain, L.L.B., Q.Med — Collaborative Lawyer & Mediator — $450/hour plus tax
A qualified mediator who joined the firm in 2023 after practising at a Toronto legal clinic serving women who had experienced violence — a trauma-informed practice built on empathy and resilience.
Matthew Pellerin — Lawyer — $350/hour plus tax
Born and raised in Saskatoon, with a JD from the University of Saskatchewan College of Law. Called to the bar in 2022 and practising primarily family law since.
Samuel Rezazadeh — Lawyer — $350/hour plus tax
Practises family law alongside immigration, refugee, and citizenship matters, wills, powers of attorney, health care directives, and estates. Volunteered throughout law school with CLASSIC Inc. and Saskatoon newcomer organizations.
Omolara Adebisi Olabanji — Collaborative Lawyer — $350/hour plus tax
Practises collaborative family law alongside real estate, wills and estates, contract drafting and review, and civil matters — help that covers the whole of a family’s story, not just one chapter.
Ashleigh Arcand — Lawyer — $325/hour plus tax
Rooted in her Indigenous heritage, with a sociology degree before law school and a practice committed to helping clients find clarity through life’s hardest moments.
Mackenzie Singer — Articling Student
Combined B.Comm. and J.D. from the University of Saskatchewan, drawn to mediation and collaborative family law. As an articling student, Mackenzie works under a supervising lawyer.
Where to find us: the Historic CPR Train Station, Saskatoon
Our office is at 305 Idylwyld Dr N #4, Saskatoon, SK S7L 0Z1 — inside Saskatoon’s historic Canadian Pacific Railway station, just north of downtown. Use the door with our logo on it: it has flowerpots outside, a sign hanging above, and sits in front of the stairs, beside the wheelchair ramp.
Parking is free, and there’s plenty of it — the station grounds used to be a train yard, so space is one thing we’re not short on. Get directions.
Office hours are Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, with evenings and weekends by appointment. Call 306-975-7151 or email admin@commonsenselawyer.com.
Before you book, a few things people ask.
Do I have to go to court to separate or divorce?
No. Most families we work with resolve their separation outside the courtroom — through collaborative law or mediation. Court is sometimes the right path, but it isn’t the only one. Our practice is built on staying out of court whenever it’s safe and sensible to do so.
What’s the difference between collaborative law and mediation?
Both keep families out of court, but they work differently. In collaborative law, each spouse has their own lawyer, and everyone signs an agreement to negotiate without litigation. In mediation, a neutral third party helps the two of you reach an agreement — usually alongside independent legal advice. We offer both, and we’ll help you figure out which fits your situation.
Do I need a lawyer if my ex and I already agree?
Usually, yes — to put your agreement in writing properly. A separation agreement drafted carefully and signed with independent legal advice is much harder to challenge later. If your situation is straightforward, the work is straightforward too.
Can I be “separated” if we still live together?
Yes. Saskatchewan law recognises separation even under the same roof, as long as you’ve stopped living as a couple — separate rooms, separate finances, separate lives. If that’s the reality, the separation clock has likely started. We can help you understand when your separation date is and what it means for your timeline.
How long does a separation or divorce take in Saskatchewan?
It depends on your circumstances and the path you choose. An uncontested divorce can be finalized in a matter of months; a contested one may take more than a year. Collaboration and mediation are usually faster than litigation because they avoid court delays. We’ll give you a realistic timeline once we understand your situation.
What about our children — how are parenting arrangements decided?
Every decision about children is made on the best interests of the child. The current terms are “parenting time” and “decision-making responsibility” rather than “custody” and “access.” There’s no single template — the goal is an arrangement that works for your children’s real lives. Our Parenting Arrangements page goes deeper.
How is child support calculated in Saskatchewan?
The basic table amount is usually based on the paying parent’s gross annual income, the number of children, and the applicable child support table. The final amount may change if there is shared parenting time, split parenting time, special expenses, undue hardship, or an income issue that needs closer attention.
Is family property always divided 50/50 in Saskatchewan?
Equal division is usually the starting point. In many cases, each spouse receives an equal share of the family property and the family home. But there can be disputes about what counts as family property, what values should be used, whether exemptions apply, and whether unequal division is justified in the circumstances.
What if we can’t agree on everything?
That’s exactly what we’re here for. Disagreement doesn’t mean court — it means negotiation, and that’s what trained family lawyers do. We help both sides understand their interests and find terms that hold. If an agreement genuinely isn’t possible, we’ll tell you directly — and tell you what that means for the road ahead.
What happens at a first meeting?
We listen. You’ll meet with a lawyer who’ll ask about your situation, answer your questions, and explain your options — collaborative, mediation, or court — without pressure to commit. By the end you’ll have a clearer sense of what’s ahead and what your next step looks like.
Keep reading, recent articles & insights.
- Legal Fees: What You Need to KnowLegal Fees: What you need to know about your investment in legal services As with many unexpected things in life, few prepare…
- Joint Divorce, by Consent, or Something Else?Joint Divorce, by Consent, or Something Else? When people in Saskatchewan are wanting to get a divorce, they have different options and they…
- Intimate Partner Violence Tort SaskatchewanWhat Canada’s New Tort of Intimate Partner Violence Means — and How a Saskatchewan Family Lawyer Can Help For years, the hardest…
- National Indigenous Languages DayThe Cree word wâhkôhtowin — kinship, the interconnected nature of relationships — offers a powerful lens for anyone working in family law. On National Indigenous Languages Day, we reflect on what this concept asks of lawyers and mediators: to remember that even in conflict, people remain connected, and that how we end disputes matters as much as that we end them.
- Award-Winning Saskatoon Family Law FirmPanko Collaborative Law received two national honours at the Canadian Business Awards 2026: Best Family Law Firm in Saskatchewan and the Client Service Excellence Award. Founded by Charmaine Panko, K.C., and staffed alongside four of her children, this family-owned practice has spent over a decade proving that family law can feel genuinely human.
- Separating with a Business?A family business doesn’t stay outside the separation process. Family law “pierces the corporate veil” and requires it to be valued and distributed like other property. Who values the business, how it’s valued, and how the resulting equity is shared are the three questions that shape everything else.