Décarie Stephenson Avocats

Décarie Stephenson Avocats brings together two legal minds with complementary expertise and a shared commitment to helping families navigate their most challenging transitions. Based in Gatineau and serving both the Ottawa-Gatineau region, this boutique firm has spent over twenty-five years building a reputation for combining genuine empathy with vigorous legal advocacy in family law matters.

Sophie-Anne Décarie brings formidable expertise in real estate litigation, construction law, latent defects, and commercial law to the firm. Her credentials include certification as a civil and commercial arbitrator and mediator through UdeS/IMAQ, positioning her as an expert in conflict resolution across multiple practice areas. Déborah Stephenson complements this foundation with her distinctive empathetic approach and unwavering determination to find optimal solutions in family law matters, particularly in divorce, separation, child custody arrangements, alimony disputes, and property division.

The firm's philosophy rests on a fundamental belief that legal expertise must be paired with genuine human understanding. Families going through separation experience profound emotional upheaval alongside complex financial and legal challenges. Décarie Stephenson Avocats addresses both dimensions, combining strategic legal counsel with the emotional intelligence necessary to help clients make sound decisions during vulnerable periods.

With a quarter-century of experience, the firm has guided thousands of individuals through family law proceedings. Their client base includes homeowners navigating property disputes, parents asserting and protecting their parental rights, and families managing complex asset division following separation. This breadth of experience across diverse family situations informs the firm's nuanced approach to each new client engagement.

The dual certification in arbitration and mediation is particularly valuable for clients seeking alternatives to protracted court litigation. Alternative dispute resolution often reduces legal costs, preserves relationships, and allows families to maintain greater control over outcomes. For clients whose circumstances warrant mediation, Décarie Stephenson Avocats can facilitate conversations that lead to mutually acceptable agreements without adversarial court proceedings.

What distinguishes Décarie Stephenson Avocats in the Gatineau legal market is the rare combination of comprehensive legal knowledge, professional credentials, and genuine human compassion. While the firm's expertise spans real estate law and commercial matters, their family law practice remains deeply human-centered, recognizing that the stakes in family law extend far beyond financial assets to include the wellbeing of children, the preservation of dignity, and the possibility of amicable ongoing relationships.

For Gatineau and Ottawa-region families facing separation, divorce, custody disputes, or property division questions, Décarie Stephenson Avocats offers the reassurance that comes from working with experienced advocates who genuinely understand both the legal complexities and emotional dimensions of family law transitions.