For service providers
Family court operations: Guide for the pandemic
Luke’s Place has just launched a new resource that guides women and workers on Ontario’s family court operations. In March 2020, family courts moved quickly and efficiently to ensure their operations were consistent with provincial public health protocols put in place to limit spread of the COVID-19 virus. During this process, many of those involved…
Read morePeace bonds: You can now apply remotely
Anyone wishing to apply for a peace bond can now do so online.
Read moreWhat does the revised Divorce Act say about parenting plans?
The changes to the Divorce Act give parenting plans a more formal role than they have had in the past, so it is worth discussing them with any of your clients who are using the Divorce Act to resolve post-separation parenting issues. Parenting plans can also be a useful tool for parents who need a…
Read moreWhat are the rights of grandparents who want access to their grandchildren?
Grandparents in Ontario have some legal rights to go to family court if they want to spend time with their grandchildren.
Read moreFamily violence training for family law advisers: What you don’t know can hurt you and your client
The Department of Justice (DoJ) Canada has launched an online course for family law practitioners on family violence. In 2018, the DoJ hired Luke’s Place to undertake research into family violence screening for family law practitioners. Family law lawyers are often the first point of contact for those entering the family justice system. They need…
Read moreSix common mistakes to avoid when completing financial statements
This is a brief summary of a paper prepared by Robert Shawyer and Andrew Sudano for the Law Society of Ontario‘s The Six-Minute Family Law Lawyer. Their paper was titled, “An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure: The Six Most Common Mistakes When Drafting Financial Statements And How to Avoid Them.” Don’t…
Read moreImportant update on LAO eligibility for abuse survivors
Legal Aid Ontario has announced that, effective May 2nd, it is no longer waiving financial and legal eligibility criteria for survivors of family violence. Please see the link below for detailed information about current LAO eligibility:https://www.legalaid.on.ca/services/domestic-abuse/
Read moreWomen’s experience with CAS
Child protection authorities exist to protect children from abuse and neglect. Also known as CAS, historically, their focus has been on situations in which the abuse or neglect has been directed at children themselves. Under provincial legislation, the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, child protection authorities have the mandate to intervene when they deem…
Read moreRealities of rural living & the impact on women living with violence
Despite the increasing diversity of rural communities, there are a number of ways in which rural living is very different from urban living. These factors can have a significant impact on how women who live rurally experience abuse and the options that are available to them. Much of the information in the following post draws…
Read moreCourt notice finder: Up-to-date information about family court
A new website, Court Notice Finder, put together by a number of Ontario family law legal professionals, organizes the: “voluminous – and often changing – information found in the various Court Notices issued on behalf of Family Law courthouses across Ontario since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.” This is a very useful tool for…
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