In Canada, all decisions about post-separation arrangements for children are made using the best interests of the child test. Both Ontario’s Children’s Law Reform Act and the federal Divorce Act set out the criteria judges are to use when applying …
Webinar: What is the best interests of the child test in family law? Read More »
Family court can be an overwhelming experience for anyone, but especially for women with children who are leaving an abusive relationship. This webinar introduces Family Court and Beyond: a workbook, organizer and website we have developed to assist women on …
A family law resource for women leaving abuse: Webinar about Family Court & Beyond Read More »
Families change over time — kids get older and move out, parents get new jobs, remarry, have more children, lose jobs, want or need to move. Any of these changes could mean a woman or her ex-partner may need to …
Family law issues when families change: When to return to family court Read More »
A good family court order or agreement about the arrangements for the children can facilitate a workable relationship between a woman and her ex-partner and lessen opportunities for post-separation abuse. The more details that are set out with precision in …
How a detailed family court order can lessen post-separation abuse Read More »
Unfortunately, many abusers are not yet ready to give up their power and control after the couple separates so the abuse continues. This is often referred to as post-separation abuse. Women may have to deal with ongoing issues for months …
Updated Oct. 30/10: Luke’s Place partners with CLEO to deliver family law information webinars on issues faced by women who have been subjected to violence in their relationship. The webinars are pre-recorded and will be posted to this website and …
Family law information: Luke’s Place & CLEO webinars Read More »
In the late 1980s, a new phrase started to pop up in American and then Canadian family courts: parental alienation syndrome (PAS). Originally coined by American psychiatrist Richard Gardner, the term was used to describe situations where one parent intentionally …
“But if you try sometime you find/You get what you need.” Many women leaving abusive relationships would take exception to even the modest optimism expressed by the Rolling Stones in this 1969 hit. Nonetheless, this is very much the tone …
This is the second installment of a two-part series There are many ways a family can organize access even when one parent lives some distance away from the kids. Factors that need to be considered include: Distance The children’s ages …
Are there strategies that can make long distance access work? Read More »
This is the first installment of a two-part series We are living in an increasingly globalized world, so it is not surprising that families move – often long distances – more than they used to. While this can pose challenges …
How can separated parents manage long distance access? Read More »
