The family court process can be long and difficult. By the time it is over, many women are often exhausted and sick and tired of dealing with their former partner. Many also assume the battle is over; that the court…
Category: Frequently asked questions
Do children need a safety plan?
Many thanks to Miranda Brijlall, articling student at Luke’s Place, who prepared this response with assistance from Legal Director, Pamela Cross. In circumstances of family violence, children as well as their mothers need to take care of themselves by developing…
How can a woman support her kids during and after her family law case?
The more a woman can protect her children from the negative emotions she may be feeling towards and about her former partner, the better for them. Negative feelings towards her former partner Her fear of her former partner may be…
How can I support a woman who needs help from the Family Responsibility Office?
The Family Responsibility Office (FRO) is a program of the Ministry of Community and Social Services that collects and distributes court-ordered child and spousal support payments. If the person paying support fails to do so, FRO can enforce the court…
Is conjoint counselling ever appropriate in situations of woman abuse?
This FAQ builds on work done by others: a paper written by Julie Shaw and a published paper written by Sandra M. Stith and Eric E. McCollum. There are different opinions about whether or not it is appropriate for a…
What is independent legal advice and when does a women need it?
Before a woman signs any kind of agreement related to her family law issues, she should obtain independent legal advice (ILA). This means she needs to meet with her own lawyer to review whatever the agreement may be. Common agreements…
How can alternative dispute resolution help me with my family law matter?
Looking for a basic introduction to alternative dispute resolution? Also known as ADR, these are ways to solve family law problems other than going to court. Mediation, arbitration and collaborative family law are forms of ADR. Learn about these alternatives…
Court etiquette: How should I behave in family court?
When you go to family court, you will be focused on thinking about your case. Good manners may be the last thing on your mind. However, your case will move along more smoothly and you may feel more comfortable while…
Tagged with: court security
What is a parenting plan? Part 2
This is the second of two blog posts on parenting plans. In the first post we examined the purposes of a parenting plan and reviewed key components of the best interests of the child test. In this post, we’ll set…
What is a parenting plan? Part 1
Whether a woman is preparing her parenting plan during or after her court case, the basic principles remain the same. This is the first of two blog posts on parenting plans. In this post we’ll examine the purposes of a…
