Starting a relationship with someone new can be exciting but also worrisome after a past abusive relationship. This is especially true if your abusive ex-partner is still involved in your life on some level. An update to your safety plan…
Court related services for custody and access issues
Visit our Family Court and Beyond website for information on court related services for custody and access issues: Office of the Children’s Lawyer, which can become involved in a custody and access dispute by providing a lawyer who will represent…
Case law: Withdrawal from parental control
R.G. v. K.G. et al. [Indexed as: G. (R.) v. G. (K.)], 136 O.R. (3d) 689: When they separated, the parents of G entered into an agreement that the father would have custody of her until her 18th birthday and the…
Violence screening tools for family law professionals
Woman abuse is a common issue in family court cases, yet few legal professionals screen for it. As The Globe and Mail reports: About 67 per cent of domestic homicides in Ontario involved couples who had separated or were about…
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…
Luke’s Place Virtual Legal Clinic continues thanks to our supporters!
The Virtual Legal Clinic serves women in rural and remote communities of Ontario. Foundation grants and lawyers providing freely of their time have allowed Luke’s Place to continue to offer this unique service to isolated women who have been subjected…
Case law: Child support variation for adult children
Colucci v. Colucci, 2017 ONCA 892: This Court of Appeal decision established that the court has jurisdiction to vary child support under s.17 of the Divorce Act even after the children are over the age of 18 and therefore no…
Extending access to justice in Durham: Thanks to local foundations!
Thank you to the Durham Community Foundation and the William F. Hayball Foundation for contributing to Luke’s Place. Because of this support, more women and children leaving abuse will receive free legal support. Through DCF, the Ajax Community Fund contribution…
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…
Family Court Support Workers: Celebrating an effective response to violence against women
Workers in Ontario’s shelters for women and children fleeing abuse have been providing support to women involved with family court for decades. Occasionally funded through short-term grants, sometimes with resources provided by community fund-raising and often just tacked on to…
