Posts Tagged ‘family violence screening’
Legal bullying: When leaving doesn’t end the abuse
One of the most troubling kinds of post-separation abuse is legal bullying: the intentional misuse and manipulation of family laws and family court processes by the abuser.
Read moreFamily violence screening: What you don’t know can hurt you
Not every survivor of family violence walks into her lawyer’s office with a broken arm or black eye. Even when there is physical abuse, few clients readily open up about this with their lawyer. Identifying the subtler forms of abuse is even more challenging. Coercive controlling behaviours, including emotional and psychological abuse and financial control,…
Read moreChanges to the Divorce Act: What it can mean for women
In the final dash to get legislation passed before Parliament recessed for the summer, only to head straight into an election campaign in the fall, some important bills managed to make it to Royal Assent. Any bills that did not pass Third Reading in the Senate and obtain Royal Assent by last Friday are now…
Read moreC-78: Update on amendments to the Divorce Act
Bill C-78, which passed Third Reading in the Senate on Wednesday, contains significant changes to the Divorce Act and may soon become law. The full name of C-78 is An Act to amend the Divorce Act, the Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act and the Garnishment, Attachment and Pension Diversion Act and to make…
Read moreWhat you don’t know can hurt you: The importance of family violence screening tools for family law practitioners
Our new report on family violence screening tools for lawyers and other family law practitioners is now available from the Department of Justice Canada. Family law lawyers are often the first point of contact for those entering the family justice system. They need to be aware of any abuse history as early as possible so…
Read moreThe importance of family violence screening tools for family law practitioners
Since 2003, Ontario’s Domestic Violence Death Review Committee consistently finds that a history of domestic violence and pending or recent separation are the first and second highest risk factors for lethality in domestic homicides. Yet there is no universal family violence screening tool for Canadian family law practitioners. Family law lawyers are often the first…
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