Posts Tagged ‘family violence’
Chatelaine article: Why divorce cases involving allegations of abuse still confound family courts
Journalist Flannery Dean recently interviewed Luke’s Place Legal Director, Pamela Cross, and other experts for the article Why Divorce Cases Involving Allegations of Abuse Still Confound Family Courts available online and in the January 2021 issue of Chatelaine magazine. The article centres on the tragic outcomes of two mothers who fled domestic violence and highlights common…
Read moreBill 207: An important step forward for women fleeing abuse
There is much that is good in Bill 207, the Moving Ontario Family Law Forward Act, for women leaving abusive relationships.
Read moreBill 207 Justice Committee Hearing: Luke’s Place Submission
Presented by Pamela Cross, Luke’s Place Legal Director on October 13, 2020, 1:00 p.m. Good afternoon. Thank you for this opportunity to appear before you to talk about Bill 207. I do so on behalf of Luke’s Place Support and Resource Centre in Durham Region, where I am the Legal Director. We are named after…
Read moreWill Canada’s new Divorce Act keep women and children fleeing abuse safe? The gaps – Part 3/3
The revised Divorce Act, coming into effect on July 1, 2020, offers both pros and cons for survivors of family violence. The pros outweigh the cons, and create the potential for parents who have left an abusive relationship and who use the federal statute to establish parenting arrangements to be better served by the law…
Read moreWill Canada’s new Divorce Act keep women and children fleeing abuse safe? The cons – Part 2/3
While the amended Divorce Act will, without question, materially improve the situation of those fleeing abuse (if they use the Divorce Act to resolve parenting issues), it is not perfect. This article explores two criteria in the best interests test, the decision-making provisions and the emphasis on out of court dispute resolution, all of which…
Read moreWill Canada’s new Divorce Act keep women and children fleeing abuse safe? The pros – Part 1/3
As we continue to find our way through the strange new world of life in a pandemic, it is easy to lose sight of things that seemed important to us just a few months ago. The significantly revised Divorce Act, passed by the federal government in June 2019 and coming into effect on July 1,…
Read moreBill 161 could jeopardize access to justice for women fleeing abuse
Bill 161, the Smarter and Stronger Justice Act, will amend more than 20 existing pieces of legislation. Of particular concern to advocates for women fleeing abuse are the proposed revisions to the Legal Aid Services Act 1998. While it is certainly the case that this legislation is long overdue for updating, given that it has…
Read moreCollecting evidence of woman abuse for family law cases: Our latest webinar
Evidence about family violence can be challenging to find: often, there are few witnesses, and many women don’t report the abuse to anyone. This webinar provides practical suggestions for how women can collect evidence of the abuse to which they have been subjected as well as tips for frontline workers who are assisting women with…
Read moreA family law resource for women leaving abuse: Webinar about Family Court & Beyond
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 this journey. Including legal information in plain language, tip sheets, checklists and more, this resource…
Read moreFamily violence is relevant in family law processes
A new report published by the Department of Justice Canada describes what many of us already know about family violence and family law processes: In a family law context, violence, abuse and neglect within families can have wide ranging, long-term effects. Family and criminal courts may offer contrary rulings that confuse and frustrate matters and…
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