Category: In The News


Do Personality Disorders Contribute to Parental Alienation?

Parents with personality disorders routinely display extreme behaviors. Parental alienation tends to occur in divorces when one parent repeatedly displays extreme words and behavior about the other parent. People with personality disorders tend to have a pattern of repeating hostile and unpredictable behavior in the presence of their children. When parents repeatedly display extreme emotion … Continue reading Do Personality Disorders Contribute to Parental Alienation?

(Read More...)


Listening to Children: New Divorce Act entrenches child’s right to be heard

On July 1, 2020, s.16(3)(e) of the Divorce Act (Canada) comes into force. This section requires the court to consider the “child’s views and preferences, giving due weight to the child’s age and maturity, unless they cannot be ascertained; when making parenting decisions.”

(Read More...)


Shared parenting during COVID-19

Social distancing and self-isolation have become everyday words as Canada tries to flatten the curve of the COVID-19 pandemic. And for many people that’s relatively easy to do provided they can work from home. But ex-spouses who share custody of their children may wonder how to continue to share parenting in a COVID-19 world. Read … Continue reading Shared parenting during COVID-19

(Read More...)


Parenting Arrangement During the time of COVID-19

The Covid-19 Pandemic represents a novel and wrenching dilemma for parents who are trying to self-isolate and protect there child. At the same time they are expected to exercise a parenting arrangement that is by Order of Agreement requiring them to relinquish the child to the other parent. Read the full article here.

(Read More...)


Co-parenting during the Covid-19 pandemic

For many families, COVID-19 is adding significantly to the stresses of co-parenting. For many, many families it will make sense for plans to change. If you and your co-parent are navigating this challenging time effectively that’s great. You are to be commended for being able to pull together to meet your children’s needs. Keep doing … Continue reading Co-parenting during the Covid-19 pandemic

(Read More...)


Children’s Views: Why they Matter in Court and Mediations. October 2017

In June of 2014, we wrote a feature for BarTalk called “Children’s Voices in Family Law Disputes.” That article spoke to the legislative requirement that parents, the courts and others “consider the child’s views, unless it would be inappropriate to consider them” (section 37(2)(b) of the Family Law Act [“FLA”]).

(Read More...)


Children’s Participation in Justice Processes: Finding the Best Ways Forward

December, 2017 Children’s Participation in Justice Processes: Finding the Best Ways Forward was a two-day national symposium that brought together a multidisciplinary spectrum of leading stakeholders to share information and dialogue about how the voices of children and youth are heard, how their interests are protected and how their evidence is received in justice processes. The symposium,

(Read More...)


Child Inclusive Mediation: Research on Views of the Child Reports in Ontario

February 2017 There is a growing awareness of the importance of offering children an opportunity to participate in family dispute resolution processes, including mediation. There are several different ways to involve children in mediation . . . While there is no single “best way” to include the child in mediation, we conclude that Views of … Continue reading Child Inclusive Mediation: Research on Views of the Child Reports in Ontario

(Read More...)


Children’s Lawyer Initiative

JULY, 2016 The Law Foundation of British Columbia has designated funds of up to $600,000 for the creation of a Children’s Lawyer’s Office for British Columbia. The purpose of the initiative is to support a two-year pilot project to establish a Children’s Lawyer’s Office for British Columbia. The Children’s Lawyer will provide direct legal services … Continue reading Children’s Lawyer Initiative

(Read More...)


Legal Information Resources for Children and Youth

MAY, 2016 The Representative for Children and Youth and the Law Foundation of BC are working together to inform children and youth in BC about legal resources and services available to them . . . [the] research into this issue and consultations with youth found that when children and youth have legal problems they often … Continue reading Legal Information Resources for Children and Youth

(Read More...)