Significant Changes To The Rights Of Children, Their Parents, Guardians, And Property Trustees Under the BC Family Law Act

On March 18, 2013 British Columbians will see the old Family Relations Act repealed and the new Family Law Act come into force. Under the new Act, parents who lived together after their child was born will both be the child’s guardians. While the child’s parents are living together and after the child’s parents separate, each parent is the child’s guardian. A parent will cease being a child’s guardian if the parents agree in writing or the court orders otherwise. Guardians ensure that a child is personally cared for and are responsible make decisions about the child’s home, education, health, and religion, and their financial and legal interests.

The new Family Law Act allows guardians to … Read more »

How To Successfully Parent After Separation and Divorce

When a family experiences the breakdown of the spousal relationship, it involves many life changes and decisions especially for the children. One of the best resources a parent can use to support themselves during the transition is a talented family lawyer and a divorce coach. And a child specialist can help support the children during this challenging transition and give them a much needed voice as their world is turned upside down. The following highlights some of the key issues that parents must deal with after separation and divorce.

Helping Children Adjust To Two Homes

Children thrive when they have the security and predictability of a stable family environment, that is, the familiarity of where they live, … Read more »

New BC Family Law Act + Caring For Children After Separation or Divorce

The movie Kramer v. Kramer about a just-separated father who must learn to care for his son on his own when his wife takes off, and then must fight in court to keep custody of his son when the mother returns and asks for sole custody, highlighted how much a child can become a pawn in a separation and divorce dispute and the flaw to the idea that one parent is better than two. With real life examples of that movie in separated families all across British Columbia, the new Family Law Act dramatically changes how the law treats children when their parents separate.

The new Family Law Act does not use the adversarial terms “custody” and “access” … Read more »