BC to overhaul Family relations laws
BC to overhaul Family relations laws Proposed changes are meant to make children safer during family custody battles Victoria – More than a generation after BC’s family relations laws were last changed, the provincial government is proposing major changes it hopes will discourage family violence and encourage separated and divorced couples to settle disputes outside the court room. The last time the bc government changed its laws governing family relations and child custody was the late 1970’s. In the last 30 years, rules that effectively turn parents into adversaries when it comes to child custody haven’t done much to make the delicate task of settling family disputes much more constructive, which is why province is now proposing a major overhaul. Among the major amendments proposed: changing language to make it less adversarial. Instead of using words like “custody” and “access” court orders might refer to “guardianship” and “parenting time”. Also, the best interests of the child will be the only consideration when it comes to settling parenting disputes. And there will be more options to resolve conflicts out of court. The new laws are also meant to make children safer during child custody disputes by looking at a family’s history of violence and scrutinizing former civil or criminal proceedings that might have an impact on a child’s safety.
