Talk:Introduction to Family Law in British Columbia

Important changes notes

Important changes
Under the changes to the Divorce Act that took effect on 1 March 2021, "custody" is now known as decision-making responsibility and "access" is now known as parenting time, for people who are or used to be married to each other, or as contact for other people.

Important changes
British Columbia's Family Law Act, and now the federal Divorce Act, encourage people to try to resolve family law disputes outside of court.

Important changes
The rules used by the Provincial Court changed in May 2021. Read Recent Changes to Family Law in British Columbia. As well, special processes are now being used by the Provincial Court in Victoria and Surrey. If you have a family law case in the Victoria and Surrey courthouses, speak to the court staff about how your case is affected.

Important changes
Under the changes to the Divorce Act that took effect on 1 March 2021, "custody" is now known as decision-making responsibility and "access" is now known as parenting time, for people who are or used to be married to each other, or as contact for other people. Decision-making responsibility under the Divorce Act means the same thing as parental responsibilities under the Family Law Act.

--Nate Russell (talk) 13:23, 18 May 2022 (PDT)

Further reading

1. When it came to Further Reading, some areas (Separation & Divorce, Dividing Property, and Family Law Agreements) mentioned every single one of their sections, so I just mentioned the chapter.

2. A proposed link to Getting Started does not exist, as it's like "Chapters." I changed copy to suit.

Gayla Reid (talk) 19:00, 30 April 2013 (PDT)

In family law, an antiquated term used by the old Divorce Act to describe the right to possess a child and make parenting decisions concerning the child's health, welfare and upbringing. Replaced in the new Divorce Act with the term decision-making responsibility." See "access," "decision-making responsibility" and "parenting time."

Under the new Divorce Act, a term referring to a spouse's responsibility for making significant decisions about a child, including about healthcare, education, culture, language, religion, spirituality and extracurricular activities. Decision-making responsibility may be shared by both spouses, divided between spouses such that each has responsibility for different decisions, or allocated wholly to one spouse.

Under the old Divorce Act, the schedule of a parent's time with their children under an order or agreement, replaced with "parenting time" and "contact" in the new Divorce Act. Access usually referred to the schedule of the parent with the least amount of time with the child. See "contact," "custody" and "parenting time."

Under the Family Law Act, a term which describes the time a guardian has with a child and during which is responsible for the day-to-day care of the child. Under the Divorce Act, a term which describes the time a spouse has with a child and during which is responsible for the day-to-day care of the child. See "guardian" and "spouse."

Under the Family Law Act, a term that describes the time a person who is not a guardian of a child, including a parent who is not a guardian, has with that child. Under the Divorce Act, a term that describes the time a person who is not a married spouse has with a child. See "guardian" and "parental responsibilities."

A court established and staffed by the provincial government, which includes Small Claims Court, Youth Court, and Family Court. The Provincial Court is the lowest level of court in British Columbia and is restricted in the sorts of matters it can deal with. It is, however, the most accessible of the two trial courts and no fees are charged to begin or defend a family law proceeding. The Family Court of the Provincial Court cannot deal with the division of family property or any claims under the Divorce Act. See "Divorce Act," "judge" and "jurisdiction."

A term under the Family Law Act which describes the various rights, duties, and responsibilities exercised by guardians in the care, upbringing, and management of the children in their care, including determining the child's education, diet, religious instruction or lack thereof, medical care, linguistic and cultural instruction, and so forth. See "decision-making responsibility" and "guardian."

(1) In law, a court proceeding, a lawsuit, a legal action, a case, or (2) a claimant's claim against a respondent. (3) In fashion, menswear designed to inflict maximum discomfort at maximum cost. See "action."