8,081
edits
Changes
→The Family Law Act
The ''Family Law Act'' defines family violence and provides mechanisms for dealing with it, such as ''family law protection orders''.
Note that the ''Family Law Act'' has taken proactive measures against family violence. It is now mandatory for family law professionals to assess the potential for family violence and react accordingly. The ''Family Law Act'' requires all family dispute resolution professionals (lawyers, family justice counselors, mediators, etc.) to watch for warning signs of family violence in relationships. Where warning signs are present, legal professionals try not only to determine ''safety risks'' but also the degree to which family violence might be impairing the abused party's ability to speak for themselves, advocate for their interests, and negotiate a fair agreement. <span style="color:#D2691E">'''Important changes'''</span> <br />The ''Family Law Act'' and, as a result of recent changes, the ''Divorce Act'' both require the court to consider the impact of coercive control and family violence when making decisions about children.
===Child protection===