Produced  by  www.kathleendavies.ca   www.canadiangrandparentsrightsassociation.com  

HELLO,  EVERYONE:  As  you’ve  probably  heard,  we  have  something  to  celebrate  in  BC!  The  New  Family  Law  Act  (NFLA),  which  became  law  Nov.  24,  2011,  came  into  effect    on  March  18,  2013.  As  reported  by  the  Legal  Services  Society  (of  BC),  The  (new)  Family  Law  Act  and  Divorce  Act  “will  be  using  different  words  to  discuss  the  care  and  control  of  children.  The  two  acts  overlap  in  some  areas  but  not  others.  The  DA  applies  to  married  couples  only,  while  the  FLA  can  apply  to  both  married  and  unmarried  couples.  Only  the  FLA  talks  about  dividing  property  and  debt.”  THE  YEAR  TO  DATE  I  have  received  a  few  calls  since  the  new  year  re  families  in  distress.  It  will  be  great  to  be  able  to  refer  them  to  our  family  justice  centres  and  the  new  Family  Law  Act.  While  the  new  act  overhauls  the  BC  family  law  system  and  brings  about  many  changes,  with  minor  updates  to  the  current  Family  Relations  Act,  there  are  a  number  of  more  sweeping  changes  of  which  you  might  be  unaware.  The  new  act:    • addresses  RELOCATION  where  one  parent  wants  to  move  with  the  child  and  that  

move  would  interfere  with  another  person's  ability  to  maintain  his  or  her  relationship  with  the  child;  

• expands  the  definition  of  a  spouse  for  applications  for  SPOUSAL  SUPPORT  to  include  people  who  have  lived  together  for  less  than  two  years  but  have  had  a  child  together;  and  

• promotes  cooperation  between  spouses  and  different  ways  of  settling  issues  without  going  to  court.  (dispute  resolutions).  Look  for  differences  in:  

• the  language  used  in  family  law  cases  —for  example,  changes  to  terms  like  custody  and  access  

• procedures  for  agreements  to  settle  disputes  without  going  to  court  (and  when  agreements  can  be  set  aside)  

• how  children's  best  interests  are  considered  in  parenting  disputes.  • guardianship,  parenting  arrangements  and  contact  • children's  property  • child  support  • family  law  protection  orders  • spousal  support  • dividing  property  and  debts  • enforcing  court  orders    (Note  CGRA  has  been  working  for  the  first  four  since  1986.)  See  the  guide  or  the  complete  version  at:  www.legalaid.bc.ca/publications  or  order:www.crownpub.bc.ca    Warmest  regards  to  you  all,  Daphne  Jennings,  CGRA    

THE REPORT OF THE CGRA

PARENTAL ALIENATION AWARENESS DAY

Canadian Grandparents Rights Association Established in 1986

QUARTERLY UPDATE

QUARTERLY UPDATE

2013 SPRING EDITION

HELPING  FAMILIES  IN  DISTRESS    Since  1986,  the  Canadian  Grandparents  Rights  Association  has  been  helping  Canadian  families  in  distress  after  a  divorce  or  death  in  the  family.    QUESTIONS  ?  grandchildrensrights@gmail.com    

Parental Alienation Awareness Day is marked in many corners of the globe— Mayor of Nanaimo John Ruttan made it official and proclaimed that April 25th would be Parental Alienation Day. “These behaviours, exhibited in people who may be going through high conflict separation or divorce, are damaging to children's mental and emotional well-being, whether verbal or not,” says Carmen Barclay of Go Between Consulting. “A child may be mentally manipulated or bullied into believing a loving parent is the cause of all their problems… to be feared, hated, disrespected and/or avoided. ” "If I didn't witness this ‘nightmare’ with my own eyes and ears—I never would have believed it to be true; how could a parent do that to their own child? " Paulette MacDonald, Family Justice Advocate.