We’ve recently updated our CKW Inquest Advocacy Toolkit!

Luke’s Place Support and Resource Centre for Women and Children has developed this toolkit to assist organizations that do not have the time or resources to develop their own advocacy strategy and tools. It reflects the priorities we have identified for ourselves, based on our organization’s mandate. It is certainly not meant to limit or lead the thinking about what recommendations to focus on or what kinds of strategies to use.

After She Leaves: Spousal Support

The content in this post is adapted from our recently updated After She Leaves Resource Manual. Click here to learn more about the manual.

Spousal support is money that is paid by one spouse to the other after the end of the relationship. Spouse is defined to include both married and common-law relationships.

What is an Emergency Motion?

An Emergency Motion is a motion brought without notice to the other side. It is also referred to as an ex parte motion. With this type of motion, the other party is not served with the documents before the motion is considered by a judge. A judge will only review the written material in order to decide whether to grant the order requested.

After She Leaves: Family law online training

Our After She Leaves self-directed online course looks at the legal issues and challenges a woman may encounter after she leaves an abusive relationship and becomes involved in the family court system.

This multi-module course is designed for Ontario service providers who support survivors. It is especially helpful for individuals new to the work.

Emergency Motions Toolkit

A properly executed Emergency Motion can be a critical step toward ensuring the safety of women who have been subjected to intimate partner abuse and their child(ren). Our Emergency Motions Toolkit was drafted because many women subjected to violence find themselves ill-prepared for the family court process. Women may feel shame or fear reprisal by her abuser if she decides to take the step to engage in the family court system.

After She Leaves: Pros and cons of alternate dispute resolution

The content in this post is adapted from our recently updated After She Leaves Resource Manual. Click here to learn more about the manual.

In some family law cases, Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) can be better than going to court. Participants can have more control over their cases and the final settlement,

Parenting arrangements: The best interests of the child test

Family courts use what is called the best interests of the child (BIC) test when they make parenting decisions. Whether a family is using the Divorce Act or the Children’s Law Reform Act, the judge will consider the following 11 factors in the BIC test as they make decisions about the children:

The child’s needs based on their age and stage of development

The nature and strength of the child’s relationship with each parent,

Intimate partner violence and racialized women

The content in this post is adapted from our recently updated After She Leaves Resource Manual. Click here to learn more about the manual.

Racialized women face unique challenges and barriers with respect to gender-based violence because of ongoing systemic and personal racism. Racism within systems such as policing,

Our updated and expanded Emergency Motions Toolkit

We’ve recently updated our Emergency Motions Toolkit!

The toolkit provides clear information for Ontario advocates assisting woman abuse survivors about how to create effective emergency motions for a variety of different situations.

With the Emergency Motions Toolkit, you will:

Learn how to identify when or if an Emergency Motion may be appropriate;