A New “Guide for Grown-ups” on FamiliesChange.ca

by Laureen Tang

The FamiliesChange.ca website, developed in partnership with the Law Courts Education Society of B.C. and Ministry of Attorney General, now offers information to adults on how to explain separation and divorce to their children.

Designed to compliment A Kids’ Guide to Separation and Divorce, the Guide for Grown-ups explains how to make effective use of the FamiliesChange.ca website. It also provides a list of resources that explore the subject of separation and divorce.

Although some parents work out the details of their break-up amicably with minimal involvement of courts and lawyers, others seek legal counsel to help them resolve their disputes. Regardless of the situation, the guide suggests using caution when referring to legal matters surrounding the separation or divorce in front of children.

The law sections of the Kid’s Guide are excellent resources that clearly explain the legal process surrounding separation and divorce to children. Children can learn what it means to separate or divorce, and the difference between the two. Key words are also offered to give children an understanding of what their parents mean when they discuss custody, access, child support, mediation, separation agreements, and divorce. The website also provides information about the differences between common-law and marital relationships, including the fact that the same custody and access laws apply to both.

The Guide for Grown-ups recommends handling conversations with children about the law and separation or divorce with sensitivity – the finality of the break-up may “hit home” for many children once legal matters start being discussed. By reviewing this guide, parents prepare themselves for the emotion and confusion often experienced by children during this difficult time.

Professionals who deal with families experiencing separation or divorce can access the websites, which were carefully crafted with child development expertise. They provide clear and objective information in a way that appeals to young people. The Kid’s Guide has colorful graphics and cartoon characters to lead children through the site. It is available in both an HTML version and an animated Flash version.

The websites are intended to help facilitate explaining the process of separation and divorce to kids and youth. They may be used to introduce legal information, or to guide children, youth, and parents in furthering their understanding.

While the laws surrounding separation and divorce can also be intimidating for parents, additional resources such as the Family Justice website at www.ag.gov.bc.ca/family-justice/ offers information about the legal processes involved in ending both common-law and marital relationships in British Columbia. Please visit www.familieschange.ca for more details on how families can deal with separation and divorce.

Laureen Tang, Communications Project Manager, Law Courts Education Society of B.C. (LCES)

The Law Courts Education Society of B.C. is a non-profit organization providing educational programs and services about the justice system in Canada and British Columbia. We help the public understand how the justice system works and we also help those people working within the system to better understand the justice-related issues that different people in each community face. Please visit www.lawcourtsed.ca for more information.

This article was published in the February 2007 issue of BarTalk and is subject to the copyright by the British Columbia Branch of the Canadian Bar Association, 2007, all rights reserved.