What is parenting time or access?

Parenting time is the time a child spends with a parent or guardian, under an agreement or a court order. Generally, parenting time is a child's right to visit and have contact with their parents who do not live together.  Parents can make a parenting agreement, or the court can make an order outlining when parenting time will happen.

A child who is living most of the time with one parent (sometimes called the primary caregiver or primary residence) will usually have parenting time with the other parent. Children have a right to spend time with each parent, as long as the contact is safe and reasonable. Generally, children benefit from a relationship with both parents and parenting time will only be denied if a judge is satisfied that the child would be harmed if there is contact.

Broadly, a parenting schedule may include:

Flexible time:  There is no set schedule so the parents must be able to agree on the times each parent will spend with the child. As there is no set schedule, it allows the parents to make their own flexible arrangements. This kind of arrangement works best when the parents are getting along reasonably well and have a positive relationship and can work out parenting arrangements between them, or when either parent can't commit to a regular schedule because they work out of province or have a work schedule that frequently changes.

Specified time: Provides regular set times that a parent may have parenting time with the child. The parenting schedule may be set out in a court order, separation agreement or other written agreement between the parents. For example, an arrangement might be that on every second weekend the parent will pick up the child on Friday after work and return the child to the primary parent on Sunday afternoon.  A shared parenting arrangement is when the child’s time is shared equally between the parents.

Supervised time: This type of parenting time provides that time spent by the parent with the child must be in the presence of another adult. The schedule may be set out in a court order, separation agreement or other written agreement between the parents. This type of arrangement is made if the parents agree, or the court believes it is necessary to ensure the child is safe during visits with the parent.  Some areas of the province offer a supervised access service.  Contact the court office in your area for more information about supervised access, or in the Halifax area see: veithhouse.ns.ca. You'll also find information about supervised access online at nsfamilylaw.ca

How do judges decide the child's bests interests?

When a judge makes a decision about a child, he or she must always be guided by what is in the child's best interests. All parties will have an opportunity to provide information on what they feel is in the child's best interests.

Nova Scotia's Parenting and Support Act provides a specific list of factors a judge must look at in deciding what is in the child's 'best interests'. 

Some of these factors are:

• Who took care of the child's physical, emotional, social and education needs in the past, and who has done so since separation? Is this arrangement working for the child?
• Is each parent willing to support and maintain the child's relationship with the other parent?
• Each parents ability to communicate and cooperate on issues affecting the child
• How strong and stable is each parent's relationship with the child?
• What are each parent's future plans for taking care of the child?
• The child's wishes, if the child is old enough and it is appropriate
• The child's cultural, linguistic, religious and spiritual upbringing and heritage
• The impact of any family violence, abuse or intimidation, regardless of whether the child has been directly exposed to it.

A judge looks at similar factors in deciding what is in the child's best interests under the federal Divorce Act, which applies to divorcing or divorced parents.

Both the Parenting and Support Act  and the Divorce Act also recognize that a child should have as much contact with each parent as is consistent with the child's best interests.  This is sometimes called the "maximum contact" principle.

In some cases, if the parties cannot agree, either party may request, or a judge may order, a Custody and/or Access Assessment, or for older children, a “Voice of the Child Report/wishes assessment.” A trained professional prepares the assessment and makes a recommendation to the court.   The assessment may be considered by the court. Parents are usually expected to contribute to the cost of the assessment based on their income and number of dependents.  You will find information about assessments online at nsfamilylaw.ca

When can parenting time or access be denied?

Generally, the court will only deny parenting time to a parent if it would put the child at risk of physical or emotional harm. Once there is a written agreement or court order about parenting arrangments, it can only be changed by further written agreement or a new court order.

One parent cannot deny the other parent time with the child unless there are concerns that the child may be harmed if visits takes place.

For example, a parent may be justified in refusing parenting time if the parent exercising parenting time appears impaired by alcohol or drugs when he or she arrives to pick up the child, or threatens to immediately take the child out of the province, or is taking the child to a place where the child may be in danger.

A parent cannot deny the other parent time with the child because he or she is not paying child or spousal support. Parenting time, child and spousal support are separate issues, and one cannot be used to bargain for the other.

A parent who feels that the other parent should be permanently denied parenting time, and there is an order or agreement in place, must apply to the court to ask that the order be changed,  or both parents must agree to change the written agreement.

If you are being denied parenting time then you may apply to court to request court ordered time with your child.

Family violence is a factor in determining parenting arrangements

Nova Scotia's Parenting and Support Act says that a judge must look at the impact of 'family violence, abuse or intimidation' in deciding on a child's best interests.  Under that law the judge must look at:

• the nature and frequency of the family violence
• how recently it happened
• how it has harmed the child
• any steps the person causing the family violence has taken to stop it from happening again
• if the family violence affected the ability of the person who caused it to care for and meet the child's needs
• whether it is appropriate to require cooperation between parents where there has been family violence.

If the other parent abused the child, a judge may deny them time with the child or order supervised access depending on the circumstances and the risk of further abuse.

If the other parent abused you but not the children, the judge will try to make an order that is safe for you. For example, the judge might order that the other parent have no contact with you, that a third person, such as a relative or neighbour, supervise while your children go with the other parent, or that the other parent remain in the car at the curb while you send the children out. Sometimes this ends the abuse. If the abuse continues, you can ask the court to make an order that the other parent have no time with the children at all. It is harmful to children to see a parent abused, even if the children are not abused themselves.

For more information, go to nsdomesticviolence.ca/ and www.nsfamilylaw.ca

Can parents be forced to spend time with their children?

No, but they might lose access rights as a result. Sometimes a parent who has access will not visit his or her child. This is called "not exercising access" and it can hurt your child, especially if the child expects to see the other parent at a certain time and he or she does not show up, or cancels at the last minute. If this happens on a regular basis, you should explain to the other parent how a “no show” affects the child.  For example, the child may believe he/she did something to cause the access parent to lose interest in seeing him/her. 

Courts will sometimes order that a parent go to counselling or take parenting classes and you can ask for this in court if the other parent has a history of not exercising access. If the parent still fails to exercise access, there is little you can do except try to help your children deal with it. Counselling may help the children to understand that it is not their fault.  Go to nsfamilylaw.ca for information about parenting after separation or divorce, including information about protecting children in difficult situations.

Some parents who fail to exercise access will later claim that access was denied. If you are concerned about this, you should keep a record of access requests and visits so that you can show that you did not deny access to the other parent.

If you are being denied access you may wish to file an application with the court to have your access set out in a court order.  If you have an order for access, you can ask the court to help you see your child.

Where do I go to get a court order dealing with parenting arrangements?

If you are in Halifax Regional Municipality or Cape Breton custody and access matters are dealt with by the Nova Scotia Supreme Court (Family Division). In other areas of the province, you go either to the Family Court or the Nova Scotia Supreme Court.  You'll find more information about which court to go to, and how to apply to court, online at nsfamilylaw.ca

All courts in Nova Scotia have staff who can help you identify what your options are, and the programs and services for parents who are dealing with issues such as custody and access.

Can an agreement or court order be changed?

Yes. Either parent can apply to have a written agreement or court order for custody or access changed.

If both parents don't agree with the change, the parent making the application must show that there has been a change in circumstances for the child or one of the parents significant enough to justify a change in the order or agreement. The parent must also show that the proposed change(s) is in the best interests of the child.

As the child grows older, parents may need to review the arrangements for access. Children outgrow access arrangements the same way they outgrow clothes and toys. An arrangement that works for a toddler may not work for the same child in elementary school. Access that worked well for a child in junior high may not suit a teenager.

Teenagers may want to decide for themselves how often they see each parent. There is no specific age when a child can choose which parent they will live with, or the time they spend with the other parent. Generally speaking, younger children need shorter, more frequent periods of access, while older children and teens can do well with longer access periods and more time between access periods. Younger children tend to need more routine (that is, to know that they spend Wednesdays and every other weekend with the other parent), while older children may prefer more flexibility.

More information about changing a custody or access order is online at nsfamilylaw.ca

For more information

Family Courts are listed in the blue pages of the phone book under 'Courts.' You will also find court contact information on the Nova Scotia Courts' website at: www.courts.ns.ca.

You'll also find lots more family law information online at nsfamilylaw.ca

For information about ways to resolve a family law problem without going to court:

• nsfamilylaw.ca/services/ways-resolve-problem-without-going-court
• Legal Info Nova Scotia's "Working things out without court" page
• Families Change: a website to help kids, teens and parents deal with a family break-up
• Family Mediation Canada http://www.fmc.ca/
• Legal Information Society's Mediator Referral Service (find a Nova Scotia Family Mediator): Mediator Referral Service
• Collaborative Family Lawyers Nova Scotia: www.collaborativefamilylawyers.ca/
• Mediation and Family Counselling services are listed in the Yellow Pages of the phone book under 'Marriage, Family and Individual Counsellors.'

What is child support?

As well as a responsibility to take care of the physical and emotional needs of their child, parents have a financial responsibility for their child. When parents are not living together or have divorced usually the child will live with one parent most of the time, and has parenting time with the other parent. Child support is an amount of money paid to the parent with whom the child lives by the other parent towards the care and support of the child.

Do parents have a responsibility to support their children?

Yes, any person who has a child has a responsibility to support them. Parents who are separating or divorcing and have children must ensure that arrangements have been made for their support. The parent without custody will generally pay child support to the parent with custody. In Nova Scotia, children are eligible for support until they reach the age of 19.

Support may continue past this age if the child is in an educational program such as university or community college, has a disability and is not able to support themselves, or for some other reason is unable to become self-sufficient. There are federal and provincial Child Support Guidelines to help parents estimate the proper amount of child support. This promotes consistency and encourages out of court settlement by the parents.

How do I get support?

Child support can be arranged by coming to an agreement with your spouse on who will pay support and on the amount to be paid. Such an agreement can be verbal or written. If you cannot agree, you can apply to the court for an order for child support under either the Federal Divorce Act or the Nova Scotia Parenting and Support Act.

How much child support must be paid?

The federal and provincial governments have passed Child Support Guidelines to provide parents, lawyers and judges with a way to estimate a proper amount of child support. The federal Child Support Guidelines apply to divorcing and divorced couples. The provincial Child Support Guidelines apply to married couples who are not seeking a divorce, and to other parents or guardians seeking child support. Nova Scotia uses the federal child support tables to determine child support amounts. Under the Federal Child Support Guidelines, the starting point is the "table amount" of support using the child support tables. To that amount is added any contribution to "special or extraordinary expenses" such as child care, some education and medical expenses, or certain extracurricular expenses. 

Click here for Justice Canada's Child Support Online Lookup to determine how much child support should be paid.  Please note that the Federal Child Support Tables changed as of November 22, 2017. 

Use the 2006 Federal Child Support Tables to figure out child support amounts before December 31, 2011. 
Use the 2011 Federal Child Support Tables to figure out child support amounts from December 31, 2011 to November 21, 2017.
Use the 2017 Federal Child Support Tables to figure out child support amounts from November 22, 2017 onward.

Click here for information about the Nova Scotia  Child Support Guidelines.  Nova Scotia uses the federal child support tables to determine child support amounts.

Free paper copies of a a federal child support workbook (to help you calculate child support), and the child support tables, are available from:

• Justice Canada's Family Law Information Line at 1-888-373-2222
• family courts in the province.  Courts are listed under 'Courts' in the government section of the phone book, or go to courts.ns.ca for court contact information.

The workbook, which is called 'The Federal Child Support Guidelines: Step-by-Step', is also available on Justice Canada's website at justice.gc.ca, under 'child support'.

How long does a child support order last?

The judge decides how long the order will last based on the circumstances of each case. Usually the judge will order periodic payments (such as monthly payments) but can order a lump-sum payment (one large payment). Under the Divorce Act, a federal act, an order for child support will usually continue until the child is 19. Under the Nova Scotia Parenting and Support Act, an order for child support can continue until the child is 19. In either case, a judge may order that child support continue for a longer period if necessary, for example, if the child is attending university or has a disability that prevents him or her from supporting him or herself.

How do the Child Support Guidelines work?

The guidelines are based on the income of the paying spouse, the number of dependant children, and the provincial income tax rate.

Under the Guidelines, the amount of child support is based on the gross income, that is income before tax or deductions, of the paying parent. There are Guideline tables for each province that take into account differences in tax rates. Use the table for the province where the paying parent lives. Once you have the applicable child support table amount, relevant special expenses could be added and this may result in a higher amount of child support.

The Federal Child Support Guidelines are used if the parents are divorced or getting a divorce.
If the parents were not married or where they are married but not seeking a divorce, the provincial child maintenance guidelines are used. The provincial guidelines are modeled on the federal guidelines, and Nova Scotia has adopted the federal child support tables to determine child support amounts.

For example, in Nova Scotia, if the paying spouse has a gross income of $20,000 and there are two children the suggested monthly payment is $286 (December 31, 2011 onward).

Click here for Justice Canada's Child Support Online Lookup to determine how much child support should be paid. 

Please note that the Federal Child Support Tables changed as of November 22, 2017. 

Use the 2006 Federal Child Support Tables to figure out child support amounts before December 31, 2011. 
Use the 2011 Federal Child Support Tables to figure out child support amounts from December 31, 2011 to November 21, 2017.
Use the 2017 Federal Child Support Tables to figure out child support amounts from November 22, 2017 onward.

If you are negotiating child support with your spouse or partner, the guidelines will give you the base amount of child support you would expect a court to order. A judge may order more or less than the base amount for special expenses or in cases of undue hardship.

What are special expenses?

Special expenses may include:

• Childcare costs for the care of the child while the parent with custody is at work, or is sick, disabled or training for employment.
• Medical and dental insurance premiums and health related expenses over $100 per illness or event.
• Extraordinary expenses for education programs that meet the child's particular needs, extra-curricular activities, and expenses for post-secondary education.

As a general rule, the actual cost of these expenses will be shared by the parents in proportion to their incomes.

What is undue hardship?

In some circumstances, a parent may claim undue hardship. Either parent may make a claim. Reasons for claiming undue hardship include:

• A high level of debt incurred prior to separation or incurred to earn a living
• Extraordinarily high costs related to spending parenting time with the child, for example, the child lives in Vancouver with the mother and the father lives in Nova Scotia
• A legal responsibility to support another person or child, or
• A responsibility to support a person who cannot obtain the necessities of life themselves.

In order for the court to consider a claim of undue hardship, the household standard of living of the parent making the claim must be lower than that of the other household. In these circumstances, the income of a new partner or other people living in either household will be considered. The income of these household members will not affect the amount of support. It is only used by the court to apply the test to calculate the standard of living of each household. The test is laid out in the Guidelines.

Can parents claim or deduct child support payments for income tax purposes?

This depends when the child support order was made.

The Income Tax Act was amended in 1997. Before the amendments the rules were that the paying parent could claim child support payments as a tax deduction, and the receiving parent had to claim the support as income. If your child support order or agreement was made before May 1, 1997, the old tax rules continue to apply, unless you get a new order or agreement or vary the order after May 1,1997.

Child support orders made or varied since May 1, 1997, cannot be claimed as a deduction by the paying parent and the receiving parent does not have to claim the support as income.

Can support be reviewed or changed if my income changes?

Yes. If the agreement is unregistered the parents can agree to change it.

If there is a registered agreement or a court order for child support, the person paying or receiving support can apply to the court to change the order if circumstances change. In the case of child support, judges do consider a change in income as a change of circumstance and will revise a child support amount so that it is consistent with the child support guidelines.

Or, if your registered agreement or a court order specifically allows for it, you may be able to use Nova Scotia's Administrative Recalculation of Child Support Program., without having to make a court application, pay a court filing fee, or negotiate with each other.  Click here for information about the Administrative Recalculation of Child Support Program.

Otherwise, if there has been no change since the original amount of child support was ordered or agreed to, a judge will not generally make a change.

What is the Maintenance (Support) Enforcement Program?

The Maintenance Enforcement Program (MEP) is a service provided by the provincial government to help parents collect child support. MEP has a 24-hour automated voice system called the Infoline. If you are enrolled in MEP and have received a personal ID number, you can call the line at 902-424-0050 (Halifax area) or 1-800-357-9248 (outside Metro) to get information on:

• enrollment status
• amount of last payment
• present account balance
• last six enforcement actions
• general information on MEP.

What can I do if support payments are not paid, or are late?

If you have a child support order, and you are having trouble getting your money, you should contact the Maintenance Enforcement Program (MEP) at 902-424-0050 in the Halifax area, or toll-free at 1-800-357-9248 from anywhere else in Nova Scotia. The Maintenance Enforcement Program came into effect in January 1996 and child support orders made after that date by a court are automatically sent to the Program.

If you have a written agreement with your spouse but not a court order you must register it with the court first before the MEP will accept it.

Once your order is registered with MEP, the person paying child support makes payments through the program. The MEP then sends the payment to the parent receiving payments. If the payor fails to make payments, MEP may take action. Enforcement officers may garnishee wages or other payments due to the payor such as income tax refunds, Canada Pension Plan benefits and employment insurance benefits. They may also seize bank accounts and can require the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to suspend the payor's driving privileges.

All support orders made by either the Supreme Court including the Supreme Court (Family Division) or Family Court since January 1, 1996 are automatically registered with MEP. Once your order is registered or enrolled with MEP, only MEP can enforce the order. If you do not wish to be enrolled in MEP, you may request to "opt out." Both parties should send a letter requesting to opt out to MEP within 10 days of receiving a notice of enrollment. This applies to new orders only.

If you have been in MEP for a while and no longer wish to be, you may send a letter asking to withdraw from the program. This request may or may not be approved, and you will be notified of the decision.

If your order or agreement is not registered with the MEP, you can apply to the courts for enforcement of your order under the Maintenance Enforcement Act, but you will be responsible for taking any action required to enforce the order made by the court. If you have an order for support from the Supreme Court, you can file an application in court for an execution order. You will also need to file a sworn statement saying that the support is in arrears. You can also apply to the Nova Scotia Supreme Court for a contempt order. Before you do this you should speak with a lawyer.

Can court orders be enforced outside Nova Scotia?

Yes. Court orders to be enforced in all the provinces, the United States and also in several other countries. Orders made in these places can be enforced in Nova Scotia. Sometimes people ordered to pay support will disappear and you may not know where to find them. The provincial and federal governments have sources that may help to locate persons who are not paying court-ordered support. If you are registered with MEP, they will use these sources to attempt to locate the payor.

Getting legal advice

You are not required to have a lawyer to take your case to court. However, it is certainly a good idea to get legal advice about your situation.  There are several ways to get legal advice:

• A private lawyer: Family lawyers are listed in the yellow pages of the phone book. You can also contact the LISNS Lawyer Referral Service at 1.800.665.9779 (toll free in Nova Scotia) or 902-455-3135 in HRM for a referral to a private lawyer.  Click here for other ways to find a private lawyer (under "Lawyers and Legal Advice")
• If you cannot afford a lawyer, you may qualify for legal aid. Legal Aid offices are listed in the white pages of the phone book under Nova Scotia Legal Aid, in the blue pages under Legal Aid, or you can apply for Legal Aid online at nslegalaid.ca. 
• You can see a Legal Aid summary advice lawyer at the court, by appointment. This service is available province-wide to people who do not have a lawyer. Go to nsfamilylaw.ca for information about this service, and for contact information to make an appointment to see a summary advice lawyer to get brief free legal advice.

For more information

For more information on the Federal Child Support Guidelines you can call the federal Department of Justice toll-free at 1-888-373-2222, or visit their website at www.canada.justice.gc.ca.

• Click here for information on Nova Scotia's Child Support Guidelines 
• For information on the tax treatment of child support, contact the Canada Revenue Agency at 1-800-959-8281.
• Go to nsfamilylaw.ca for further child support information, including about the Administrative Recalculation of Child Support Program.

What is a common law relationship?

A common law relationship is one in which two people live together but are not legally married to each other. For the relationship to be common law the couple must live together in a 'marriage-like' relationship, for example, by sharing finances, and publicly referring to themselves as partners or spouses.

How long must a couple live together before they are common law spouses?

There is no set time period.  

It is complicated, as it really depends on the issue you are dealing with.  For example, the Nova Scotia Parenting and Support Act gives you some rights for spousal support after you have lived together for two years. Employers and insurance companies may have their own policies for defining a common law spouse for the purpose of deciding who qualifies for company or medical benefits. A number of other laws like the federal Income Tax rules (Canada Revenue Agency), Immigration Canada, and Canada Pension consider a cohabiting couple to be common law if they have lived together in a conjugal relationship for at least 1 year.  The rules about property division for separating common law couples are particularly complicated, so it is best to see a lawyer.  

Can common law couples register their relationship with the provincial government?

Yes.  Couples can choose to register a domestic partnership with Vital Statistics at Service Nova Scotia. For information contact Vital Statistics at 902-424-4381 or 1-877-848-2578 (toll free) or through their website at beta.novascotia.ca/register-your-domestic-partnership.  Once a domestic partnership is registered, the partners will have many of the same rights, benefits and obligations as a married couple, such as pension benefits and the division of assets at separation or death. For specific information on these rights and benefits, you should talk to a lawyer.

Can common law couples put the terms of their relationship in a written agreement?

Yes, you can have a cohabitation agreement. A cohabitation agreement is a document that says what has been agreed on by the common law partners. It can cover things like whether one partner will take the other’s name, their financial arrangements, and how property and debts will be divided if the relationship ends. 

Agreements make sure both partners are thinking the same way about all their major financial matters. You cannot assume that you both feel the same way, nor can you assume that your partner will keep verbal promises made during the relationship if it ends.

All common law partners should think about having a cohabitation agreement, but it is especially important to think about a cohabitation agreement:

• when one partner has significantly more assets or debts than the other,
• if one partner owns a home but the other does not,
• if one partner has a special type of property they want to protect, such as a family cottage,
• if the partners have (or will have) very different incomes,
• if one partner plans to stay home full or part time with children,
• if there are children from an earlier relationship. 

Unlike married couples or registered domestic partners, common law partners do not have an automatic right to share property when they separate.  So, you might want to change this by agreeing to share property in a cohabitation agreement. For example, you might want to share property as if you were married even if you don't actually want to get married.

You and your common law partner can enter into a cohabitation agreement before you start living together or at any time during the relationship.

A lawyer can help write a cohabitation agreement, or you and your partner can write it yourselves. The agreement should be in writing, dated, and signed by both partners and by an adult witness (age 19 or over) who watched the partners sign the agreement. 

It is best if you both get separate legal advice before you sign any agreement. This is sometimes called independent legal advice. The advice is independent because each lawyer is working for only one of you.

It is important to get independent legal advice because:

• it helps you understand what you’re agreeing to
• your agreement is less likely to be challenged in court later
• a court is more likely to order you and your partner to do what you agreed to in your agreement.

Can I change a cohabitation agreement?

You can change your cohabitation agreement if your partner agrees to the changes. You should both get independent legal advice first if possible.

The new agreement should be in writing, dated, and signed by both partners and an adult witness (19 or older) who watched the partners sign the agreement. If your partner does not agree to change the agreement, then you will likely have to follow the original agreement.

A court may change or not apply a cohabitation agreement if it is very unfair to one partner and that partner did not get independent legal advice before signing it. A court may also change or not apply an agreement if one partner was dishonest about their assets, debts, income, or other circumstances. You should speak to a lawyer if you feel your cohabitation agreement is unfair.

How does a common law relationship end?

The relationship ends when you stop living together. You do not have to go through a divorce to end a common law relationship. Although the relationship ends, some rights and responsibilities may continue.

At the end of the relationship, you and your common law partner may be able to agree on parenting arrangements for the children, how the property will be divided and how you will deal with debts. You may already have set out the terms of the separation in a cohabitation agreement. If you do not have a cohabitation agreement and you cannot agree on the terms of the separation, you can go to court and have a judge decide.

If you have a Registered Domestic Partnership, you must formally end the partnership by:

• Filing a joint “Statement of Termination” with the office of Vital Statistics; or
• Registering a signed written separation agreement with the Family Court or with the Supreme Court (Family Division) if you are in Halifax Regional Municipality or Cape Breton and then file proof of the registration with the office of Vital statistics; or
• Filing, with the office of Vital Statistics, a sworn written statement (affidavit) by one or both spouses that you have been separated for at least a year; or
• One partner marrying someone else. A copy of the marriage certificate must be filed with the office of Vital Statistics.

Who has custody of and parenting time with the children at the end of a common law relationship?

Both parents have joint custody of their children if they have lived together. If they separate, they can agree on custody and parenting time with the children and detail the agreement in a separation agreement. If they cannot agree, either can apply to the Supreme Court (Family Division) in Halifax Regional Municipality and Cape Breton or the Family Court in other parts of the province for court orders on custody and/or parenting time. For more information please go to nsfamilylaw.ca

Can I get financial support from my common law spouse?

Spousal support — In Nova Scotia, common law partners who have lived together for at least two years may have responsibilities to provide financial support for each other. If you have a Registered Domestic Partnership there is no two year waiting period.

If the relationship ends, either common law spouse can apply to Family Court or Supreme Court (Family Division) in Halifax Regional Municipality and Cape Breton for a spousal support order. If you are applying for support for yourself or your children, you should talk with a lawyer. For more information go to nsfamilylaw.ca on spousal support.

Child support — All parents (birth, adoptive, or step-parents) are required to support their children even when the parents are not married to each other or never lived together. For more information go to the section on Child Support.

Am I responsible for my spouse’s debts?

If you co-sign for loans with your spouse, you are each responsible for repaying the loan. You are not generally responsible for your spouse’s debts unless you co-sign for them. However, if the debt is for something that is used for the family such as fuel oil or food, you may be responsible along with your spouse.

It is especially important for common law partners to have wills

If a person dies in Nova Scotia without a valid will, their property will go to family members under a law called the Intestate Succession Act. This law recognizes married spouses and registered domestic partners, but not common law partners.

See here for more information about what happens if a person dies without a will, and about making a will.

To make sure that property goes to a common law partner, both partners must have a will. Common law partners can also make sure their partner inherits by creating a trust, owning property jointly with their partner, and naming their partner as beneficiary on RRSPs, life insurance, and other benefits. These are things partners should do in addition to each having a will, not instead of having a will.

Lawyers, accountants, and estate planners can help with estate planning. 

If my common law partner dies who gets their property?

Your common law partner may provide for you in their will.

If there is no will and you have a Registered Domestic Partnership, you will have the same rights as a married spouse. If you do not have a Registered Domestic Partnership, you may have a claim against your common law spouse’s estate depending on the circumstances. If there are dependent children from the relationship, they may also have a claim against the estate.

If you own property jointly with your common law spouse, you may have a claim against the property even if there is no will.

If you think that you or your children have a claim against your spouse’s estate, you should talk with a lawyer as soon as possible.

If you want your common law spouse to inherit all or part of your property, you should make a will (see 'Why it is especially important for common law partners to have wills').

Click here for more information about making a will and estate planning.

Are there options other than court for working out disputes?

If you and your partner need help reaching an agreement after separating, you may benefit from mediation. A mediator is trained at helping people communicate about their differences. Mediators are neutral, meaning they don’t favour one partner over the other. Mediation can be less expensive and faster than going to court. If mediation doesn’t work, you still have the option of going to court.

Mediation works best if both partners respect each other and really want to reach an agreement. If your partner is dishonest or has ever abused you or your children physically, sexually, emotionally, psychologically, verbally, or financially, then you should not agree to mediation. You should also avoid mediation if you don’t feel that you could stand up for yourself, or if your partner made all the decisions in your relationship. You should only agree to mediation if you feel comfortable with this option.

If you decide to try mediation, you should still have your own lawyer for information about how the law applies to your situation and for advice about what would be fair. A lawyer can also help answer any questions during the mediation process. It is best if you both get separate legal advice before you sign any mediated agreement. This is sometimes called independent legal advice. The advice is independent because each lawyer is working for only one of you.

See here for more information about mediation and how to contact a mediator, as well as information about collaborative family law and other non-court ways to resolve disputes.

For more information

For more information about common law relationships go to nsfamilylaw.ca

For information about common law couples and property division, go to nsfamilylaw.ca/separation-divorce/common-law/common-law-property-pensions-debts

Can I get a divorce now, and deal with parenting arrangements, support and division of property and debts later?

No. In Nova Scotia, the court cannot grant a divorce until all of these other issues are decided. This means that the divorce process can often take 12-24 months or more, if you have not resolved all the issues. 

I need spousal or child support. Do I have to wait until I'm divorced to get it?

No. You can apply to the court for spousal or child support any time after you separate.

Where can I get more information on child custody and access (parenting time)?

• Visit the Nova Scotia Family Law  website: nsfamilylaw.ca
• Call the Legal Information Society's free & confidential Legal Information Line at 1 800 665-9779 or 902-455-3135, or contact us by live chat or email
• Contact Nova Scotia Legal Aid for family law help: https://www.nslegalaid.ca/
• Click here for other ways to get legal information or legal advice

How much child support should I pay or get?

The Federal Child Support Guidelines, developed by the federal government, are rules for deciding the amount of child support when a couple divorces. The amount of child support varies with income, number of children, and some other factors listed in the Guidelines.  Go to justice.gc.ca/eng/fl-df/child-enfant/look-rech.asp to look up child support amounts.

Nova Scotia has almost identical provincial Child Support Guidelines for married couples who separate but are not seeking a divorce, for common law (unmarried) couples who separate, and parents who did not have a common law relationship or marriage.  Go to justice.gc.ca/eng/fl-df/child-enfant/look-rech.asp to look up child support amounts.

The Guidelines basically calculate child support as follows:

The starting point is the use of tables that set out how much the parent paying support should pay depending on two factors:
1. the parent's total income; and
2. the number of children.

The income of the parent who has custody is only relevant in limited circumstances.

Each province has its own set of tables because the income tax rates are somewhat different from province to province. The table for the province where the paying parent lives is the table that applies, rather than the table in the province where the child lives. In Nova Scotia the table used under the Child Maintenance Guidelines is published under the Federal Child Support Guidelines, so you can use the federal child support table to figure out child support payable.

The Guidelines set out specific situations where child support may be set higher or lower than the table amount:

* A child has special expenses (see below). These may only be claimed by the parent who has custody or with whom the child lives;
* A child is the age of majority (19 in Nova Scotia) or older but is still dependent;
* The paying parent's income is more than $150,000;
* The paying parent is a step-parent who has acted as a parent to the child;
* Each parent has at least one child living with him or her (split custody) or both parents have the children at least 40% of the time (shared custody);
* The paying parent can prove that paying the table amount of support would cause that parent undue hardship.

If any of these situations applies to you, calculating child support is a bit more complicated and it would be wise to talk to a lawyer.

For more information about child support go to:

• Nova Scotia Family Law website: nsfamilylaw.ca
• Federal Department of Justice child support pages: justice.gc.ca/eng/fl-df/child-enfant/index.html

What are special or extraordinary expenses?

Courts can order extra child support in addition to the table amount to cover special or extraordinary expenses. Sometimes these are called add-on expenses, or 'section 7' expenses, as section 7 of the Child Support Guidelines covers these expenses.

The basic rule is that the cost of these expenses is shared between the parents in proportion to their incomes.

For example, If John Doe earns $65,000 per year and Jane Doe earns $35,000 per year, they would add their incomes ($65,000 + $35,000 = $100,000) and John would pay 65% of any special expenses, and Jane would pay 35%.

The Guidelines recognize the following expenses:

* child care expenses while the parent who has custody is at work, school (employment training), or as a result of illness or disability
* health insurance premiums for the children
* other health related expenses for the child that exceed insurance coverage by $100 per year
* post-secondary educational expenses
* extraordinary educational expenses (primary, secondary or post-secondary) that meet your child's particular needs; and
* extraordinary expenses for extracurricular activities.

Special expenses must be reasonable and necessary for the child's benefit, considering both parents' incomes and spending patterns before separation.

Where either parent has medical or dental coverage available at a reasonable rate, the Court may order that coverage be acquired or continued for any children.

For more information about special expenses go to:

• Nova Scotia Family Law website: nsfamilylaw.ca
• Federal Department of Justice child support pages: justice.gc.ca/eng/fl-df/

Is child support tax deductible under the Child Support Guidelines?

No. Income tax laws changed at the same time as the federal Guidelines came into effect (May 1, 1997). In any orders or agreements made after May 1, 1997, the parent paying child support does not deduct the payments from his or her taxable income. The parent receiving child support does not declare the child support received as part of his or her taxable income. Spousal support payments continue to be tax-deductible in most cases.

If you and your spouse had a written child support agreement or court order dating from before May 1, 1997, the parent paying support may be able to continue deducting child support from his or her taxable income and the parent receiving support can continue declaring the child support as income, at least until the agreement or order is varied in some way.

Contact the Canada Revenue Agency for more information, or talk to a lawyer or accountant for details.

Where can I get a copy of the Child Support Guidelines?

The Child Support Guidelines are available on the federal Department of Justice family law pages - justice.gc.ca/eng/fl-df/. To figure out how much child support applies in your case, you should look at the Federal Child Support Guidelines: Step-by-Step publication from the federal Department of Justice, which is available online at  www.justice.gc.ca .  You can also call the federal government at 1 888-373-2222 to get a copy, and for more information about the Guidelines and free family law publications.  Go to justice.gc.ca/eng/fl-df/child-enfant/look-rech.asp to look up child support amounts.

What is spousal support?

Married spouses have a legal duty to provide for each other. Spousal support (also known as maintenance) is financial support provided by one spouse to the other after separation according to a written agreement or court order. Support can be periodic (usually monthly), lump sum, or both. If support is periodic, it can be time-limited or have no set ending. Support orders can be made on an interim basis - a temporary order before a divorce or separation agreement,  or on a final basis. Even final spousal support orders can sometimes be varied (changed) if there is a significant change in circumstances. 

For more information about spousal support go to:

• Nova Scotia Family Law website: nsfamilylaw.ca
• Department of Justice Canada: www.justice.gc.ca

What factors does the court consider in deciding spousal support?

The court will not make a spousal support order unless the spouse seeking support proves they need support. The other spouse must have the ability to pay support.

The court will also look at whether there are any economic advantages or disadvantages to either spouse arising from the marriage or separation, the financial consequences of caring for children, relieving economic hardship caused by the separation, and promoting the economic self-sufficiency of each spouse within a reasonable amount of time. Spousal support is a complicated area of law, so it is a good idea to see a lawyer.  You'll find more information at nsfamilylaw.ca

What are the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines?

The federal Department of Justice published Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines  in an effort to make calculation of spousal support more predictable. Unlike the Child Support Guidelines, spouses, lawyers, and judges are not required by law to follow the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines, but may choose to do so.  The Guidelines do not deal with the question of whether a spouse is entitled to support. Once it is determined whether there is an entitlement to spousal support (legal obligation to pay), the Guidelines can help to determine how much support should be paid, and for how long.

There are two formulas in the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines, one for spouses with dependent children and one for spouses without dependent children. Support for spouses with dependent children is based on the difference in the spouses' net (after tax) incomes and the amount of child support paid. Support for spouses without dependent children is based on the gross (before tax) difference in the spouses' incomes and the length of their marriage. The formulas are quite complicated and you will probably require the assistance of a lawyer to use them.

 For more spousal support information go to nsfamilylaw.ca

What is Matrimonial Property?

Each province has its own laws setting out how divorcing spouses should divide their property. In Nova Scotia, this law is called the Matrimonial Property Act.  It allows married spouses and registered domestic partners to divide property equally after separation, unless it would be unfair to do so.  The Matrimonial Property Act applies to married spouses and registered domestic partners.  It does not apply to common law couples.

What are matrimonial assets?

The Matrimonial Property Act states that the matrimonial home and all assets brought into the marriage and acquired after the marriage are presumed to be matrimonial assets that should be divided equally after separation. Here are some examples:

* your family home and cottage;
* furniture and appliances;
* cars, trucks and campers;
* cash in the bank;
* investment accounts, stocks and mutual funds;
* RRSPs;
* Pensions, including employment pensions and Canada Pension Plan contributions.

Some types of property are not matrimonial assets. The law presumes that these types of property will remain with the person who owns them:

* gifts, inheritances or trusts received from someone other than your spouse, except to the extent they are used for the benefit of the family;
* money awarded to one spouse after a trial, unless it is in relation to a matrimonial asset;
* money paid under an insurance policy, but not in relation to a matrimonial asset;
* reasonable personal possessions, such as clothing and jewelry;
* business assets;
* property acquired after separation, unless the spouses reconcile;
* property excluded under a marriage contract or separation agreement.

The law does not require that each asset be divided; rather, the value of all the assets is calculated and the property is divided so each spouse receives assets with the same overall value.

Should we divide our property equally?

The Matrimonial Property Act provides that all "matrimonial assets" should be divided between the spouses equally, unless an equal division would be unfair. An equal division might be unfair if:

* the marriage was short and one spouse brought in significantly more assets than the other;
* one spouse wasted or destroyed assets belonging to both spouses;
* one spouse built a successful business while the other spouse looked after the home or children;
* one spouse contributed to the education or career development of the other spouse; or
* one spouse would have to pay a lot of taxes because of the division of assets.

These are just a few common examples.

If an equal division of property would be unfair, the court can divide matrimonial assets unequally, or divide property that is not a matrimonial asset, in order to make things fair to both spouses.

See the page on matrimonial property for more information.

What about pensions?

Employment pensions and Canada Pension Plan contributions are matrimonial property and are divided after separation. The general rule is that only the portion of the pension earned during the marriage is divided. If you lived together before you married, this time is counted as time during the marriage. Pension earned after separation is not counted.  Contact Canada Pension (Service Canada) at 1 800 277 9914 or go to the Canada Pension Plan's credit splitting web page for information about Canada Pension credit splitting. The Nova Scotia Family Law website - nsfamilylaw.ca, also has helpful information about pensions.

How do I know what an employment pension is worth?

Pensions are valuable assets. For many spouses, an employment pension is worth as much, or more, than the matrimonial home. If one spouse is keeping their pension, you will need to have the pension valued to know how much the other spouse should receive to keep things equal.

To value a pension, you will need to get information from the employer's pension plan administrator. The pension plan administrator can provide you with some basic information about the type of pension, contributions, and interest. You will then need to take this information to an actuary, a type of statistician. The actuary performs some very complicated math and then gives an opinion as to the value of the pension. A pension valuation from an actuary costs a few hundred dollars.

The other option is to divide the pension, with each spouse receiving a share. If this is done, the pension does not need to be valued separately. To divide a pension you will need a court order called a Corollary Relief Order (or Corollary Relief Judgment), which is then given to the pension plan administrator. The pension plan administrator can tell you how much each spouse will receive after the pension is divided.

Pension law can be complicated. If you or your spouse has a pension, you should speak with a lawyer.

My spouse won't agree to give me any information about their pension. What do I do?

You should send a written request for information to your spouse's pension plan administrator. The administrator is required by law to give you information about your spouse's pension.

Am I responsible for my spouse's debts?

It depends on whether you co-signed for the debt or your spouse took on the debt on their own. If you co-signed for the debt, you are equally responsible for it and the creditor can choose to pursue either or both of you for the money. If you did not co-sign the debt, you are not responsible to pay it unless a court orders you to do so.

Matrimonial debts can be divided just like matrimonial assets, but there is no law that matrimonial debts must be shared equally. Courts look at many factors in deciding how to divide matrimonial debts.

Spouses may agree that one of them will be responsible for a joint debt but unless the creditor also agrees, and takes the other spouse's name off the debt, if the debt isn't paid the creditor can still seek payment from both spouses.

If you are concerned about being responsible for joint debts after separation, you should call each creditor and explain that you are separated and ask about your options. If you decide to cancel any credit arrangements, you should do so in writing and keep a copy of the letter.

What is a separation agreement? Do I need one?

A separation agreement is a type of contract setting out how spouses have decided to deal with custody, access, support, and a division of property. It should be in writing, signed by both spouses, with each signature witnessed. The witness should be another adult.

Both spouses should get legal advice from a lawyer before deciding whether to sign a separation agreement. This is called getting independent legal advice. When you get independent legal advice about a separation agreement, your lawyer will sign a page at the back of the agreement called a certificate of independent legal advice, to prove you spoke to a lawyer before signing it. You and your spouse each need your own lawyer.

Most separating spouses have a separation agreement, which is then used to set the terms when one spouse applies for an uncontested divorce.

It is possible to get an uncontested divorce without a separation agreement but you will still need to agree on everything with your spouse and put this agreement into a court order called a Corollary Relief Order.

How do I get a separation agreement?

You and your spouse can try to reach agreement in several ways. You can:

* negotiate the terms of an agreement directly with your spouse;
* hire a lawyer to negotiate for you;
* hire a mediator to assist you and your spouse in reaching agreement;
* file for divorce and ask a court conciliator to assist you in reaching agreement. A court conciliator is a court officer who can help you identify the issues involved in your case, ensure that you and your spouse exchange full financial disclosure, assist you in reaching an agreement, and refer your case to a mediator or judge if you and your spouse are unsuccessful in reaching agreement.

Mediators and conciliators cannot give legal advice. They do not decide issues for you and will not force you to reach an agreement. Conciliators can order a spouse to provide full financial disclosure and make limited orders for child support.

There are significant risks involved in trying to negotiate and sign a separation agreement without hiring a lawyer. If you do not have legal advice about your rights and obligations, you may forget to deal with an important issue or agree to something that is very unfair to you or your spouse without realizing it. If you make a mistake it can permanently affect your rights.

At minimum, both spouses should talk to a lawyer before signing any separation agreement. This is called getting independent legal advice. The lawyer will review the agreement with you and make sure you understand what it means and how it will affect you. A lawyer can explain your rights and obligations and may be able to give you an opinion as to whether the agreement is fair or not.

Once you agree to the terms of a separation agreement, it is very difficult to change unless you and your spouse both agree to change it.

What should we put into our separation agreement?

Some of the matters you and your spouse will want to deal with in a separation agreement include:

* what type of parenting arrangements you will have for your child(ren);
* child support (the minimum amount allowed by law is set out in the Federal Child Support Guidelines;
* whether either spouse will receive spousal support, how much, and for how long;
* how the family's property and debts will be divided;
* what procedure you will follow if either spouse wants to change something in the agreement later.

You will also want to think about any tax issues that arise as a result of your separation.

I already have a separation agreement. What do I do next?

If you and your spouse have already signed a separation agreement, you can proceed to ask the court to grant an uncontested divorce if you have been separated for more than a year.

If you signed your separation agreement some time ago, you should re-read it to make sure that the custody, parenting time (access), and support arrangements in it are still up to date. If you and your spouse can agree on the new arrangements, you can put them in your uncontested divorce. If you cannot agree, you will need to settle the new issue(s) or apply to court for a variation before you apply for an uncontested divorce. If you get an uncontested divorce based on out of date parenting or support arrangements that are no longer followed, this can make it difficult to update them later, unless both spouses agree. You are required to give the court the most up to date information you have.

For more information on separation go to:

• LISNS separation page: legalinfo.org/family-law/separation.html
• Nova Scotia Family Law website: nsfamilylaw.ca
• Federal Department of Justice family law pages: justice.gc.ca/eng/fl-df/

What is a healthy relationship?

Healthy relationships are respectful, trusting and supportive. You feel comfortable around the other person and know they will not hurt you. You like being around the other person. You feel like you can talk openly with them. Both people treat each other equally and share in decisions. One person does not make all the decisions.

People in healthy relationships are not violent or abusive with each other. No one has the right to be violent or abusive with other people.

What is abuse?

Abuse is behaviour used to intimidate, isolate, dominate or control another person. Abuse can be acts, words or neglect. It may happen once or over a period of time. Domestic violence includes many different forms of abuse, neglect, mistreatment or harm that may happen in a close, personal relationship. Domestic violence is also sometimes called intimate partner violence, partner abuse, family violence, dating violence or gender-based violence.

Examples of Abuse:

Physical Abuse: when your partner hits, chokes, kicks, burns, punches, or pushes you, or throws objects at you

Sexual Abuse: when your partner forces, threatens, or manipulates you into sexual acts you don't want to do, uses force, weapons, or objects in sexual acts without your consent, involves other people in sexual acts without your consent

Emotional Abuse: when your partner cuts off your contact with friends and family, makes hurtful or cruel comments; constantly criticizes, insults or belittles you; frightens you, or threatens to harm or take your children or pets

Verbal Abuse: when your partner uses words to hurt you. This includes name calling, put-downs, blaming, bullying, humiliation, threats and teasing

Financial Abuse: when your partner controls your finances, steals your money, refuses to share money so you can buy food or other basic needs, or prevents you from working or going to school

Online Abuse: when your partner uses the internet, social media, email, texting, instant messaging or other technologies to intimidate or harass you or others. This includes sharing intimate images of you without your consent, or invading your privacy by trying to keep track of your electronic communications. Sometimes also called cyber-abuse or cyber-bullying.

Social Abuse: when your partner uses your friends or relationships to harm you. This includes spreading rumours, gossiping, excluding others from a group or making someone look foolish or unintelligent.

Harassment: any unwanted physical or verbal behaviour that offends, threatens or humiliates you. It may also include following you and not leaving you alone, sometimes called ‘stalking’.

Neglect is also abuse. Your partner neglects you if they intentionally do not provide what you need to survive, such as food, clothing, medical care, or shelter.

Is domestic violence a crime?

A crime is a violation of the Criminal Code of Canada. The Criminal Code applies to all of Canada. Some acts of domestic violence are a crime.

Examples are:

• physical assault
• sexual assault
• threats to harm
• theft
• criminal harassment (also called ‘stalking’)
• attempted murder
• murder
• property damage (also called ‘mischief’).

What is physical assault?

Assault is when one person applies force to another person, or attempts or threatens to apply force to them without their consent. There are different levels of physical assault. Depending on what happened, your partner might be charged with:

Assault: when someone slaps, pushes or threatens, for example. There may not be any physical injuries. It includes an attempt to assault.

Assault with a weapon or causing bodily harm: when your body is hurt and there are physical injuries, and/or when someone carries, uses or threatens to use a weapon. A weapon can be anything used, or intended to be used, to cause death or injury, or to threaten or intimidate. Examples are a knife, a bat, a belt, a coat hanger or a toy/imitation gun.

Aggravated assault: when a person’s life is put in danger and/or the person is badly hurt.

What is sexual assault?

Sexual assault is a sexual act or touch that you do not consent to. This includes kissing you or touching you without your consent, forcing you to have sex (also called rape), torturing you in a sexual way, threats to force you to do any of these things. All the facts are important, including the type of contact, words and gestures. It is sexual assault if sexual gratification is the goal of the assault. Sexual assault is a crime even if you are not physically hurt. Sexual activity without consent is against the law.

What is consent?

Consent means freely and voluntarily agreeing to take part in sexual activity, like touching, kissing, or having sex. Consent must be ongoing. You can change your mind at any time during a sexual activity.There is no consent when someone:

• says or does something to show they are not consenting to a sexual activity
• says or does something to show they are not agreeing to continue a sexual activity that has already started
• is not capable of consenting to the sexual activity because, for example, they are unconscious
• abuses a position of trust, power or authority to get consent. A person in a position of trust or authority includes people like a teacher, coach, police officer, babysitter, religious leader or healthcare worker
• claims to consent on someone else’s behalf
• lies to get consent.

You can find out more about consent at breakthesilencens.ca

Depending on what happened, your partner might be charged with a crime. This could be crimes such as:

• sexual assault
• sexual assault with a weapon
• threats to a third party or causing bodily harm
• aggravated sexual assault.

Can the police charge my partner with sexual assault?

Yes, a partner can be charged with sexual assault. Being married or in a close or intimate relationship does not give your partner the right to sexually assault you. There does not have to be a witness other than the survivor for a judge to convict a person of sexual assault.

If you have been sexually assaulted, you may want to visit a nurse through the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program (SANE) to do a medical exam and/or collect evidence within five days of the sexual assault. Medical evidence can help if you decide to report what happened to the police and the person is charged with sexual assault. Sexual assault survivors can get services and support by calling SANE at 1-877-880-7263 or by contacting the police, a healthcare professional, or local transition house or shelter.

Go here for more information on SANE.

Other charges:

• If your partner forced you to stay somewhere by threatening you or physically stopping you from leaving, they might be charged with "forcible confinement"
• If your partner threatened you, they might be charged with "uttering threats"
• "Criminal harassment" is also a common charge in partner abuse cases. Criminal harassment includes things like stalking, harassing phone calls, or unwanted visits to your home or workplace. Stalking is when you have a reasonable fear for your safety because your partner does one or more of the following:

- watches and follows you
- damages your property
- tries to contact you when you don't want them to
- sends you lots of messages that you don't want by mail, voicemail, email, or through other people.

When do the police get involved?

You can call the police if your partner assaults or threatens you. A family member, neighbour, friend or someone else might call the police if they hear or see the assault and are worried about you or your children.

The police enforce the law and look into crimes. Police are allowed to come into your home when they get a report of abuse or domestic violence.

When they come to your home, the police will talk with you, your partner and any other family members or witnesses who saw or heard what happened. They will do this before deciding if they should charge either or both of you with a crime.

The police decide what happens. You do not decide. Your partner does not decide.

Could I be charged with a crime?

The police will talk to both you and your partner, and look for evidence to decide if they will charge anyone involved with a crime. There is always a chance that you will be charged with a crime, even if you are the person who was abused.

Sometimes an abused partner could be charged with a crime because:

• your partner lied to the police about what happened
• the police might not have a good understanding of domestic violence or abusive relationships and may not know what is really going on
• language and/or cultural barriers make it difficult for you to explain what happened to the police.

If the police think there is a good legal reason (called reasonable grounds) to believe that someone committed a crime, they must charge that person with a crime. This means the police may charge your partner, you, or both of you with a crime. The police will also contact Child Protection Services if they think your child or children have been harmed or are at risk of being harmed. If your partner is charged, the police can connect you with Victim Services. They can help support you. See the RESOURCES section below for more information.

Will the police take my partner from our home?

If your partner is charged with a crime the police will most likely take your partner from your home to the police station. Your partner might be released by the police or by the court if your partner agrees to follow certain conditions, which could include:

• not contacting you
• not going to the family home
• having limited or no contact with your children
• not having a gun or any kind of weapon
• handing in their passport
• showing up in court on the date ordered.

If your partner was released and contacts you, or does not follow other conditions, you should call the police. Your partner may be arrested, charged with a new crime, and/or kept in custody until the matter goes to court.

Conditions can be changed by the court at any time during the court process. They end when the case is over.

Your partner might try to force or scare you into asking the Crown Attorney (a government lawyer) or the court to change or remove the conditions. If your partner threatens you or your children, you should tell the police. Your partner can be charged for making this type of threat.

If you also have a family court case, you need to tell your family law lawyer or the family court about any conditions of release. It is important that your family court orders and criminal court orders say the same things.

If I call the police will I have to go to court?

You may have to go to court if the police charge your partner with a crime. If necessary, the police and the courts must provide an interpreter free of charge for you and any other witnesses. You will have to go to court if you are charged with a crime.

Can the charges be dropped?

Only the Crown Attorney can change or withdraw criminal charges.

My partner is abusing me. Can my partner be ordered to stay away from me?

Police or court conditions for someone charged with a crime:

If the police were called and the person is arrested, the police can require them to sign an undertaking. This is a written promise to follow conditions. This can include a promise to not contact the person being abused until it goes before the court. A judge can also order them to stay away as part of their release from custody.

If you want to keep your partner away, but you do not want to call the police, you can apply for:

• an Emergency Protection Order, or
• a Peace Bond
• a Cyber-Protection Order to stop cyberbullying.

What is an Emergency Protection Order?

An Emergency Protection Order (EPO) is a temporary court order made by a Presiding Justice of the Peace (PJP) to protect a victim of domestic violence when the situation is serious and urgent.

You can apply for an EPO if you are 16 or older, and:

• live with, or lived with, your partner as a couple; or
• you have a child or children together, even if you have never lived with each other.

If granted, an EPO:

• can order that your partner have no contact with you
• is put in place right away and lasts up to 30 days
• can give police power to remove your partner from your home (owned or rented)
• can give you temporary possession of personal property like a car, bank card or other important things you need.

An EPO gives immediate, short-term help. It gives you time to look at longer-term options like a peace bond, criminal charges, or applying to family court.

An EPO is not a custody order. While custody can be granted in an application for an EPO, it is not common. Talk to a family lawyer about custody, parenting arrangements, child and spousal support, and dividing family assets and debts.

An EPO can last up to 30 days. It may be extended for up to another 30 days. If you want an extension you must apply to court at least one week before the EPO runs out. Or, if you have new evidence, you could apply for a new EPO.

You apply for an EPO over the phone by calling the Justice of the Peace Centre at 902-424-8888 or 1-866-816-6555 or by contacting the nearest transition house or police services for help applying.

You can apply any day of the week from 8:30 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. A police officer or other designated person (such as someone working at a transition house) can apply on your behalf after regular business hours.

When you call, a PJP will speak with you to decide if an EPO should be made.

If you need an interpreter to help you apply for an EPO, you must arrange one. The interpreter cannot be your family member or friend. They must be a professional interpreter. Nova Scotia Victim Services and/or Nova Scotia Interpreting ServicesServices can help you find a professional interpreter (see the RESOURCES section below for more information).

The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq (CMM) has a legal information pamphlet about Protection Orders under the matrimonial real property laws in Bear River, Millbrook, Paqtnkek, Pictou Landing and Sipekne’katik communities. Copies are located in band offices of CMM’s member bands or online at cmmns.com.

If you have an EPO and you think you might want to apply for a Peace Bond in the future, you should talk with a lawyer.

What is a peace bond?

A peace bond is a criminal court order. You can apply to court for a Peace Bond if you fear that your partner or ex-partner will harm you, your family, or your property. A peace bond can require that your partner or ex-partner stay away from you for as long as one year.

You can apply for a Peace Bond at the Provincial Court or Family Court. 

The court will give you the forms you need to apply. Once you fill out the forms you will meet with a Justice of the Peace who will decide if the application will go to court. Only a judge can order a Peace Bond.

Applying for a Peace Bond can take a long time. Tell court staff before your court date if you need an interpreter. The court may arrange one depending on the language and interpreter’s availability. You do not have to pay for the interpreter. You can go to court with a lawyer or on your own. It is always a good idea to talk with a lawyer if you have to go to court, even if you go to court without a lawyer.

What is a cyber protection order?

The Intimate Images and Cyber-protection Act aims to protect people from being bullied online, or from having intimate images of themselves shared without their consent. Cyber-bullying is when someone uses electronic communication, like email, text messaging or social media communication, to harm your health or well-being. They might be doing this on purpose to hurt you or they might not care about hurting you.

Examples of cyber-bullying:

• creating a website, blog or profile that takes your identity
• sharing sensitive personal information or breaking your confidence
• threatening, intimidating, harassing or scaring you online
• making false statements about you
• communications that are grossly offensive, indecent, or obscene
• encouraging you to commit suicide.

Cyber-bullying can also include encouraging or forcing someone else to do these things.

The law also protects you if someone distributes a private intimate image of you, such as a photograph, film, or video, without your consent. An intimate image is one that is private, shows sexual activity or nudity or partial nudity. It is an image you have good reason to think will stay private.

For example, without asking you and to try to hurt you, your former partner posts a private, sexually explicit, intimate picture of you on Facebook that you had good reason to think was going to stay private.

A cyber-protection order can order the person to stop the bullying and/or sharing of images, and do things like:

• stop the person from contacting you
• order that they take down or disable access to an intimate image or communication about you; and/or
• award damages to the victim.

You apply to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia for a cyber-protection order. You can apply with a lawyer’s help or on your own. A parent or guardian of a victim under the age of 19 can also apply to Supreme Court for a cyber-protection order. You can get information about applying to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia for a cyber-protection order at courts.ns.ca.

Nova Scotia’s CyberScan Unit oversees Nova Scotia’s Intimate Images and Cyber-protection Act and can give you help and information, including about applying to court for a cyber-protection order. Contact CyberScan at novascotia.ca/cyberscan/ or call 902-424- 6990 or 1-855-702-8324.

What happens with my children?

The law says that anyone who has reason to believe that a child has been harmed, or might be harmed, must report this to Child Protection Services. Harm can include the child being exposed to domestic violence, even if the child is not being physically hurt.

If you contact domestic violence outreach services or go to a transition house, or leave an abusive partner, you may be seen as having made the situation better by taking steps to protect your child(ren). In that case domestic violence outreach services and transition houses may not be required to report to Child Protection - unless you return to the abusive situation or put your child in harm’s way again. The safety of children is the priority for outreach and transition house staff.

Child Protection Services will contact you if a report is made. They will suggest services and resources to help you. They can remove your child from the home if they believe it is necessary in order to protect your child.
If you are asked to sign anything, or your child is removed from your home, you should contact a lawyer right away. You can contact Nova Scotia Legal Aid or a lawyer you would pay who does family law, including child protection law. See the RESOURCES section below for support services and go here for ways to get a lawyer.

Abuse and immigration status

If you are a Canadian citizen born abroad or a permanent resident, you can stay in Canada if your partner is arrested or if you leave the relationship. You will not be deported.

Speak with a lawyer as soon as possible if:

• you have temporary status
• you are sponsoring your partner
• your sponsor is trying to force you out of Canada
• your partner or someone else is threatening to hurt your family back home.

Abusers may use threats to keep their partners from leaving or to try to scare them into dropping the charges, but charges can only be changed or dropped by the Crown Attorney (a government lawyer). The complainant or victim does not have the power to change or drop the charges.

Conditional Permanent Residence

As of 2017, conditional permanent residence no longer applies to anyone. This means there is no conditional period (set amount of time) where you must live together with your sponsor to keep your permanent residence status in Canada.

What can I do?

Abuse is a community issue—not a private family matter. Everyone has a part to play in helping to stop abuse and foster healthy relationships. You can get help and support if you are in an unhealthy or abusive relationship, or if you want to help someone who is experiencing abuse. 

If it is an emergency or someone is in danger, call 9-1-1. They can connect you with the police or medical help.

You can go to:

• nsdomesticviolence.ca for information and resources about domestic violence
• nsfamilylaw.ca for more information on the law and domestic violence
• breakthesilencens.ca for information and resources about sexual violence
• Talk to a lawyer. A lawyer can help with legal problems like separation, custody, child and spousal support, criminal charges, applying for a no contact order, and immigration concerns. Go here or see the RESOURCES section below for ways to get legal advice.

If you think someone is being abused

Call the police or let the person know that they can talk to you. You can also offer to take them to a safe place if they decide to leave the abusive situation, or you can provide information about what services are available. Go to nsdomesticviolence.ca for information about other ways you can help.

If you are being abused

Call 9-1-1 if you and/or your children are in danger right now.

You can also:

• see a doctor, nurse or psychologist
• leave your partner and/or the abusive situation
• get counselling, support, help with safety planning and shelter from a transition house or community organization
• talk with someone you trust.

If you have been hurt

If you have been physically hurt and it is an emergency, call 9-1-1 for medical help. If you have been sexually assaulted in the past 5 days (120 hours), you can call the police and ask for an ambulance to take you to the health centre. You have the option to ask for a female nurse at the health centre.

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners Program

 If your community has a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners Program (SANE), you can ask the hospital or health centre staff to call SANE for you. SANE is a 24 hour, 7 day a week program that serves people of all genders (including trans-identified people) and all ages who have experienced a sexual assault in the past 5 days (120 hours).

SANE’s 24 hour response line (1-833-577- 7263) offers non-judgemental, confidential support and information about options after an immediate sexual assault. SANE also offers supportive care and follow-up for sexual assault survivors. The response line can also connect you with a nurse, who can meet you at a hospital to provide medical care and/or collect evidence. More information on this program is at nshealth.ca/sane.

You decide if you want to get a medical exam and/or have evidence collected.

A medical exam includes:

• taking a medical history
• documenting the details of the sexual assault
• taking blood and urine samples to test for pregnancy and/or infections
• doing an internal exam (vaginal) and general physical exam
• providing follow-up treatment.

To collect evidence (or do a forensic examination), nurses prefer that you do not shower, bathe, douche, use the washroom, change your clothes, eat/drink or clean your teeth until the exam is completed. This could destroy evidence. Nurses could also ask to collect your clothing for evidence, do a headto- toe visual exam looking for injuries and/or take photographs of the injuries. Police are not present during the exam. If you decide to immediately report the sexual assault to the police, SANE nurses can help notify the police and send over the evidence collected. If you decide not to file a report with the police, they can still collect evidence and keep it for a period of time. If during this time you decide to report the sexual assault, SANE can give the evidence to the police. The evidence will not be destroyed without your consent.

Go to nshealth.ca/sane for SANE contact information in communities across the province.

If you are being bullied online

If you have been bullied or harassed online, or by text or email, or had intimate pictures of you shared without your consent, you can speak with the police, or contact Nova Scotia’s CyberScan Unit. CyberScan oversees Nova Scotia’s Intimate Images and Cyber-protection Act. Contact CyberScan at novascotia.ca/cyberscan/ or call 902-424-6990 or 1-855-702- 8324. You can also speak with a lawyer. And, see the information on cyber-protection orders above.

If an abusive partner needs help

There are community programs that give education and counselling to men who have abused their partners and/or children. They teach about how to have healthy and respectful relationships. See the RESOURCES section below for more information on how to contact these programs.

Do I need a lawyer?

You may need to talk to a family lawyer if you are trying to get an Emergency Protection Order (EPO), or a family law order for custody, support or property division. You can speak to a criminal lawyer if you have a criminal charge or need help to get a peace bond. It is a good idea to talk with a lawyer if you want to apply to Supreme Court for a cyber-protection order. You can speak with an immigration lawyer if you have immigration concerns.

A trusted family member or friend may be able to help you find a lawyer. You can also contact Legal Info Nova Scotia’s Lawyer Referral Service (902-455-3135 in Halifax or 1-800-665-9779 for the rest of Nova Scotia, or email [email protected]alinfo.org) for a referral to a lawyer you would pay. Go here for other ways to find a lawyer.  Before hiring a lawyer, ask the lawyer how they charge for their work and how much the lawyer thinks the process will cost.

If you cannot afford a lawyer, contact Nova Scotia Legal Aid (NSLA). You can apply for Legal Aid online at www.nslegalaid.ca/onlineapplication, or by calling or visiting your local NSLA office (see the RESOURCES section below for more information).

If you need an interpreter for meetings with your lawyer, you will be responsible for the cost if the lawyer is not a Legal Aid lawyer. You do not have to agree to have your children or friend interpret for you.

Where will I live if I leave my partner?

If the police are called during or after an assault, you can ask them to take you to a transition house or shelter. Transition houses and shelters give women and their children a short-term safe place to live, and can give you information and support.  

Help is still available during the COVID-19  pandemic.  Transition houses throughout Nova Scotia are providing shelter with government support, while still following public health advice.  

You can contact a transition house or shelter yourself. Contact the shelter nearest you or contact the Transition House Association of Nova Scotia (THANS)  - 902- 429-7287, or call 1-855-225-0220 toll free, day or night. THANS is a network of shelters and transition houses with locations across the province. Or, you can contact Nova Scotia 2-1-1 to find your closest transition house or shelter.

After leaving an abusive situation, second stage housing provides safe and affordable housing for women and their children for six months to one year.

You can also choose to rent an apartment or stay with a family member or friend. Shelters and crisis services are also available for men. For more information, see the RESOURCES section below.

Can I take the children with me?

It is best to take your children with you if you are concerned about their safety or you think that your partner will try to stop you from seeing them. You should contact a family law lawyer to get legal advice about your situation as soon as possible.

Whether or not you take the children with you, you can apply immediately to family court for interim (temporary) custody and financial support orders for you and your children. You can ask the court to limit your partner’s time with your children, and to make it against the law for your partner to take the children from you.

You should not try to take the children out of the province or the country as your partner could accuse you of kidnapping the children. Your lawyer will explain what you can and cannot do. You can get legal information about family law at nsfamilylaw.ca. See the RESOURCES section for ways to get family law advice.

Can I get income assistance?

If you leave your partner and have no income, you may also be able to get income assistance from Nova Scotia’s Department of Community Services, if you are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, refugee claimant, or a Temporary Resident Permit holder (not the same as a Temporary Resident Visa for school, work, or visits). You can apply for income assistance over the phone by calling 1-877-424-1177, or go to your local Nova Scotia Community Services office. You will be asked for your bank statements, Social Insurance Number (SIN), Nova Scotia Health Card number, and other documents to help the intake person understand your financial and/or family situation. You may find out on the first call whether you are eligible. Or you may get a meeting with a worker or be asked to wait for someone to return your call.

Ending your lease early

You might be able to end your lease for your rented apartment or home early, without a financial penalty, if you are leaving an abusive situation.

Year-to-year or fixed-term lease: Contact the Department of Justice Victim Services (902- 424-3309) to see if you can end your lease with one month’s notice to the landlord. If you are a survivor of domestic violence, Victim Services can help you file an application to end the lease.

Month-to-month or week-to-week lease: You can end your lease using Nova Scotia Residential Tenancies Form C (“Tenant’s Notice to Quit”). You must give one month’s written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy, or one week’s written notice to end a week-to-week tenancy. Contact Nova Scotia Residential Tenancies (Access Nova Scotia) at 902-424-5400 or 1-800-670-4357 for more information about Residential Tenancies. Nova Scotia Legal Aid or Dalhousie Legal Aid can also help.

Taking time off work

After at least three months in a job, you might be able to take time off work if you and/or your child experience abuse. This is called domestic violence leave. It gives employees the right to take time off work to move or to get medical, legal and/or psychological support or other professional counselling for you and/or your children.

Domestic violence leave allows an employee to take:

• up to 16 weeks in a row of unpaid leave, and
• up to 10 days of protected leave in a calendar year, taken all in a row or broken up. Protected leave means that after the leave you must be allowed to return to the same job or, if that job is no longer available, to a comparable one with no loss of seniority or benefits. Employers must pay for up to three days of domestic violence leave.

This leave applies to employees in provincially regulated workplaces, and to unionized employees. You can combine domestic violence leave with other types of leave. Contact Nova Scotia Labour Standards (902-424-4311 or toll-free at 1-888-315-0110) for more information about domestic violence leave and other leaves from work.

General information and resources

211 Nova Scotia
2-1-1 or text 21167 
ns.211.ca
Finds services in your community any time of day or night and any day of the year. They can help you in French or English. They can also help you through an interpreter in many languages. 

2-1-1 can help you find:

• a safe place away from an abuser
• information or advice about the law
• victim services to help when you need it.

Healthlink 8-1-1
811.novascotia.ca
Information or advice about your health. It can help you find a health care service in your area. Nurses can help you in French or English. They can also help through an interpreter in many languages.

Adult Protection Services - Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness
1-800-225-7225 toll-free
Adult Protection Services can help if you are worried that an adult is being neglected, abused or harmed. You can call between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Child Protection Services (Department of Community Services)
2-1-1 to find Child Protection Services near you.
Call Child Protection Services if you believe that a child is being abused or neglected or could be abused or neglected, you can call Child Protection Services. During the day, contact the district office of the Department of Community Services near you. After 4:30 p.m., call 1-866- 922-2434. 

Neighbours, Friends and Families Program
A campaign to help people learn signs of violence against women. To learn more, visit nsdomesticviolence.ca/nff

General information on domestic violence and resources
nsdomesticviolence.ca

Women’s Centres
womenconnect.ca
Help with information, support, advocacy and referrals across Nova Scotia

Making Changes
women.gov.ns.ca
Making Changes: a book for women experiencing intimate partner abuse, with information that is also relevant to men and nonbinary people who have experienced abuse. A Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women publication.

Nova Scotia Rainbow Action Project
nsrap.ca
Seeks equity, justice, and human rights for 2SLGBTQIA+ people in Nova Scotia

pdf Healthy Family Relationships: What newcomers need to know (1.52 MB)

  pdf Leaving an abusive relationship: 12 tips (452 KB)

Legal Help

Independent Legal Advice for Sexual Assault Survivors Program
2-1-1
novascotia.ca/SexualAssaultLegalAdvice
Up to 4 hours of free legal advice if you have been sexually assaulted and are 16 years old or older. You do not have to report to police or go to court if you use this service. They can help in English or French, or use a free interpreter for other languages.

Halifax Refugee Clinic
902-422-6736
halifaxrefugeeclinic.org
Gives immigration legal services to refugee claimants and people in need of protection who cannot afford a private lawyer. They offer legal advice to survivors of domestic violence only about their immigration status.

Nova Scotia Legal Aid
nslegalaid.ca or look under Legal Aid in the telephone book
Free legal information, advice and representation for adults and youth. Legal Aid might help with criminal or family law, employment insurance, income assistance, or a problem with your landlord. Some services are based on financial need. Apply online at nslegalaid.ca or contact your local Legal Aid office. Legal Aid can help if you are accepted into Domestic Violence Court in Sydney or Halifax.

Dalhousie Legal Aid Service
902-423-8105
Free legal information, advice, and advocacy if you have low income. They can help with issues like income assistance and tenant rights and housing. They do not do immigration issues or adult criminal matters.

Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia
1-800-665-9779 (toll-free) or 902-455-3135
legalinfo.org
Email: [email protected] (English or French)
Free legal information on any legal topic, or help to find a lawyer and other legal help, provided by telephone, email and live chat.  You do not have to give your name.

Accès Justice Access
902-433-2085 or 1-844-250-8471 (English or French)
Free legal information and legal form-filling help. You must make an appointment. In-person in Halifax.

Mi’kmaq Legal Support Network
1-877-379-2042
mlsn.ca

Support services and victim support services to Aboriginal people in Nova Scotia, particularly through the Mi'kmaw Court Worker Program and the Mi'kmaw Customary Law Program.

reachAbility
902-429-5878 or 1-866-429-5878
reachability.org

Legal referral service for people with disabilities.

nsfamilylaw.ca
Nova Scotia legal information about parenting arrangements, separation, divorce, child and spousal support, and domestic violence.

Emergency Protection Order—Justice of the Peace Centre
1-866-816-6555 toll-free or 902-424-8888
Call the Justice of the Peace Centre to apply for an emergency protection order. A justice of the peace will hear your story and decide right away whether to give you an emergency protection order.

Online Abuse (CyberScan Unit)
902-424-6990 in Halifax or 1-855-702-8324 toll-free
novascotia.ca/cyberscan/

CyberScan helps if someone has shared private pictures of you without your consent or is bullying you online, or by text or email. They might also help you apply to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia for a cyber-protection order.

Domestic Violence Courts
courts.ns.ca (under Domestic Violence Court)
902-563-3510 (Sydney) 902-424-7404 or [email protected] (Halifax)

Special court that helps protect survivors of domestic violence and their families from future abuse. Programs to help people who commit abuse change behaviour and prevent future abuse. Connects family members to
services and supports near where they live

Transition Houses and Crisis Help

Transition House Association of Nova Scotia
902-429-7287 or 1-855-225-0220 (day or night) or call 2-1-1
thans.ca
They can help you find a shelter near you if you want to leave an abusive relationship. Shelters can also help with information, crisis support and safety planning, even if you do not want to live at a shelter. You do not have to give your name.   

Bryony House (Transition House Association of Halifax)
902-422-7650 (crisis number)
902-423-7183 (shelter main number)
bryonyhouse.ca
Women in Halifax who are leaving domestic violence or abusive relationships can call any time of the day or night and any day of the year.

Autumn House Support Line
902-667-1200 any time of day or night.
autumnhouse.ca
Contact for women and men in abusive relationships. Men who abuse their partners who want help to change can also call this number, or 902-667-4500 during the day.

NS Mi'kmaq Crisis and Referral Line
902-379-2099 1-855- 379-2099 any time of day or night
eskasonimentalhealth.org
Province-wide support to Mi’kmaq people, provided by Eskasoni Mental Health.

Mental Health Mobile Crisis
1 888-429-8167, any time of day or night.
Help for anyone experiencing a mental health crisis.

Victim Services

Provincial Victim Services Program
Information, support, and help if you are a victim of crime, or the spouse or relative of a victim. Information about your case, help to write a victim impact statement, help to apply for money or counselling and get special help for child victims or a witness of a crime. 

Halifax or Dartmouth or the South Shore: 902-424-3309
Annapolis Valley: 902-679-6201 or 1-800-565-1805 toll-free
Northern Nova Scotia: 902-755-7110 or 1-800-565-7912 toll-free
Cape Breton: 902-563-3655 or 1-800-565-0071 toll-free

Halifax Regional Police Victim Services
902-490-5300
Helps you in a crisis and after a crisis. Emotional support and help to find services. Help applying for a peace bond in the Halifax area.

Mi’kmaw Victim Support Services
1-877- 379-2042 (Cape Breton)
902-895-1141 (Mainland NS)
Victim support for aboriginal people dealing with the criminal justice system. Provided by Mi’kmaq Legal Support Network

RCMP Victim Services
1-888-995-2929
Information or emotional support after a crime. Call and leave a message. They call you back in 24 hours.

Sexual Assault Centres and Programs

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program

If you have been assaulted in the past five days, call and leave a message. A nurse will call you back right away. You can also go to an emergency department for medical help or go to the police to report the assault. You can also tell your family doctor or nurse practitioner.

Halifax: 1-877-880-7263
Guysborough, Antigonish, Pictou and Richmond Counties: 1-877-880-SANE (7263)
Sydney area: 1-844-858-8036
Yarmouth area: 1-833-577-SANE (7263)

Antigonish Women’s Resource Centre and Sexual Assault Services Association
awrcsasa.ca
902-863-6221
Counselling for all genders

Avalon Sexual Assault Centre
avaloncentre.ca
902-422-4240
Counselling for women, trans and non-binary individuals

Colchester Sexual Assault Centre
colchestersac.ca
902-897-4366
Counselling for all genders

New Start Counselling - Healing Narratives (Dartmouth)
newstartcounselling.ca
902-423-4675 or [email protected]
Free counselling for men who have
experienced sexual assault

breakthesilencens.ca
Nova Scotia information, resources, and training about sexual violence

Independent Legal Advice for Sexual Assault Survivors Program
see Legal Help above.

A Survivor’s Guide to Sexual Assault Prosecution
novascotia.ca/pps/publications/survivorsguide-to-sexual-assault-prosecution.pdfto-sexual-assault-prosecution.pdf
Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service publication for sexual assault survivors that explains each step of a sexual assault prosecution, and what the survivor can expect to happen in court.

Services for men who want to stop hurting their partner

New Start Counselling (Dartmouth)
newstartcounselling.ca
902-423-4675 or [email protected]

CornerStone Cape Breton (Sydney)
cornerstonecb.ca
902-567-0979 or [email protected]

New Directions (Amherst)
autumnhouse.ca
902-667-4500 or [email protected]

Freeman House's Alternatives Program (Bridgewater)
902-543-7444 or 1-877-882-7722 toll-free, or [email protected]

New Leaf (Pictou County)
902-396-2440

Bridges (Truro)
bridgesinstitute.org
902-897-6665 or [email protected]

Immigrant Services

African Diaspora Association of the Maritimes
adamns.com
Focuses on the needs of immigrants of African Diaspora descent

Salvation Army Atlantic Refugee and Immigrant Services Project
902-477-5393, extension 224
Helps you fill out immigration forms and travel papers.

Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia
902-423-3607
isans.ca
Helps newcomers settle in Nova Scotia. Also helps permanent residents who have a crisis, like abuse in a relationship. Free interpretation is available.

Nova Scotia Interpreting Services
902-425-6604 902-425-5532 if you need help now
interpretingservices.ca
Interpretation services for 39 languages. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Rainbow Refugee Association of Nova Scotia
rainbowrefugeens.com
Privately sponsors, resettles, and advocates for LGBTQI+ refugees in Nova Scotia.

YMCA Centre For Immigrant Programs
ymcahfx.ca
Programs and outreach services for newcomers.

Do I have a right to see my grandchild?

Most of the time, grandparents have a good relationship with their family and can spend time with their grandchildren through one or both parents. But the law does not say parents must allow their child to spend time with their grandparents.

What is the difference between custody, access, contact time, and interaction?

Custody means having the responsibility to care for the child, and to make the major decisions about the child’s health, well-being, and upbringing. Custody can also mean who the child lives with. Usually the child lives with the person who makes the major decisions about their care and upbringing.

Access usually refers to the child’s legal right to visit or spend time with a parent or guardian. It is also called parenting time. Children may also   have access to grandparents or other family members. Access by anyone other than a parent or guardian may also be called contact time. Access may be set out in a court order or agreement. It could mean weekly or monthly visits, overnight stays, or holiday time together. The federal Divorce Act uses the term “access.”

Parenting time is the time a child spends with a parent or guardian because of a court order or agreement. It is a term used in Nova Scotia’s Parenting and Support Act.

Contact time is the time a child spends with someone other than their parent or guardian because of a court order or agreement. This can be a grandparent, or anyone else who is close to the child. It is a term used in Nova Scotia’s Parenting and Support Act. Contact time is sometimes alsocalled access.

Interaction means communicating with a child outside of parenting
time or contact time. It includes:

• phone calls, emails, or letters
• sending gifts or cards
• attending the child’s school activities or other activities
• receiving copies of report cards or school photos
• video chats with the child.

Do I have custody of my grandchild if my teenage child becomes a parent?

No. If your child becomes a parent while under the age of 19, the Department of Community Services decides if they are able to care for their child. If your child still lives at home, you have a duty to support them. However, they have the right to make decisions about their own child. If you want custody of your grandchild, you must ask the court for leave to apply for it.

Can I apply to court for custody of my grandchild or to spend time with them?

If you wish to apply for custody of your grandchild, or parenting time, you must ask for the court’s leave. Leave is permission from the court to apply for custody. When you ask for leave, you must explain to the court why you are asking to have custody of your grandchild, and what role you play or have played in your grandchild’s life. You can apply to court for contact time or interaction with your grandchild without asking for the court’s leave.

A judge will always do what they feel is in the child’s best interests, or what is best for the child. This is not always what you feel is best. A judge will let you have contact time or interaction with your grandchild if they think it is best for the child. Even if the court gives you leave to apply for custody of your grandchild, it might not give you custody.

It is a good idea to talk to a lawyer if you are considering going to court.

It is also important to look at other options first to resolve the dispute, such as mediation or negotiation.

How does the court decide what is in the child's best interests?

To decide what is in the child’s best interests, a judge will think about:

• the child’s needs
• the parents’ or guardians’ ability to care for the child
• how the parents or guardians care for the child
• the plan proposed for care of the child
• the child’s cultural, linguistic, religious, and spiritual heritage
• what the child wants, if appropriate
• the relationship between the child and their parents or guardian
• the relationship between the child and their grandparent(s)
• how well the adults in the child’s life talk with each other
• whether there is family violence and its effects

In cases about contact time or interaction with grandparents, a judge will also think about:

• whether the child’s parents or guardians are willing to support contact
  time
• whether an order for contact time is needed to allow the child to see
  their grandparent(s)

Could the court give joint custody to a grandparent?

Joint custody means that two or more people make the big decisions about the child together. An order for joint custody between a child’s parents and grandparents will probably only happen if both agree. For example, if the child’s parents are very young, they may have trouble deciding what is best for their child and want help from the child’s grandparents.

It is possible for a court to order joint custody with a grandparent if the judge believes it is best for the child. However, it is not common.

What are some ways to reach an agreement without court?

Negotiation. A less formal process of discussing the issues the child’s parents and grandparents do not agree on to try to reach an agreement.
You can try to negotiate with your grandchild’s parents on your own or with someone else’s help, such as a lawyer.

Mediation. An alternative or assisted dispute resolution (ADR) process where a mediator helps parties reach an agreement. A mediator is a neutral, independent, and objective third party who is trained in ADR.

If the child’s parents and grandparents cannot reach an agreement on custody, contact time, or interactions, mediation is an option. A mediator will meet with the people involved, discuss the issues, and help them come to an agreement. Mediation is voluntary, and everyone must feel comfortable with the process.

Private mediation services are listed online or in the telephone book. You can also find a mediator through Family Mediation Canada (fmc.ca), or through the Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia’s Mediator Referral Service. You might be referred to a mediator through the family court process.

Collaborative law. A process where lawyers trained in collaborative law help participants work together to reach an agreement. Everyone must
agree at the beginning to work together without going to court. You can find a trained collaborative family lawyer and get more information about collaborative family law online at collaborativefamilylawyers.ca.

No matter what approach you take, it is always a good idea to get legal advice if you are trying to reach an agreement. If you reach an agreement, it is important to get independent legal advice from your own lawyer before you sign the agreement.

How do I apply for custody, contact time, or interaction?

You can start an application for custody, contact time, or interaction with a lawyer’s help, or on your own. If you cannot afford a lawyer, you can apply to Nova Scotia Legal Aid at their website, nslegalaid.ca, or call your nearest Legal Aid office. It is listed under Legal Aid in the telephone book.

Or, you can hire a lawyer in private practice who does family law.

If you do not have a lawyer, you can ask court staff for information about the documents you must file, or go online to nsfamilylaw.ca/custody-access/information-grandparents for information about where to start. You can find an online guide to making a court application at nsfamilylaw.ca/guide-making-application-court. You can also make an appointment to see the Summary Advice Lawyer. The Summary Advice Lawyer provides free, brief legal advice to anyone who has a family law issue but does not have a lawyer. There are no income criteria. Call the family court for contact information, or go online to nsfamilylaw.ca under “Getting legal advice and finding a lawyer.”

Intake is a session at family law courts you must go to. You will get information about starting a court application or settling a family law matter outside of court. Intake can happen at the court or online.You must do an intake session before court staff will look at your application.

Once you have given the court your application and you have gone to an intake session, you may attend conciliation. This is a form of dispute resolution. A court officer will help decide what issues you need to sort out. They will make sure everyone gives the court the needed documents. And they will help negotiate a settlement if they can. The conciliator may speak with both sides together or separately.

If you cannot settle your matter, you can ask the court for a formal hearing.

Where do I apply for custody or contact time?

Generally you must apply to the family law court closest to where the child lives.

Is financial support available for grandparents with custody or care of a child?

Anyone, including a grandparent, who has custody of a child can apply to court for child support.

Grandparents who care for their grandchildren may also qualify for government tax benefits, like the Canada Child Benefit. You can get information about the Canada Child Benefit from the Canada Revenue Agency, at canada.ca/en/revenue-agency.html or by calling 1-800-387-1193.

What if the person with care of my grandchild will not follow a court order for contact time?

If the person with care of your grandchild prevents your court orderedcontact time or interaction, you should first try to work out an arrangement with them. You should avoid involving police or the court if possible. If this is not possible, you can apply to court to take steps to enforce the order. It is best to speak with a lawyer before you do that. You can ask a lawyer about section 41 of Nova Scotia’s Parenting and Support Act, which is a part of that law that may help with enforcement.

Can I apply to change a court order?

You can apply to vary, or change, a court order if there has been an important change in circumstances since the court order was made.

This could include:

• a change in custody or parenting arrangements
• an address change affecting your ability to visit your grandchild
• a change in your grandchild’s schedule that affects contact time or
  interactions.

What should I do if I suspect a child is being neglected or abused?

If you believe that any child is being neglected or abused, you have a legal duty to report it to the Department of Community Services.

Contact the department using these toll-free numbers:

• Weekdays, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.: 1-877-424-1177
• Weekends or holidays: 1-866-922-2434

If my grandchild is taken into care, what will happen next?

If a child is abused or neglected, the Department of Community Services will try to keep them in their home and to offer services to the parents and child. However, this is only as long as the child is safe. If a child is in serious danger, the department may remove them from their home and take them into care.

“Taken into care” means the child is removed from the home and is cared for in a foster family’s home or in another place. A “plan of care” is the Nova Scotia government’s term for arrangements that are made about the child. Care can be temporary or permanent. If a child is taken into care, the department must take the matter to court for a judge to review. This must happen within five days or the child will be returned to their home.

When the department decides that a child will be placed in care, the Children and Family Services Act says that the child must be placed with a relative if possible. A judge may decide not to place a child with relatives if that is not in the child’s best interests. If a child is not placed with relatives, the child can still visit family, relatives, and friends unless the court says that this may be harmful to the child.

A child in care may be adopted if the court agrees that is in their best interests. A grandparent who wants to adopt their grandchild must ask the court for leave to apply. Once a child is adopted, the Department of Community Services is no longer involved, and the parents who adopt the child will make decisions about contact with the child’s birth family.

Here is more information about child protection.

 

Where can I find more information about grandparents’ rights?

Nova Scotia Legal Aid. Your local Legal Aid office is listed under Legal Aid
in the telephone book or you can find them online at nslegalaid.ca.

A lawyer in private practice who does family law. You can go to
legalinfo.org, under Lawyers and Legal Help, for ways to find a lawyer.

Family Law Nova Scotia. The website at nsfamilylaw.ca offers information
for grandparents under “Custody and Access.”

Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia. Legal information
line: 902-455-3135 or 1-800-665-9779 (toll-free); online at legalinfo.org;
The Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia may also be able to refer you to a lawyer or mediator.

NS Child Welfare Services
Online: novascotia.ca/coms/department/contact/ChildWelfareServices.html

You can also find information about grandparents’ rights advocacy and support groups online or by contacting NS 211.

What is marriage?

Marriage, for civil purposes, is the lawful union of two persons to the exclusion of all others.

Who can marry?

Anyone over 19 years of age may apply for a marriage licence in Nova Scotia. If you are under 19 years of age you must first obtain the consent of both parents. If you are under the age of 16 years you must have the consent of both parents and also get the consent of the Court before you can marry. Your local Deputy Issuer of Marriage Licences has the required consent forms. For a list of Deputy Issuers of Marriage Licenses visit novascotia.ca/sns/access/vitalstats/marriage.asp

You do not have to be a Nova Scotia resident to be married here, but a marriage licence issued in Nova Scotia is only valid in this Province.

Who cannot marry?

Individuals who are presently married are not allowed to remarry before their first marriage has legally ended. Separation is not sufficient. If you want to marry and you were previously divorced, you will be asked to provide final proof of divorce (called Certificate of Divorce or Decree Absolute) when you apply for a marriage licence. If the divorce occurred in another country and the final divorce papers are in another language, you will need to provide a copy of the translated document.

If you were widowed, you must provide proof of death of your spouse.

In addition, the Marriage (Prohibited Degrees) Act prohibits persons who are closely related by marriage, blood or adoption, or who are brother and sister, half brother and half sister, or adopted as a brother and sister from marrying one another (laws-lois.justice.gc.ca)

Who can perform the ceremony?

In Nova Scotia, couples can choose to have either a religious or a civil ceremony. Every ceremony must be witnessed by two people who are at least 16 years of age. Religious groups can refuse to perform marriages that are not in accordance with their religious beliefs.

The religious representative you choose to perform a religious ceremony must be registered with Nova Scotia Vital Statistics under the Solemnization of Marriage Act.

A Justice of the Peace or a Judge will perform a civil ceremony. The Deputy Issuer of Marriage Licences can provide a list of Justices of the Peace authorized to perform marriages in your area. You can also get this list from the Nova Scotia Department of Justice website: http://www.gov.ns.ca/just/

The fee for a religious marriage ceremony is set by agreement between the religious representative and couple being married. The fee for a marriage ceremony performed by a Judge or Justice of the Peace is set by the government.

Who do I contact to get married in Nova Scotia?

To be lawfully married in Nova Scotia, you must contact:

• the Deputy Issuer to apply for a marriage licence, and
• a religious representative, judge or justice of the peace, to perform the ceremony.
• Please see additional questions below for more information, or contact Nova Scotia Vital Statistics.

How do I get a marriage licence in Nova Scotia?

Under the laws of Nova Scotia you must have a marriage licence before getting married in Nova Scotia. The licence does not mean that you are married, but only that you may get married. The licence will expire one year from the date it is issued.

Either you or the person you intend to marry must apply in person to a Deputy Issuer of Marriage Licences in your community. The person applying will have to provide identification and proof of age for both parties to the intended marriage. Information required with identification will include: full name, including given names, age, marital status, and current address.

In Halifax Regional Municipality, you can purchase a marriage licence by appointment with a Deputy Issuer, or from a Halifax Regional Municipality Customer Service Centre during regular business hours. In all other areas of Nova Scotia, you can purchase the licence by appointment with a Deputy Issuer, or from a Service Nova Scotia Access Centre.

Visit novascotia.ca/sns/access/vitalstats/marriage.asp for a list of the Deputy Issuers in each county and their contact information. The fee for a marriage licence is $132.70.

Do I have to register my marriage?

Yes. All marriages performed in Nova Scotia, must be officially registered by the Vital Statistics Office of the Government of Nova Scotia. This formal documentation is your proof of marriage. Registration is not the same as a marriage licence.

The person who performs the marriage ceremony must complete the marriage registration form which becomes the official record of the marriage. He or she must send the completed Registration form to the Deputy Issuer of Marriage Licenses within 48 hours of the marriage ceremony. The Deputy Issuer forwards the Registration Form to the Office of Vital Statistics which registers the marriage and keeps the legal record.

Registration of the marriage registration form is free.

What is a marriage certificate?

At the time of the ceremony, your religious representative or Justice of the Peace or Judge will provide you with a certificate of marriage. This certificate is a "memento" document, and is not legal proof of marriage. After the marriage, and following the receipt and registration of the Marriage Registration Form, you may apply to Vital Statistics for an official Marriage Certificate, which is legal proof of marriage.

To order an official marriage certificate, visit: novascotia.ca/apply-marriage-certificate

How soon can I marry after divorce?

You can marry anytime after your divorce is final and you have a Certificate of Divorce. This usually means 30 days after the judge grants the divorce and provided there is no appeal from your spouse. However, when planning a date for the wedding, keep in mind that it takes five days to get the marriage licence and you won't be able to apply for a licence until you have proof that the divorce is final.  Do not schedule a wedding before your divorce is final.

Do I have to take my spouse's last name when I marry?

No, you may:

• keep using your current last name if you wish, or
• go back to using your given name if you were previously using a former spouse's last name, or
• use a combination of your name and your spouse's name or
• your spouse could take your name.

If I get married outside of Nova Scotia, or outside of Canada, is there anything special I have to do to have the marriage recognized in Canada?

No. All the licensing and legal requirements will be according to the laws in the province, state or country where the marriage is performed. The marriage will be registered where it took place, outside Nova Scotia.

Canada issues 'Statements in lieu of Certificates of Non-Impediment to Marriage Abroad' for persons who want to get married outside Canada in a country where such a document is needed. For more information visit travel.gc.ca/travelling/documents/marriage-overseas.

How do you annul a marriage?

An annulment is a legal declaration that the marriage between two people never came into existence - as though it never happened. There is a presumption (legal starting point) that a marriage ceremony was properly carried out. This presumption can be rebutted if, for example, there is proof that :

• the marriage ceremony was not performed by an authorized person,
• a marriage licence was not obtained, or
• one or both of the parties to the marriage were minors and did not have parental consent.

A marriage may be void (never came into existence) if:

• one of the parties was still married to someone else when the marriage took place
• the marriage violated the Marriage (Prohibited Degrees) Act which prohibits marriage between certain close relatives
• one or both of the parties was incapable of giving consent at the time of the marriage as a result of insanity, illness or intoxication etc.
• one of the parties was acting under duress, or
• one of the parties was mistaken as to the identity of the other party.

Where a marriage is annulled, property reverts to its original owner as if the marriage did not take place. Children of the marriage are not considered to be illegitimate as long as either parent thought the marriage was valid. The children's rights in relation to care, financial support and inheritance from their parents will not be affected.

A religious annulment is not the same as a legal annulment. If you have a religious annulment and you want to remarry, you may have to get a divorce or a legal annulment as well.

What happens if a marriage breaks up?

Where a marriage breaks down, parties must decide whether they wish just to separate or to divorce and formally end the marriage. To get a divorce, one or both of the parties must apply to the court to grant a divorce on the grounds that there has been a breakdown of the marriage. A breakdown of the marriage can be established in Canada in one of three ways:

1) the spouses have lived separate and apart for at least one year,

2) one of the spouses committed adultery,

3) one of the spouses was physically or mentally cruel to the other.

On either separation or divorce, a spouse may be entitled to apply for a parenting order, child support, spousal support and a division of matrimonial property. For more information, please refer to the family law pages relating to separation, divorce, child and spousal support, parenting arrangements and matrimonial property, or go to nsfamilylaw.ca

 

Do common law couples have the same rights to matrimonial property as married couples?

No. The Matrimonial Property Act does not apply to common law relationships. Common law couples cannot ask for a division of property under the Nova Scotia Matrimonial Property Act unless they have a Registered Domestic Partnership.

For information about common law relationships go to nsfamilylaw.ca.

What is matrimonial property

Matrimonial property is any property or assets either spouse owns or obtains before or during the marriage. It doesn’t matter whose name the property is in. The starting point in law (‘presumption’) is that all matrimonial property should be shared equally (50/50) between the spouses if they separate or divorce.

Matrimonial property includes things like:

• Your family home (‘matrimonial home’) if you and/or your spouse own it;
• Other property you or your spouse own and use as a family, such as a cottage;
• Furniture;
• Cars or other vehicles;
• Pensions, including CPP;
• RRSPs (Registered Retirement Savings Plans);
• Cash and savings;
• Income tax refunds;
• Stocks, bonds, GICs and mutual funds; and
• An employment severance package.

There are a few exceptions - see "What is not matrimonial property?" below.

You should talk with a lawyer about the property you own and whether it might be considered matrimonial property.

What is not matrimonial property?

The following are not usually considered matrimonial property:

• A gift or inheritance you or your spouse received from another person. However, it may be matrimonial property if it was used for the benefit of the family. For example, you inherited a cottage and have used it for family vacations;
• An insurance payout or damages awarded to you by a court. For example, an insurance payment for injuries you received in a car crash;
• Personal possessions such as clothes;
• Business assets (ie., property like tools or a factory building used in connection with a commercial business);
• Property that you or your spouse acquired after you separated; or
• Property you agreed to exclude in a pre-nuptial agreement, marriage contract or separation agreement.

What is matrimonial debt?

Matrimonial or family debt is debt that was acquired by both or either spouse during the marriage that was used for ordinary family matters such as household expenses, the mortgage on the family home or debt used to finance a family car. If some debts were acquired after you separated from your spouse they may be considered matrimonial debts if they were used to pay for necessary living expenses or to maintain the house or car or other assets.

How is matrimonial property usually divided?

The general rule is that matrimonial property will be divided equally (50/50) between the spouses.

Each spouse must usually have their assets, and any property they own jointly, valued or appraised. Usually the value is based on the value at the date of separation, although the ‘valuation date’ may be a different date, such as the date when either spouse applies to court for property division.

Once you know the value of your matrimonial property, each spouse should value their matrimonial debts and deduct them from their matrimonial property to get the total or “net” amount of the value of their property.

The spouse with the higher net amount after deducting matrimonial debts from matrimonial property should then pay over 50% of this net amount to the other spouse, either with a transfer of money or property. This ensures that both spouses end up with the same net amount of money and/or property.

For example, the spouses share the $100,000 value of the matrimonial home, meaning each receives $50,000. The amount of matrimonial debt is $10,000 which the spouses agree to share, meaning they each take on $5000 debt and each now has net matrimonial property of $45,000. However, one spouse kept a cottage that was used for family vacations. The cottage is worth $50,000. Therefore, the spouse who kept the cottage now has $95,000 worth of net matrimonial property while the other spouse only has $45,000 of net matrimonial property. The spouse with the higher net matrimonial property must pay over $25,000 to the other spouse so they both end up with the same amount of net matrimonial property (ie., $70,000).

Who decides how matrimonial property is divided?

Spouses can come to an agreement on how to divide their property. You can make this agreement before you enter into the marriage (‘pre-nuptial agreement’), or during the marriage (‘marriage contract’). Or you can agree after you separate. This is called a separation agreement.

Your lawyer and your spouse's lawyer can help you and your spouse work out an acceptable agreement. Coming to an agreement on how to divide your property may be a lot less expensive than going to court to divide your property so you should seriously consider how you may come to a fair agreement with your spouse.

Before you sign any agreement you should get advice from a lawyer. You should not use the same lawyer as your spouse.

If you cannot reach an agreement with your spouse, either of you may apply to court for a division of property under the Matrimonial Property Act. A judge will make an order stating how you are to divide your property. In most cases the judge will order you and your spouse to share your matrimonial assets and debts 50/50. You can apply to court any time after you separate or as part of your divorce.

Can agreements be changed?

Courts are reluctant to change property agreements in a pre-nuptial agreement, marriage contract or separation agreement unless either spouse did not have advice from a lawyer before signing the agreement, or if one spouse hid property and assets from the other spouse at the time of signing the agreement, or if a spouse was pressured into signing the agreement. Courts may also change agreements if the agreement ends up being severely unfair to one spouse.

If you want to try to change an agreement you should get advice from a lawyer.

Can a judge order a division of matrimonial property that is not 50/50?

Yes, but only if a 50/50 division would be unfair. In most situations judges will order a 50/50 division of matrimonial property and will only divide property unequally in limited types of situations. Examples of where this might happen include:

• The marriage or Registered Domestic Partnership was short and one spouse brought most of the property to the relationship;
• One spouse wasted the matrimonial property. For example by gambling away the couple's savings;
• One spouse gave up a career to look after the children so that the other spouse could build his or her business or career;
• One spouse contributed to the education or professional career of the other spouse.

If you feel an equal division of matrimonial property would not be fair, you should talk to a lawyer.

What if our home is only in my spouse's name?

Both spouses have equal rights to live in the family home (‘matrimonial home’) even if only one spouse is on the deed. One spouse is not allowed to sell or mortgage the home without the other spouse's consent. When couples separate or divorce usually one leaves the home. If they cannot agree on who will leave, either may apply to the court for an 'exclusive possession' order. This means that a judge may order one spouse to leave the home. A spouse who is ordered to leave by the court does not lose their ownership interest in the home, just the right to live in the home. A judge will consider which spouse has custody of the children and whether it is in the best interests of the children to stay in the home.

If I leave the home do I give up my rights to share in the matrimonial property?

No. You do not give up rights to share in the matrimonial property by leaving the matrimonial home.

Am I entitled to a share in my spouse's pension?

Yes, you may be. Workplace pensions, RRSPs and Canada Pension Plan credits are valuable matrimonial assets that should not be overlooked. Usually, pensions earned before and during the marriage or Registered Domestic Partnership are divided 50/50, although there may be some exceptions like where the marriage or registered domestic partnership only lasted for a short time.

It is difficult to figure out how much a pension is worth so you may need help from an actuary. Also, pension laws are complicated, so you should talk with a lawyer. You should not give up rights to a share in your spouse's pension without getting legal advice.

Can I share in my spouse's business assets?

Usually business assets (ie., property and assets like tools or a factory building used in connection with a commercial business) are not considered matrimonial assets. This means that unless they are in the name of both spouses they are not assumed to be divided 50/50.

However, you may be entitled to a share of the business assets that are in your spouse’s name if you worked for or helped build or maintain the business. This is especially so if you were not paid or were only paid a small amount for the work you did for the business.

As well, if a 50/50 division of the matrimonial assets and debts does not give you a fair share of what you and your spouse own at the time of separation then you could be entitled to share in some of the business assets. If you think you have a claim against your spouse's business, you should talk with a lawyer

Am I responsible for my spouse's debts that are not matrimonial debts?

As discussed above, as a general rule both spouses are equally responsible for a debt that is in both your name and your spouse’s name. You may also share responsibility for debts in your spouse’s name only, if the money was used to buy something that benefited you and/or your family. Examples are heating oil or a family vacation.

Usually you are not responsible for your spouse's non-matrimonial debts unless you co-signed or guaranteed them. For example, you would not usually be responsible for debts your spouse acquired to run their business, or debts acquired by your spouse before the marriage.

Debt division can be very complicated, so it is best to talk to a lawyer about your options.

I am concerned that my spouse might borrow money on joint accounts or for debts I co-signed, without my consent

For debts that you guaranteed or co-signed for on behalf of your spouse, you should contact the bank and notify them that you and your spouse are separated and you do not consent to be responsible for any further money borrowed by your spouse.

If your spouse has access to a secondary credit card for which you are the primary card holder (ie., your spouse has a copy of a credit card that is in your name only and for which only you are responsible for paying the bills) you should cancel the secondary credit card if you are concerned that they will abuse it.

You should also consider talking to your bank about any joint accounts. You may consider reducing any overdraft that your spouse also has access to and requesting that a joint account be changed to require two signatures to access money in the account.

What else should I think about on separation?

You should consider removing your spouse as your beneficiary on any RRSPs, pension death benefit policies and insurance policies. As well, you should consider seeing a lawyer and getting a new will, enduring power of attorney and personal directive.

Where can I get more information?

For more information about matrimonial property go to nsfamilylaw.ca.

If have a family law problem and need legal advice you should try to see a lawyer. Here are some ways to find a lawyer, including:

• Contact Nova Scotia Legal Aid to see if you qualify for their help. Legal Aid is listed in the telephone book under ‘Legal Aid’, or go to nslegalaid.ca to get contact information for your local Legal Aid office;
• Ways to find a lawyer in private practice (lawyer you would pay)
• Make an appointment with the Summary (brief) Advice Lawyer at the court, for those who do not have a lawyer and are dealing with a family law issue
• Contact the Legal Information Society’s Lawyer Referral Service at 902-455-3135 or 1 800 665-9779 toll free in Nova Scotia

What is mediation?

Mediation is an alternative to court.  It is a way of working out legal disputes together without going to court.  It is a voluntary process.  Both parties must be willing to participate in mediation, and feel comfortable doing so. 

Mediators are neutral, unbiased professionals who are trained in helping spouses or partners come to an agreement, such as a cohabitation agreement or separation agreement. If you are separating you may need help reaching agreement on issues such as who the children will live with, parenting time (access), possession of a family home, debts and support payments.  The mediator helps you plan for the future. Mediators will not decide who is to blame or try to impose an agreement.  Under Canada’s divorce law (the Divorce Act), your lawyer should tell you about the opportunity for mediation and may be able to answer many of your questions about it.

How does mediation work?

Mediators are generally psychologists, lawyers, or other professionals trained in alternative ways to resolve disputes, sometimes called 'alternative, or 'assisted' dispute resolution. Once hired, the mediator will meet with both of you to identify your particular issues.  The mediator will listen to what is important to you and help you to come to your own decisions about the future.  Mediation is a process of compromise and ‘give and take,’ where the aim is that neither party will be a winner or a loser.  Remember, the mediator works for both of you and only wants to help you come to an agreement that you’re both satisfied with.  Each mediation is unique and it will be adapted to the particular needs or wishes of your family.

How do I know if mediation is right for me?

Mediation is generally not appropriate if your spouse or partner abused you or your children in any way, including physically, sexually, emotionally, psychologically, verbally, or financially.

Mediation is voluntary, and you should feel safe and comfortable throughout the process.  Consider mediation only if you feel confident expressing your views, and feel that you and your spouse or partner will be on an even playing field in discussions, and are likely to reach an agreement.

If I hire a mediator, do I also need a lawyer?

Mediators do not give legal advice.  Even if your mediator is also a lawyer, each of you should have your own lawyer.  The mediator will work to find agreement on issues, but you need your own lawyer to ensure that your rights are protected and that the law has been followed.  If the mediation is successful, either the mediator or your lawyer will write a draft agreement.  If the mediator writes the draft, be sure to have your own lawyer review it before you sign.  Once signed, it is a binding contract.  As changes are only allowed if both parties agree or a court orders them your own lawyer’s advice is very important.

I already have a lawyer, can the lawyer be our mediator?

For a successful mediation, both parties must trust the mediator to be completely neutral. Your lawyer’s job is to protect your interests and negotiate on your behalf.  Your lawyer is not neutral.   Lawyers can be mediators, but only where both you and your partner together decide to hire the lawyer specifically for mediation, and not to provide legal advice.  In such a case, the lawyer will act only as the mediator.

How do I decide which mediator is best for me?

Before you hire a particular mediator, you will want to ask about their qualifications, training, experience and fees.  Be sure to discuss with the mediator his or her personal mediating style to see if it meets your needs.  Remember to check if your medical plan covers mediation costs.

How do I find a mediator?

Mediators are listed in the yellow pages of the telephone book, both online and in-print, under ‘Lawyers’ or ‘Marriage, Family & Individual Counsellors’.  You can also contact Family Mediation Canada at www.fmc.ca or 1 800 362-2005, or contact us to request a mediator referral and we will try to help.  Your lawyer may also be able to suggest a mediator.

The Family Court or Supreme Court (Family Division) in your area may also be able to refer you to a mediator.  Go to nsfamilylaw.ca or contact your local court (courts.ns.ca) for more information.

You will also find find further information about family mediation, and other ways of resolving a family law issue without court, online at nsfamilylaw.ca/services/ways-resolve-problem-without-going-court

What is collaborative family law?

Collaborative family law uses a teamwork approach to resolving family law disputes.  The aim is to avoid court.  Each spouse or partner has their own lawyer, but everyone signs an agreement at the outset that they will not go to court.  The process requires open communication and cooperation, and is private and confidential.  The negotiation process involves 4 way meetings which both spouses and their respective lawyers attend.  The meetings should be respectful, balanced and fair.  Relevant financial and other information are shared, as well as costs of any experts that might be agreed upon and hired.  The end result of the process would hopefully be a binding separation agreement or consent court order.

What happens if I decide to go to court after trying the collaborative process?

If either spouse decides to go to court that ends the collaborative process.   At that point each spouse would need to get a new lawyer and basically start from scratch.

Why should I consider mediation or collaborative family law instead of court?

Courts are adversarial, which means that your lawyer will argue for your interests and your partner’s lawyer will argue for his or her interests.  In court decisions, there are sometimes ‘winners’ and ‘losers.’  Unfortunately, this system doesn’t encourage compromise and your direct input is very limited.  For people who wish to develop their own agreement and avoid the court process, mediation or collaborative family law are good alternatives.  Finally, reaching an agreement out of court is often less expensive. 

Non-court alternatives are generally not appropriate where there is a history of family violence or if either spouse or partner is not willing to fully participate in the process.

How do I find a collaborative family law lawyer?

Lawyers who do collaborative law have special training.  To find a collaborative family lawyer contact Collaborative Family Law Nova Scotia at www.collaborativefamilylawyers.ca or look in the telephone book under 'Lawyers'.

I am not getting along with my spouse, should we separate?

Only you can answer that question. A temporary break can help couples deal with problems in a marriage or relationship or it may be the first step in ending the marriage or relationship that is not working out. There are counselling services that can help couples talk about their problems and come to a decision, or to come to terms with whatever decision you make. 

The law does not say that once you are married or once you are in a long-term relationship you must "stick it out". The law does provide ways of dealing with issues that arise as a result of separation.

If you can you should get a lawyer's advice before making a decision, if only to understand fully your rights and responsibilities. Mediation or counselling services may help you deal with problems, come to an agreement or decide what to do. See the 'Mediation and Collaborative family law' page on this website for information about mediation and collaborative law.

How do I get a 'legal' separation?

Once you are no longer living together, you are considered separated, and no further action is required to make it "legal". However, you will need to work out the terms such as a parenting arrangement, child and spousal support, division of property and rights to pensions. Some people choose to write up the terms of their separation in a separation agreement, although the law does not say you have to do this.

Must one of us leave the home before we are considered separated?

Usually when couples separate, one leaves the family home and lives somewhere else. However, it is possible to live under the same roof and be considered separated for legal purposes.

You need to show that you no longer live together as a couple sharing each others lives. This means more than that you are no longer having a sexual relationship. You must show that you no longer perform any functions normally expected of a married couple.

It can be difficult to prove such a situation. You should get legal advice if you and your spouse are living in the matrimonial (family) home but want to be considered "separated".

If I leave the matrimonial home, can I take my things with me?

You have a right to take at least your personal belongings and, if the children are going with you, their personal belongings such as clothes and toys. You may also have a right to take some matrimonial property such as household items to enable you to set up your new home. Each case is different and, if possible, you should get legal advice on your situation before you leave the home. Your lawyer will advise you what you can take with you and what your share of the matrimonial property may be.

You must not give away, sell or destroy household items you take with you.

What if we cannot agree on the terms of separation?

If you cannot agree likely you will have to ask the courts to settle the matter.

In Halifax Regional Municipality and Cape Breton the Nova Scotia Supreme Court (Family Division) deals with all family matters, including divorce and matters arising from the separation such as parenting arrangements, child and spousal support and division of property.

In other areas of the province, the Nova Scotia Supreme Court can deal with these matters or, if you only want to deal with parenting arrangements for children, child and/or spousal support, you can apply to the Family Court. The Family Court cannot deal with division of property or grant a divorce.

A lawyer can help you make the decision as to which court is most appropriate for you.

Can we get help to reach an agreement on the terms of separation?

Your lawyer acts on your behalf and works to make sure that any agreement is in your best interests.

You and your spouse may also wish to reach an agreement through a mediation process. A mediator is an independent person who will work with both spouses to help you reach an agreement you both can live with. Before you sign anything, you should take the agreement to your lawyer to make sure that your rights are protected and the terms are explained to you.

Your lawyer may be able to suggest a qualified mediator, or you can contact Family Mediation Canada.  Mediators are also listed in the yellow pages of the telephone book, or you can contact the Legal Information Society at 1 800 665-9779 or 902-455-3135, or by email or live chat to request a mediator referral. 

Another approach is collaborative family law, where lawyers and spouses agree not to go to court, and work together to reach an agreement.  You can find out more about collaborative family law, and find a list of lawyers who are trained in the collaborative approach, at www.collaborativefamilylawyers.ca

If you are going to the Supreme Court (Family Division) you will meet with a conciliator who facilitates the exchange of information between spouses and identifies issues. The conciliator may help you and your spouse draft an agreement if you apply to the court.

Also visit nsfamilylaw.ca for more information about mediation, conciliation, and other ways to resolve family law issues without going to court.

What sorts of things should we put in the separation agreement?

A separation agreement usually describes the terms of your separation. Your lawyer will advise you on what terms will best protect your interests and meet your needs.

Following are some things to include in an agreement:

• who will have primary care of the children or if the parenting time will be shared;
• the arrangements for time with the children;
• the arrangements for child support;
• whether one spouse will pay spousal support for the other, and if so, how much and for how long;
• will the family home be sold - if not, who will live there?
• who will pay for the mortgage, the repairs, and insurance on the home;
• if the home is sold, how will the profit be divided;
• how will other family property be divided such as pensions, furniture, car, and savings;
• how will family debts be paid;
• who will pay for insurance policies and who will be the beneficiary;
• how will the agreement be adjusted if circumstances change;
• will the separation agreement form the terms of a divorce agreement.

When you are discussing child support, you should keep in mind the child support guidelines. They provide a guide to the level of child support based on the number of children and the income of the paying parent. See the page on child support for more information.

The agreement can also include a term that says you and your spouse agree not to harass or interfere with each other.

The separation agreement does not have to be made as soon as you separate. It can be made at any time before a divorce. However, the sooner you can agree on the terms of the separation, the sooner you will be certain of your and your spouse's rights and responsibilities.

Must the agreement be in writing?

No. You and your spouse can verbally agree to the terms of your separation. However, for your protection you should put the terms into a written agreement. If it is not in writing, it may be harder to prove what you agreed should a dispute arise at a later date. Do not sign any agreement until you have talked with a lawyer.

Can I be forced to sign a separation agreement?

No. A separation agreement is only valid if both spouses voluntarily agree to the terms and sign the document. Once the agreement is signed, it is a legally binding contract and can be enforced through the courts. Before signing a separation agreement you and your spouse should have legal advice. You should not use the same lawyer.

Can an agreement be enforced?

Yes. However, enforcing an unwritten agreement can be difficult since often there is only your word against your spouse's about what you agreed to.

The usual way of enforcing parenting arrangements in a written agreement is through the court. In Halifax Regional Municipality and Cape Breton you register it in the Supreme Court (Family Division). In other areas of the province, you need to register the agreement with the Family Court. You can register the signed agreement by delivering a copy to the court.

If your agreement is not registered with the Family Court, you can apply to enforce it through the Nova Scotia Supreme Court. Going to the Supreme Court is more complicated and costly than going to Family Court.

Orders for support made by the Supreme Court, Family Court or Supreme Court (Family Division) are automatically registered with the Maintenance Enforcement Program (MEP).  Visit the Nova Scotia Maintenance Enforcement Program website at mep.novascotia.ca/ for more information.

Is it a good idea to have a separation agreement?

If you and your spouse can agree to the terms of separation and can set them out in a written agreement, you can save time and money.

• The separation will take less of a toll on your emotions and on those of your children. Going to court to fight over child support, spousal support, parenting arrangements or property can be a stressful, drawn-out and unpleasant experience for any family.
• If you have a written separation agreement, your rights and obligations are set out as soon as the agreement is signed. You do not have to wait for court dates and other delays.
• If you later decide to divorce, you can include the terms of the separation agreement in the divorce order.
• If you are making support payments to your spouse under a written agreement, you may be able to claim them on your income tax form. You should talk with a lawyer, an accountant or Canada Revenue Agency about spousal support payments and income tax.
• It can be helpful for establishing dates of your separation for Canada Pension Plan credit splitting. However, administrators of employment pensions may require a court order and not just a separation agreement. You should check with your lawyer or with the pension-plan administrators.

Must a lawyer draw-up the agreement?

While you can draw up your own agreement, it is not wise to do so. A separation agreement is an important legal document that will affect your rights and responsibilities. You should get legal advice on those rights and responsibilities from a lawyer, discuss possible terms with your spouse, and then have your lawyer draw up a formal agreement.

You should not sign any document that may affect your rights until you have spoken with a lawyer. Your lawyer can make sure that the agreement covers all the necessary issues.

If you cannot agree on the terms of separation, a lawyer or mediator may be able to help you work it out. You and your spouse should not use the same lawyer.

Can the agreement be changed once it is signed?

Yes. It is possible to change an agreement.

• If you have a verbal agreement, you can change it by agreeing to the new terms. However, it is difficult to enforce a verbal agreement since it will only be your word against that of your spouse.
• If you have a written agreement, it may have a provision allowing for it to be adjusted to meet changing circumstances. Or, you and your spouse can agree to changes. The changes should be put in writing and witnessed. If the agreement is registered in the court, and you cannot agree on changes, you can apply to the court to settle the matter.

Keep in mind that once the agreement is signed it is a binding contract. Judges are reluctant to change agreements. The judge will have to be convinced that both spouses agree to the changes or that the terms of the agreement are unduly harsh and you did not have legal advice before you signed it or that you were forced into signing it.

Are there other matters to consider when we separate?

Yes, depending on your situation. You should review the terms of your will, life and health insurance, RRSPs, TFSAs and other financial instruments where you've named your spouse as beneficiary. A lawyer can advise you on these matters.