Ministry of AG releases White Paper on Family Relations Act Reform

The Ministry of Attorney General for British Columbia has released its White Paper on Family Relations Act Reform. The White Paper contemplates repealing British Columbia's main family-law statute, the Family Relations Act, and replacing it with a new act. The White Paper proposes far-reaching changes in many areas of family law. Included in it are proposals to implement recommendations found in four BCLI reports:

• Report on the Parental Support Obligation in Section 90 of the Family Relations Act
  
  
• Report on Pension Division on Marriage Breakdown: A Ten Year Review of Part 6 of the Family Relations Act
  
  
• Report on Appointing a Guardian and Standby Guardianship
  
  
• Report on the Need for Uniform Jurisdiction and Choice of Law Rules in Domestic Property Proceedings.

The ministry is seeking comments on the White Paper. The comment period runs to 8 October 2010. To review a copy of the White Paper, please visit the consultations page on the Ministry of Attorney General website.