Family Law Committee, Meeting for Family Lawyers
Date: Monday, November 27, 2023
Time: 3pm-5pm
Location: Law Society Education Center (BDC Building, 119 Kent St., Suite 300, Charlottetown)
The newly-formed Family Law Committee of the LSPEI invites lawyers practicing family law in PEI to this meeting. At the meeting, lawyers will have the opportunity to raise issues of interest and concern and offer ideas for improving family law practice on PEI. Also, the committee would like members’ input on several issues:
- Petition for partition (Part III of Real Property Act, Rule 66 – Partition Proceedings) – At the June 2 family law bench and bar meeting, there was discussion about requesting legislative changes in this area. In addition to seeking amendments under the Real Property Act, this Committee seeks family lawyers’ input on whether some or all relief provisions in the Family Law Act should be extended to common law spouses.
- Police enforcement of parenting time provisions in court orders – It was agreed at the June 2 family bench and bar event that a meeting should be convened to problem-solve the issue of lack of and inconsistent enforcement of parenting clauses in orders. Meeting invitees will include relevant stakeholders such as representatives from the court, police services across PEI, and family law lawyers. The committee seeks input from family law lawyers in advance of invitations being circulated for this meeting.
- Family law arbitration – Should there be family law arbitration on PEI to enable out-of-court arbitration of some family law disputes?
- Lack of family law lawyers – There is a shortage of family law lawyers on PEI. What might encourage more lawyers to practice family law?
Lawyers may provide comments on the above issues at the meeting on November 27 and/or by emailing them to Matthew Walters (
mtwalters@gov.pe.ca) before the meeting.
Approved for CPD
