The infliction of harm on a person. It involves any act, or failure to act, that jeopardizes the health and/or well-being of a person.

Also called ‘visitation’ or ‘parenting time,’ refers to the time the children spend with the parent that they do not live with.

There are three basic types of access, or ‘visiting,’ arrangements. They are:

Reasonable access: a term in a court order, separation agreement, or parenting plan that allows the child to visit or spend time with a parent at times arranged and agreed upon by both parents. Using the term ‘reasonable access’ gives parents flexibility to make their own arrangements without sticking to a specified schedule.

Specified access: a term in a court order, separation agreement, or parenting plan that sets out certain times for the child to be able to visit with a parent. The terms can be open‑ended (‘every second Tuesday’), or specific (‘every second Tuesday at 6 pm, to be picked up at Tim Horton’s on 123 Main Street’).

Supervised access: a term in a court order, separation agreement, or parenting plan that means a child only spends time with that parent with another adult present. Supervised access is generally ordered in unusual situations where there is some risk to the safety of the child, for example, where there has been abuse, substance abuse issues, risk of abduction, or untreated mental health issues.

See ‘Assessments’

A law, or ‘piece of legislation,’ passed by a federal or provincial government.

A delay or postponement of a court hearing or trial.

A court process that creates a parent-child relationship between two people, usually an adult and a child, where that child is not the adult’s biological child. In some situations, a person can apply to adopt someone in their family, like a grandchild.

A written statement of fact that is sworn or affirmed under oath as being the truth. This means that the person whose affidavit it is has to take it to a lawyer or Commissioner of Oaths (or in some cases, a notary) to have that person witness their signature on the affidavit. A party or witness may file an affidavit as a way of giving evidence to the court.

Generally, the age at which a child is now considered an adult. The age of majority is 19 years in Nova Scotia. It may be different in other provinces.

See ‘Spousal support’

Refers to ways to settle disputes or differences without going to court. Mediation is an example of an Alternative Dispute Resolution process.

When a marriage is declared null and void, as if it never existed in the first place. This requires evidence and a complicated court application. You will not qualify for an annulment based solely on the short length of your marriage. Even if you were only married for a day or two before separating from your spouse, you likely still have to use the regular divorce process to end your marriage. Annulments are very rare, and can only be used in certain situations - usually dealing with lack of consent or fraud.

The formal response to a Petition for Divorce which states the Respondent’s position. An Answer must be filed with the court and served on the Petitioner within a set number of days after the Petition has been served. An Answer is used to show that the Respondent contests something being asked for by the Petitioner in the divorce.

A review, by a higher court, of a decision made by a lower court. There must be legal grounds or reasons to appeal, such as that the lower court has made an error in the way the law was applied to the case. You can’t appeal just because you disagree with or do not like the judge’s decision.

A person who starts an application in court.

Filing an application is a way of asking the court to make an order. An application states what type of order the person is looking for (what issues they want to deal with). Applications are generally started when the Applicant completes and files required documents with the court.

One way to start the divorce process in Nova Scotia, where only one spouse would apply for the divorce, but both spouses must sign documents agreeing to the divorce. An Application for Divorce by Written Agreement can only be filed if all issues are agreed upon by both spouses. Based on one year’s separation, documents can only be filed after the one year separation period has elapsed.

Judges of the court may order that an assessment be completed in exceptional circumstances if parties have children and professional information is needed to help the judge decide what kind of parenting arrangements will be in the child’s best interests. Assessments are carried out by professionals who are court-appointed. The assessor will be asked to prepare a detailed written report and make recommendations about the parenting arrangements and other steps that might need to be taken by parents that will benefit the child.

There are different types of assessments. What type of assessment is ordered will depend on the facts of the case and the needs of the parties and the child. Some assessments may be a combination of the various types explained below.

Access assessments are used to make recommendations about what arrangements are best for the children when having contact with the parent that they do not live with. A home study will be conducted.

In a child’s wishes assessment, the child or children are interviewed by a professional to determine their preferences in parenting arrangements. The assessor will make sure that the child has not been coached or persuaded by anyone or anything to make a certain decision, and will ensure that the child is mature enough to have a say in the proceedings.

In custody and access assessments, the assessor carries out home studies and speaks with witnesses and other professionals to make recommendations about what parenting arrangements or other interventions are best for the child.

In parental capacity assessments, the assessor must look at whether or not one or both of the parents are able to safely parent the child and what interventions might be used to help the parents learn new skills to be able to parent better. Recommendations about the custody and access arrangements will be made and home studies will be conducted.

In psychological assessments, the assessor makes parenting and/or access recommendations, but will also give information about whether there are psychological issues involving a parent or child that could affect the parenting arrangements. A psychologist or psychiatrist will be asked to perform special testing as part of their work and will make recommendations around parenting and possible therapy that are in the child’s best interests.