SASKATOON - Families in Saskatchewan navigating divorce and separation in the court system now have more options, with help from a number of innovative Family Law programs and services available to them.
Legal Aid Saskatchewan and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Institute recently gave an update on these Family Law programs at an event in Saskatoon on July 16. The aim is by offering more alternative programs to families, it will result in fewer adversarial and litigious cases going through the court process.
The province said there has been a 20 to 25 per cent reduction in the number of contested family law applications in Saskatoon, Regina and Prince Albert as more families look for alternative ways to resolve disputes. Across the province, 450 families no longer require the services of a court to adjudicate their family law disputes. This helps reduce the costs for court proceedings, and also can lighten some of the emotional strain on families.
Many people have been using the Family Law Information Centre (FLIC) in recent years. In 2023-24, FLIC assisted 4,439 callers, responded to 12,176 emails and met with 172 people in person. A total of 847 people attended a drop-in family law help session at one of the six locations in the province. As well, a total of 3,787 Family Law self-help kits were sent out.
On the advances in programs, ADR Institute of Saskatchewan Executive Director Debbie Brown said in a release the "new changes promote alternative dispute resolution for families in Saskatchewan and will lessen the conflict experienced by families."
Legal Aid Saskatchewan echoed Brown's sentiments.
"Today, we focus on early intervention through mediation, with court as a last resort for our clients," Legal Aid Saskatchewan Chief Executive Officer Jayne Mallin said. "We provide clients with mediation services through our experienced, trained and dedicated lawyers [and] mediators."
The following programs are available through the province's Family Law Services branch to assist families: Child Support Service, Mandatory Family Dispute Resolution, the Parenting After Separation Program, the Family Law Information Centre, and the Family Law Screening Program.
The Family Law Information Centre is able to provide family law self-help kits, videos, information and service referrals to help families that can't afford to hire a lawyer or represent themselves in Family Court.
Another resource to families, the Family Law Screening program in Regina and Saskatoon was started in 2022 to review family court applications to ensure they meet the requirements for the court process. Officers are also trained to look for risk factors and warning signs of family violence, and to make referrals.
The Parenting After Separation Program helps families who need to make emotional and lifestyle changes as part of divorce and separation. In 2023-24, close to 1,300 people competed courses through the program.
Mandatory Family Dispute Resolution was adopted in the province in 2022. This program requires families to take part in family mediation, arbitration, parenting coordination, or collaborative law before heading to Family Court.
Federal Justice Minister Arif Virani says by partnering with the province and directing $285,654 over two years to Child Support Services, the funding will help families "determining child support amounts without the need for court intervention, making the process more accessible and affordable."
