New and updated pages on LegalAve.ca - June 6, 2017

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The legal system is constantly changing. Over time, new laws are added and existing laws are changed. The ALIS team works hard to keep up with these changes. We regularly update LegalAve to reflect such changes. We also make stylistic edits, add new resources, and expand on the topics discussed on Information Pages. Below are the Information Pages we recently added and updated. Learn more about these topics in Alberta, including what the law says, legal processes, common questions, and myths.

New Information Pages

• Child Protection
• Family Violence & the Legal Process
• Family Violence: How Criminal & Civil Law Can Help
• Pregnancy & Birth
• Understanding the Court System & Processes
• Having a Child: Legal Considerations & Government Benefits

Updated Information Pages  

• Protective Orders
• Animal Abuse
• Child Abuse
• Partner Abuse
• What is Family Violence?
• Safety Planning
• Children's Rights
• Dealing with a Death in the Family
• New Relationships & Out-of-Province Issues
• Family Breakdown & the Immigration Process
• Child support under the Family Law Act
• Family Breakdown if You Live on Reserve
• Spousal support under the Divorce Act
• Ending a married relationship under the Divorce Act
• Custody & Access under the Divorce Act
• Family Breakdown & Out-of-Province Issues
• Working with a Lawyer

Visit www.legalave.ca/family-law for a list of all Information Pages on LegalAve.

New Common Questions

• Where can I find a shelter for my children and me?
• What is marital rape? Is it illegal?
• If someone is being abused, why doesn’t she or he just leave?
• How do I use the internet safely without my abusive partner knowing?
• Is stalking someone illegal?
• Am I entitled to more property if my spouse was abusive or cheated on me?
• I just left my abusive relationship. What do I do next? Can anyone help me?
• What should I take with me if I decide to leave my abusive relationship?
• I want to leave my abusive home, but I don’t want to leave my pet. Can I include my pet in my safety plan?
• I’m afraid my abusive partner will find my safety plan. What else can I do?
• I am in a family violence situation. What should I include in my safety plan?
• Child Protective Services has taken my child. What are my rights?
• What does it mean when Child Protective Services talks about “intervention”?
• When does Child Protective Services get involved with a family?
• What is Child Protective Services?
• What is an “Affidavit of Service”?
• How do I get help filling out court forms?
• What are adjournments?
• My ex and I live in different parts of the province. How do I know where to go to court?
• What are the rules of court and why does it matter?
• How do I appeal a court’s decision?
• What is an “ex parte” application? Can anything be applied for ex parte?
• What can I do if I can't find the other party to serve them the paperwork?
• What does it mean to serve documents to someone?
• I’m told I have to “swear” my documents before I can file them. What if something in them is not true?
• I need to serve my ex-partner with court paperwork. Can I just give the paperwork to my minor child to give to the other parent?
• How do I complain about a judge?
• Can I talk to a judge privately?
• What are “interim” orders?
• What is a “cause of action” and why does it matter?
• Can I be considered a parent to the child that is made with my donated reproductive materials (sperm or eggs)?
• Do I have to get counselling before using assisted reproduction?
• Do I have to speak to a lawyer before using assisted reproduction?
• Can we use assisted reproduction to make sure that we have a baby that is the particular sex (boy or girl) that we want?
• What is the difference between gestational surrogacy and traditional surrogacy?
• Does Alberta Health Care pay for fertility treatments?
• What is the difference between insemination and in vitro fertilization?
• Can a child have more than 2 guardians?
• At my job interview, can they ask me how soon I plan to have children?
• Do children need to take the last name of either the mom or the dad?
• The daycare staff at my workplace are willing to bring my baby up to my office when he is ready to be breastfed. Can my boss refuse to allow that?
• Can I arrange for my baby to be adopted while I am still pregnant?
• Do I have to put the name of the other parent on my baby’s birth certificate?
• What are the requirements to consent to an abortion?
• Will Alberta Health Care Insurance pay for an abortion?
• I’ve heard that employers have a duty to accommodate pregnant employees. What is a “duty to accommodate”?
• Does my employer have to pay me while I am on maternity or parental leave?

Visit www.legalave.ca/common-questions for a complete list of all the common questions about family law on LegalAve.

New Myths

• I shouldn’t practice my safety plan with my children because it will just scare them more.
• A safety plan will only put me and my children in more danger.
• I can’t leave my abusive situation because I can’t afford to break my lease.
• “Going to court” is the same thing as “going to trial.”
• Once I have made an embryo, I am free to use it however I want.
• As long as we have a written contract, I can use someone else’s sperm or eggs even if they change their mind
• I don’t need my partner to give their consent before I can use their sperm or eggs to make a baby. 
• When a baby dies during birth, an autopsy must be performed.
• If I want to receive my prenatal and birth care from a midwife, I will have to pay for it myself.
• I cannot lift heavy packages at work because I am pregnant. My coworkers constantly complain about this and call me a slacker, but I guess I just have to put up with it.

Visit www.legalave.ca/myths for a complete list of all the myths about family law on LegalAve.

Glossary

Visit www.legalave.ca/lexicon for a list of legal terms and definitions used on LegalAve.