SASKATOON – Trying to understand family law when it comes to divorce or separation can be daunting. For those without a lawyer, it can be downright overwhelming.
“The toll that unresolved family law issues takes on families and society as a whole is widely recognized,” said Joel Janow, the executive director of the Public Legal Education Association of Saskatchewan.
“Our office deals with people on a daily basis who are unable to resolve family law issues because they cannot afford a lawyer and do not qualify for legal aid,” said Janow.
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Janow hopes a new website – the first of its kind in Canada – will change that. PLEA has launched Family Law Saskatchewan which aims to make it easier for people to find the information they need when dealing with the consequences of a family breakdown.
The site offers information on a wide range of topics in plain language. Among those covered are grounds for divorce, child and spousal support information and property division.
As for court forms, a free wizard will help people fill out the necessary paperwork by providing step-by-step instructions unique to their situation. Help text and links are provided during the process.
“We are very excited that we can now offer these people, and those that assist them, a way to move forward,” said Janow.
PLEA said the site is also useful for those who have or plan to have a lawyer but caution in all cases, the information provided is not the same as going to a lawyer.
The project was made possible by funding from the access to justice fund from the Law Foundation of Ontario.
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