Want Custody of your children? Well sorry, you can’t have it, because it’s not a thing anymore.
As of March 1, 2021, the definitions Custody and Access have been repealed. In their place, the Divorce Act now uses the terms Decision-Making Responsibility and Parenting Time.
If you’re thinking potato-potahto; the new terms mean essentially the same as the old ones, so why bother with the change? Well, you’re right…but also wrong.
Over time, the words Custody and Access acquired unintended emotional baggage. Time, money, and heartache went into fighting for Custody as if having Custody meant you were the better parent. To save everyone a lot of grief, the decision was made to switch over to neutral words, to terminology that didn’t make one parent good, and the other bad.
This new terminology is meant to reduce conflict between separated parents. They are no longer fighting over Custody of their children to prevent themselves from becoming an Access Only parent. They are now seeking a Parenting Time schedule that will work best for their children, and figuring out who will be responsible for making which decisions for their kids. This should spark less conflict, with means saving parents time, money, and aggravation, and making their children a whole lot happier too. That sounds much better, doesn’t it?
Same, same, but also totally different.
If you would like to learn more about this, and other changes that come with this new legislation, reach out to us for a free consultation.