Glossary - Abuse and Family Violence
In Child abuse and neglect, Family Law
A Crown ward is a child under the age of 18 years who has been taken away from their parents’ care by the court and is in the care of a children’s aid society (CAS). The CAS makes all of the decisions for the child that their parents would normally make.
In Child abuse and neglect, Domestic violence, Family Law
The new term for custody is decision-making responsibility for most family law cases. If you have a child protection case, the term custody may still be used.
Decision-making responsibility or custody is the right to make important decisions about how to care for and raise a child. It includes the right to make decisions about the child’s health, education, religion, and important extra-curricular activities.
The parents can agree to or the court can give:
- one parent all decision-making responsibility,
- 2 or more parents decision-making responsibility, or
- different parents separate responsibilities, for example, one parent makes decisions about the child’s health and another parent makes decisions about the child’s religion.
In Abuse and Family Violence, Family Law
Customary care is the type of care a First Nations, Inuk, or Métis child might get if they can’t be cared for by their parents. It means the child is cared for in a way that considers their First Nations, Inuk, or Métis community’s culture, heritage, traditions, and who they see as family.
In Abuse and Family Violence, Family Law, Tribunals and Courts
Direct examination is when one party, or their lawyer if they have one, questions their own witnesses. These are witnesses you ask to testify or speak in support of your court case. Direct examination is also called examination-in-chief.
In Abuse and Family Violence, Family Law
Duty counsel are private lawyers or Legal Aid Ontario staff lawyers who give legal help right away to people who appear in court that day without a lawyer if their income is low enough. They give free legal advice and can help negotiate and settle issues, but they can’t take on a whole case or represent a person at trial.
In Child abuse and neglect, Family Law
A child is in extended society care when they are in the care and custody of the Children’s Aid Society and they have to stay in their care until one of the following happens:
- the court changes the order
- the child turns 18
- the child gets married
- the child is adopted
In Abuse and Family Violence, Criminal Law, Family Law
Family violence refers to the many different forms of abuse, neglect, or harm that an adult or child may experience in their close, personal relationships. It is also called domestic violence or partner abuse when one partner abuses the other partner.
In Abuse and Family Violence, Child abuse and neglect, Family Law
Independent legal advice (ILA) is when you get your own legal advice from a lawyer. The advice is independent because your lawyer is only working for you. A different lawyer works for the other parent or any other party.
In Abuse and Family Violence, Criminal Law
An intimate image or video is one that was taken in circumstances that give rise to a reasonable expectation of privacy, and shows the person:
- naked,
- exposing their genital region, buttocks, or breasts, or
- engaged in explicit sexual activity.
It is a criminal offence to publish, distribute, share, or sell intimate images of someone without their consent. In order to be found guilty of this offence, the person in the image must continue to have a reasonable expectation of privacy at the time you commit the offence.
In Child abuse and neglect, Domestic violence, Family Law
Mediation is an alternative dispute resolution process where people who don’t agree on something meet with someone called a mediator. The mediator is a neutral person trained to help people agree on their issues without taking sides. The mediator’s goal is to help them find a solution that they agree on. A mediator does not make decisions or force anyone to agree to anything.
A mediator is sometimes also called a facilitator.
