View source for Further Topics and Overlapping Legal Issues in Family Law

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| Related = 
[[Aboriginal Families]]{{·}}[[Immigrants and Family Law]]{{·}}[[Same-Sex Relationships and Issues Affecting Transgendered and Transsexual People]]{{·}}[[Naming and Changes of Name]]{{·}}[[Wills and Estates Issues in Family Law]]{{·}}[[Conflict of Laws]]
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|ChapterEditors = [[Rhaea Bailey]], [[Taruna Agrawal]], [[Todd Bell]], [[Bob Mostar]] and [[Mark Norton]]
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==Further topics for specific communities==
While family law has evolved to treat many minority groups, such as same-sex couples, in the same way as it treats the majority, this is not always true. People are sometimes subject to different laws in certain circumstances. 

The resource you're reading has been updated to explain and recognize some of the ways laws apply differently to specific communities. Parts of this chapter deal with further topics unique to [[Aboriginal Families|Aboriginal families]] and/or those living on reserves, [[Immigrants and Family Law|newcomers to Canada]] and those who support or rely on them, and [[Same-Sex Relationships and Issues Affecting Transgendered and Transsexual People| the LGBTQ community]].

===Aboriginal families===
Aboriginal people exist in a unique legal environment arising from the fact that they are the first peoples of what is now known as Canada. Aboriginal people's longstanding occupancy and use of these lands give rise to ''Aboriginal rights'' which became constitutionally protected when s. 35 of the ''Constitution Act, 1982'' was enacted over 30 years ago. The ''Constitution'' recognizes and affirms aboriginal and treaty rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples of Canada.
 
This chapter focuses on issues in family law that affect BC's Aboriginal families. While all of the usual factors apply to Aboriginal families, courts must also pay attention to Aboriginal ancestry, culture and traditions when they make decisions, including determining the best interests of Aboriginal children. This is because Aboriginal children have the right to keep a connection to their culture and heritage, which are the strong foundations of many Aboriginal families. This section briefly reviews particular issues unique to Aboriginal families, including: 
*the care of children, 
*child support 
*spousal support, and 
*family property and family debt. 

The section on [[Aboriginal Families]] also briefly addresses issues caused by the ''[http://canlii.ca/t/7vhk Indian Act]'', a law which has allowed the government to control most aspects of Aboriginal life since its inception in 1876. 

===Newcomers to Canada and their families===
Many Canadian families are the product of Canadian citizens or permanent residents who partner with people from other countries. ''Sponsorship'' by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of a foreign spouse this creates legal issues that are unique to families with members who are immigrants or refugees. 

In 2017, the Canadian government introduced some important changes to the rules surrounding sponsored spouses. The updates in this chapter address those changes and provides information on:

* support obligations of sponsors, and
* agencies that help immigrants and refugees.

===LGBQT issues in family law===
Not too long ago, this resource had an entire chapter about the particular issues affecting those in same-sex relationships. A stand-alone chapter for same-sex relationships, however, is no longer necessary. 

For the last 30 years or so, there has been a steady erosion of legislated discrimination between opposite- and same-sex relationships. While gays and lesbians may have to deal with homophobia and intolerance in their day-to-day lives, at least the discrimination that used to exist because of legislation has been on the wane. From the [http://canlii.ca/t/5239 Little Sisters decision] on censorship to ''[http://canlii.ca/t/1frkt Egan v. Canada]'', [1995] 2 SCR 513 on spousal benefits, the courts of Canada have proven increasingly willing to extend the protection of the ''[http://canlii.ca/t/8q7l Charter of Rights and Freedoms]'' to overturn discriminatory legislation and, after some initial resistance, the governments of Canada have followed <span class="noglossary">suit</span>.

Gays and lesbians are just as entitled as straight people to pursue claims relating to: 
*the care of children, 
*child support, 
*spousal support, and 
*the division of property 

Sexual orientation plays no part in the division of family property, nor is it a factor in determining issues relating to children or support.

This said, legal uncertainty exists for people who are trans or gender non-binary, at least in some contexts. The section on ''[[Same-Sex Relationships and Issues Affecting Transgendered and Transsexual People#Issues affecting transgendered and transsexual people|Issues affecting transgendered and transsexual people]]'' discusses some of the difficulties that the law has in serving people who traverse the gender spectrum.

==Overlapping legal issues==

Problems like children's parenting arrangements, the payment of support, and the division of property are the everyday issues that crop up when a relationship breaks down. There is a whole host of other legal issues that fall under the family law umbrella, and it's a big umbrella. 

This chapter takes a look at a selection of relatively common family law problems. It talks about issues affecting: 

*the overlap between wills and estates law and family law, and 
*what happens when people and property are located in different legal jurisdictions.

{{REVIEWED | reviewer = [[Nate Russell]], July 20, 2017}}

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