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Difference between revisions of "Family Violence in the Family Law Act and the Divorce Act"

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Essentially, the court is required to look at the family violence in the overall context of the couple and the history and present circumstances of their relationship. When a child is a family member, under s. 185, the court must also consider:
Essentially, the court is required to look at the family violence in the overall context of the couple and the history and present circumstances of their relationship. When a child is a family member, under s. 185, the court must also consider:


*whether the child might be exposed to family violence if a protection order isn't made, and,
*whether the child might be exposed to family violence if a protection order isn't made, and
*whether a protection order should also be made for the protection of the child.
*whether a protection order should also be made for the protection of the child.


Recent court decisions like ''[http://canlii.ca/t/gf0ng Hughes v. Erickson]'', 2014 BCSC 1952 show that a protection order will not be made without evidence that family violence will likely occur. ''[http://canlii.ca/t/gf0ng Hughes v. Erickson]'', 2014 BCSC 1952  Even one act of physical violence may suggest that violence is ''likely'' to occur in the future.  It is not enough for the person asking for a protection order to say that they are afraid or at risk of violence; evidence must be presented of one of the s. 184 risk factors to allow the court to decide if it should grant a protection order ''[http://canlii.ca/t/g7rnf Whitelock v. Whitelock]'', 2014 BCSC 1184.
Recent court decisions like ''[http://canlii.ca/t/gf0ng Hughes v. Erickson]'', 2014 BCSC 1952 show that a protection order will not be made without evidence that family violence will likely occur. Even one act of physical violence may suggest that violence is ''likely'' to occur in the future.  It is not enough for the person asking for a protection order to say that they are afraid or at risk of violence; evidence must be presented of one of the s. 184 risk factors to allow the court to decide if it should grant a protection order ''[http://canlii.ca/t/g7rnf Whitelock v. Whitelock]'', 2014 BCSC 1184.


===Protection order terms===
===Protection order terms===