The Divorce Act Changes Explained
Definitions
Decision-making responsibility
(Section 2(1), Divorce Act)
New section
decision-making responsibility means the responsibility for making significant decisions about a child’s well-being, including in respect of
(a) health;
(b) education;
(c) culture, language, religion and spirituality; and
(d) significant extra-curricular activities; (responsabilités décisionnelles)Old section
None.
What is the change
The amendment defines “decision-making responsibility.”
Reason for the change
The Act authorizes a court to assign responsibility for making significant decisions about a child’s life. The decisions might relate to the child’s
- health, such as whether to undergo a medical procedure
- education, such as choice of school
- culture, language, religion and spirituality, such as which faith the child will follow, if any
- significant extra-curricular activities, meaning activities that require a relatively large investment of the parents’ time or financial resources
This is only a partial list; decision-making responsibility can include many other important decisions about a child. Anyone who has decision-making responsibility must base relevant decisions on the best interests of the child.
When
March 1, 2021.
- Date modified: