The Divorce Act Changes Explained

Contact Orders

Contents of contact order
(Section 16.5(5), Divorce Act)

New section

Contents of contact order

(5) The court may, in the contact order,

(a) provide for contact between the applicant and the child in the form of visits or by any means of communication; and

(b) provide for any other matter that the court considers appropriate.
Old section

None.

What is the change

A contact order can authorize contact with a child in the form of visits or by any form of communication. A court can also deal with other matters in a contact order if it considers it appropriate to do so.

Reason for the change

Along with in-person visits, the court can order contact by other forms of communication, including telephone calls, texts and video chats, such as Skype and FaceTime.

When

March 1, 2021.