On Wednesday June 24, 2020, the Manitoba government announced a new family resolution service to help resolve disputes outside court.
“Couples and families who are separating are currently dependent on the court system, which can be adversarial, complex, expensive and slow,” said Justice Minister Cliff Cullen. “This can fuel hostilities and slow the resolution of disputes, which has a negative effect on the emotional and physical well-being of the participants, especially children.”
The first phase of the family resolution service will expand front-end support and out of court options including being able to access support electronically.
Families will be able to access resolution support services delivered by family guides with expertise in domestic violence, safety planning, conflict resolution, mediation, family law and court processes.
There will also be a number of self-service tools and a resource inventory that is searchable by region and issue as well as support to help complete any prerequisites for court.
Families can still pursue in-court options and appear before a judge if they still require but the minister noted that the new service is expected to take thousands of matters out of the court and reduce court and legal fees for families.
© News4.ca 2020
