Understanding Family Violence in Family Court Proceedings addresses the growing recognition in Canadian legislation and case law of the need to more effectively address intimate partner violence in family court, with a focus on protecting the safety, well-being, and economic interests of victims and their children post-separation, while also including essential material for professionals working with those who commit family violence.

Written by a team of interdisciplinary experts, the book explores various forms of abuse and coercive control, ongoing harassment and emotional abuse after separation, the use of litigation as a tool of abuse, and family violence issues related to parenting and economic matters in post-separation family court cases. Contributors include leading practitioners, scholars in family law and domestic violence, and retired judges, with a foreword by former Chief Justice of Canada, Beverly McLachlin. Offering invaluable insights and practical guidance, Understanding Family Violence in Family Court Proceedings is essential reading for experienced family lawyers, judges, and other professionals, while also providing foundational knowledge for students entering the family justice field or working with survivors of family violence. The book also offers critical perspectives that will make it a valuable addition to gender or feminist studies courses.

Nicholas Bala is one of Canada's leading experts in the field of family law. He has a special interest, and has published extensively, in the area of family obligations and legal issues related to children such as child abuse, young offenders, custody and access following divorce, and child support. His work is often cited by the courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada. He has done considerable consulting on law reform issues in the family law field for federal and provincial governments as well as for aboriginal organizations, and he has appeared as a witness at a number of Parliamentary hearings. He is frequently invited to speak at education programs for judges, lawyers, doctors, and other professionals and is regularly interviewed by the media about family law issues. Professor Bala received the Queen's Law Students' Society Award for Teaching Excellence in 1993 and 1998. He has been a visiting professor at McGill University and Duke Law School and a visiting scholar at the University of Calgary.

Nicholas Bala's profile page

Peter Jaffe is a psychologist, professor emeritus, and a founding director of the Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women and Children at Western University.

Peter Jaffe's profile page

Katreena Scott is the academic director of the Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women and Children at Western University.

Katreena Scott's profile page

Lisa Heslop is a research partner at the Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women and Children at Western University.

Lisa Heslop's profile page