Nova Scotia’s New Family Law Website

A group of legal and law-related organizations has launched a public information site in Nova Scotia on family law. Family Law Nova Scotia is a cooperative venture funded in part by Justice Canada that brings together:

• Nova Scotia Department of Justice
• Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia
• Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society
• Nova Scotia Legal Aid
• Nova Scotia Department of Community Services
• Canadian Bar Association – Nova Scotia
• Capital District Health Authority-Mental Health Program

The site seems clear and easy for citizens to operate, with plenty of routes into the information — via search, menus, drop-down lists and FAQs. I sense that the site builders shied away from using much doctrinal law, preferring to speak more about procedures and issues, producing too much vagueness in my view, at least in the area of custody, where I had to hunt to find the gold standard “best interests of the child.” But this and other substantive matters (I’d have a section on “living together,” for example) will get ironed out over time, I’m sure. What’s important to note and acclaim is the joint nature of the effort, crucial in Canada, where so much is fractioned among jurisdictions and ministries.