Re: Family Matters

Issued: April 28, 2020

In the Notice to the Profession and General Public of March 18, 2020, the Court suspended its regular operations. In family matters, the Court identified specific urgent and emergency matters it would hear. It also advised it would hear any other matter that the Court deemed necessary and appropriate to hear on an urgent basis. The Court provides the following guidance on matters that may be considered urgent.

1. In addition to specific matters outlined in the Court’s Notices to the Profession and General Public, the Court will continue to hear matters that it deems necessary and appropriate to hear on an urgent basis. In assessing whether the matter is urgent, the Court provides the following guidance to counsel and parties:

• The concern must be immediate; that is, one that cannot await resolution at a later date;
• The concern must be serious in the sense that it significantly affects the health or safety or economic well-being of parties and/or their children;
• The concern must be a definite and material rather than speculative one. It must relate to something tangible (a spouse or child’s health, welfare or dire financial circumstances) rather than theoretical; and
• The concern must be one that has been clearly particularized in evidence and examples that describe the manner in which the concern reaches the level of urgency.

2. The Court will continue to post further updates and details regarding its operations. Please continue to check the Supreme Court website at www.court.nl.ca/supreme

Notice to the Profession and General Public – Family Matters