Advocating for your rights and interests in court

When all else fails, sometimes starting a court proceeding is the best option. Litigation in family law involves navigating complex legal procedures in court to resolve disputes that arise with separation. At Doucet Family Law, we provide strategic guidance and ensure that each client is well-informed about their legal rights and options. By fully supporting each client, we strive to help them feel confident in their decisions as we assist them in navigating these challenging situations.

In certain family law cases, litigation can be a necessary step when an amicable or out-of-court resolution is not possible. While representing you in court, our team members will advocate fiercely for your interests while striving for fair and just outcomes. We approach each case with the utmost professionalism to ensure your voice is heard and your concerns are addressed with the court.

Throughout the litigation process, you can expect open communication and transparency from the Doucet Family Law team. We believe that keeping our clients well-informed about the progress of their case and the potential outcomes is key.

Contempt Proceedings and Enforcement of Non‑Support Orders

Contempt proceedings are one method of enforcing some types of family court orders, although there are other means to address depending on the nature of the order and the circumstances of the non-compliance by a party with that order. “Contempt” is a finding that a party is acting in a way that interferes with or disrespects the court’s authority (they are in contempt of court). Typically, these claims arise in family court when one party alleges that the other party is breaching or disobeying a court order. Contempt findings can attract serious consequences which can include imprisonment in extreme cases and ought to be used as a last resort. It is critical to have legal advice early on in the process whether you are bringing or defending against a contempt proceeding or motion and parties should exercise caution in doing so. Alternate remedies for addressing the contempt ought to be explored before bringing a contempt proceeding. Our family lawyers can help evaluate whether your case meets the high threshold to warrant the pursuit of contempt proceedings and identify options to enforce your existing court order or defend you if you are facing a contempt motion or other enforcement proceeding.

Family Violence and Restraining Orders

Leaving a situation of domestic violence can be a critical time for survivors of abuse or family violence. Family violence means any conduct by a family member towards another family member that is violent or threatening, that constitutes a pattern of coercive and controlling behaviour, or that causes the other family member to fear for their own safety or for that of another person, and, in the case of a child, includes direct or indirect exposure to such conduct. These may involve physical actions, but it can also include other behaviours such as threats, insults, monitoring or stalking (physically or virtually), harassing behaviours, pressure to do sexual acts, or financial abuse.

There are protective remedies available in family law to help protect survivors and their children. These measures may include obtaining a restraining order to prevent the abuser from coming near particular locations (like your home, place of work or school, and/or the children’s school) as well as limiting their ability to communicate with you and/or the children, directly or through third parties and other forms of indirect communications. Depending on the circumstances of the case, these types of orders can be made on an urgent basis and, in exceptional cases, they can also be made temporarily without advance notice to the person who is abusing you in an intimate relationship. Our family lawyers have experience serving survivors of family violence and abuse through the family court system and can assist in pursuing protective remedies available.