Nova Scotia Courts will use the Name and Pronouns used in your Application

Courts in Canada have repeatedly recognized the right of a child to have the name, gender expression and gender identity of their choosing. Even if you have not legally changed your child’s name and gender marker, a Nova Scotia court will use the name and pronouns indicated by parents in the application.

Courts can View Unwillingness to Recognize that a Child is Transgender as Detrimental

If you or your former partner is not willing to recognize your transgender child’s name and pronouns, the court will likely view that as detrimental to the best interests of the child, and will often order that decision making responsibility will be given to the parent who is accepting of their child’s name and gender identity.

Courts have Recognized that Refusal to Support Gender Diversity can Cause Harm

It has been accepted at various levels of the legal system that a refusal to support a gender diverse child (whether transgender, non-binary, or another gender identity) causes harm to the child. If you are struggling with your child’s gender, it will help to seek out resources to help you understand what is going on. PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) and EGALE are two well-known national organizations that offer resources for children. In Nova Scotia, The Youth Project is an excellent resource for both parents and children.

The lawyers and staff at Highlander Law are allies to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

By: Anastacia DesLauriers – Lawyer

Have Questions For Us?:

If you have any questions about Family Matters you can call us at (902) 826-3070 or email us at info@highlanderlaw.ca to set up a meeting with one of our lawyers at our Tantallon law firm. You can also schedule a no commitment Family Matter Consult for $500+HST where you have the opportunity to explain your situation to a lawyer and get basic advice, including a written summary of your options, before deciding whether or not you'd like to retain us.

The information and materials on this blog are provided for general informational purposes only and are not intended to be legal advice. Nothing contained on this blog is legal advice or constitutes a legal opinion. While it is our goal to provide information which is current, legislative changes and court decisions, among other matters, may result in some information no longer being current or accurate. You should consult a lawyer before relying on any information. The views expressed herein by individual contributing lawyers posting entries to the blog are solely those of the authors and should not necessarily be attributed to or considered representative of the firm of Highlander Law Group Lawyers