Meeting of relatives

Exception

The only situation in which a family meeting does not have to be called is when the parents are administering patrimony of more than $25,000 and ask the court to designate a single-member tutorship council.

Calling a meeting of relatives is compulsory for the setting up of a tutorship council.

The role of this meeting is to:

designate the three members of the tutorship council, two alternates and a secretary;
decide whether the secretary should be remunerated and if so, suggest an amount to the court;
suggest to the court a person to appoint as tutor, if this is to be a dative tutorship, and if the parents did not designate anyone to perform this duty for the child.

Who calls the meeting?

The meeting is called by the notary or the clerk of the court receiving the application for a tutorship council to be set up.

The court may also call a meeting of the relatives.

Who is asked to attend?

It is compulsory to invite the following people: the child's mother and father and the other members of the immediate family with a known address in Québec (adult siblings, grandparents, great-grandparents). Other adults may be invited as well: uncles, aunts, relatives by marriage, friends, etc.

Persons whom it was compulsory to invite to the meeting but did not receive notification are also entitled to attend.

Holding the meeting

It is not compulsory for all the people invited to actually attend the meeting of relatives. However, at least five persons of full age must be present representing the maternal and paternal sides of the child's family. The meeting is chaired by a notary, a clerk of the court or a judge. .