What is the current state of the law on s. 15(1) of the BC Family Law Act, allowing the court to order an investigation into a family matter?

Subsection 15(1) specifically provides that “the court may, on application, including an application made without notice to any other person, direct an investigation into a family matter…”. Courts have recognized the important role that a s. 15 report can play in shedding light on the circumstances of a child and of the parents, and thereby on the custody and access arrangements which will be in the best interests of that child: see, for example, Gupta v. Gupta, 2001 BCSC 649.