Many Provincial (Family) Court registries in BC are parenting education program registries. Unless you’re in Kelowna, Nanaimo, Surrey, Vancouver, or Victoria, your registry is a parenting education program registry. In these registries, parents with children under 19 have to complete a (free) short online parenting course (see exceptions below).
The Parenting After Separation or Parenting After Separation for Indigenous Families course helps parents deal with the difficulties of co-parenting after separation. It gives you tools and practical tips on how to communicate with the other parent and how to focus on the best interests of your children. You’ll also learn about how separation can affect you and your children, and ways to reduce any harmful effects.
You’ll have to complete a parenting course after you’ve separated if you’ve filed (or replied to) a court application about:
- guardianship of a child,
- parenting time,
- parenting responsibilities,
- child support and/or spousal support, or
- contact with a child,
If you have to take the course, you have to show the registry that you’ve completed it before you can get a court date for your family management conference.
When you don’t have to take the course
You don't need to take this course for protection orders, priority parenting matters, consent orders, or case management orders. It's also not necessary if:
- you need to prevent children from being relocated
- you want the court to enforce a court order or filed agreement
- your only issue is spousal support
- your children are all over 19, or
- you’ve already completed it in the last two years.
You can ask to be excused from the program if:
- you don't have access to the Internet to take the online course,
- you aren't fluent in English,
- you have trouble reading,
- you can't attend because you have serious health problems, or
- a consent order covering all the issues about the children has been filed.
You ask to be excused by submitting a Notice of Exemption from parenting education program (Form 20) to the Family Justice Services Division of the Ministry of Attorney General. You must then file the approved Notice of Exemption before you can attend a family management conference.
You show that you've completed this parenting education step by filing your certificate of completion at the registry (or your approved Notice of Exemption).
See Parenting After Separation course for more information.
Before you go to court
It's a good idea to make use of the resources described below even if they aren’t required in your court registry.
- Family justice counsellors are a great source of information and education.
- Dispute resolution (such as working with a mediator) can help you and the other person work together to find a solution to your issues without having to go to court.
- Family lawyers can provide legal information and advice, and are trained to help people work together to find agreement.
- Community organizations offer important help with non-legal issues.
See the links below for more information:
Videos
If your family law case is in Kamloops, and your case appears to be heading to trial, a judge may offer you the option of an “informal trial.” See Informal trials - Kamloops court registry.