Info pages

Explains how to research case law to help you prepare for going to court without a lawyer.

Explains what to do if the other person doesn't respond to your application for a court order and the deadline to respond has passed.

Explains how to change a support order that was made in BC when one of you lives outside BC.

Tips to help you prepare to attend a remote Provincial Court proceeding.

Explains what's happening in the Provincial Court during COVID-19.

A brief overview of family law legal issues as they apply to Aboriginal people. Covers caring for children, parenting arrangements, child and spousal support, property, and income assistance.

An overview of delegated Aboriginal agencies (a part of the Ministry of Children and Family Development who provide child welfare services) and their role in Aboriginal child protection matters.

Describes what behaviour counts as court-related abuse and harassment and suggests what you and the court can do about it.

Explains what a safety plan is, how you can make one, and who can help you make one to keep yourself and your children safe during COVID-19

When you have a protection order against your children's other parent, plan how to keep yourself and your children during parenting time and at handover, during COVID-19.

Describes what documents you need to take to prove you're allowed to take your children out of the country if you travel without the other parent.

Describes children's rights and parents' responsibilities. Defines abuse and neglect.

Explains the law about child protection. Describes what happens if a social worker investigates you for a child protection matter and decides your child needs protection or doesn't need protection.

Describes where parents can get legal help if they're being investigated for a child protection matter.

An overview of delegated Aboriginal agencies (a part of the Ministry of Children and Family Development who provide child welfare services) and their role in Aboriginal child protection matters.

Explains release of confidentiality, lawyer-client confidentiality, and your right to information in your ministry file in child protection matters.

How to make a complaint about the process or how you’re being treated when you're dealing with Ministry of Children and Family Development.

Describes how to work with the Ministry of Children and Family Development to make a plan or agreement about your child's care. Options include family case planning conferences, family group conferences, traditional decision making for Aboriginal families, and mediation to resolve issues instead of going to court.

Describes help you can get to care for your child and reduce the strain on your family, including from community services or government programs and by making family support agreements, voluntary care agreements, Extended Family Program agreements, or special needs agreements.

Explains what mediation is, how it works, and how it can help families with child protection issues. Also includes how to find a mediator.

Explains the court process if the Ministry of Children and Family Development removes your child for your home. Describes what happens at the presentation hearing and the protection hearing.

Describes the interim and temporary court orders that are part of the process for child protection cases.

Describes how your community and the Ministry of Children and Family Development can support you if you need help to look after your child at certain times.

Describes who can give you support and what you can do for yourself to cope with the stress of a child protection matter.

Table that describes the kinds of benefits caregivers raising children might get and under what circumstances, and links to other sites that explain how and where to apply for these benefits.

Explains what a safety plan is, how you can make one, and who can help you make one to keep yourself and your children safe during COVID-19

When you have a protection order against your children's other parent, plan how to keep yourself and your children during parenting time and at handover, during COVID-19.

A list of the important documents and belongings to take with you if you're leaving a marriage or common-law relationship.

Explains the difference between a peace bond and a family law protection order. This page has information on which one to choose for each situation, and sets out what each can cover.

Explains what a family law protection order is, how to apply for one, and what happens once the protection order is in place.

Gives examples of different types of relationship abuse (family violence). This page also describes types of abuse that are crimes and where to get legal and other help.

When you have a protection order against your children's other parent, plan how to keep yourself and your children during parenting time and at handover, during COVID-19.

When you have a protection order against your children's other parent, plan how to keep yourself and your children during parenting time and at handover, during COVID-19.

Explains the basic guidelines about dealing with debts after you separate if you were married or in a common-law relationship.

Describes family property, family debt, and excluded property, including when and how you need to settle how you'll divide shared property and debt after separation.

Describes family property, family debt, and excluded property, including when and how you need to settle how you'll divide shared property and debt after separation.

Defines child support and how to apply for it; links to the guidelines for working out child support; explains undue hardship, special or extraordinary expenses, and what happens about arrears; links to guidelines about income tax implications.

Information about when the responsibility for paying child support ends.

Beginning May 13, 2019, Surrey and Victoria Provincial (Family) Courts have their own procedures in place including if you want to resolve a family dispute.

Provides options on how to ease financial burden during COVID-19

Explains how to apply to get child support arrears reduced or cancelled

Explains how to apply for a retroactive reduction in child support payments if you think you've been paying too much

Explains how to apply for a retroactive increase in child support payments if you think the paying parent hasn't been paying enough

Explains what the Child Support Recalculation Service is and how it can help people who have support orders

What is financial disclosure?

Provides basic information about how to divide employment benefits and pensions after separation or divorce. Includes information on survivor benefits, Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, and RRSPs.

Describes the steps you can take to protect your property before final agreements or court orders are in place.

Explains what spousal support is; the relevant laws, guidelines, and time limits; how to deal with arrears; and where to get help to enforce or change a spousal support agreement or order.

The Family Maintenance Enforcement Program is a provincial government program that collects and tracks child or spousal support orders and agreements.

What to do if FMEP cancels or takes away your driver's licence because you're behind in paying support payments.

Explains how and when a child (anyone under 19, or over 19 but with a disability or who can't support themselves) is entitled to go to court to ask for child support from their parents.

Beginning May 13, 2019, Surrey and Victoria Provincial (Family) Courts have their own procedures in place including if you want to resolve a family dispute.

Beginning May 13, 2019, Surrey and Victoria Provincial (Family) Courts have their own procedures in place including if you want to resolve a family dispute.

Provides options on how to ease financial burden during COVID-19

Provides options on how to ease financial burden during COVID-19

When you can apply to change an order and what changes you can make.

When you can apply to change an order and what changes you can make.

Explains when, and in which court, orders can be appealed.

Describes both final orders and interim orders, and touches on how to appeal and change orders and how to make an interim order into a final order.

Tips on what information to include in a Supreme Court order, who writes it, what form to use, when to write it, what happens after it's written or if the other party won't sign, and more.

Explains who writes a Provincial Court order, how to write one, and what information to put in it.

Step-by-step guide for how to apply for a final family consent order about parenting, support, or property. Use this guide if you and the other person agree on what you want the order to say or the other person won't contest your application.

Explains how to change a support order that was made in BC when one of you lives outside BC.

Explains how to change a support order that was made outside BC when one of you is in BC (an interjurisdictional issue).

Explains how to enforce a support order that was made in BC when one of you doesn't live in BC.

Explains how to enforce a support order that was made outside BC when one of you is in BC (an interjurisdictional issue).

Beginning May 13, 2019, Surrey and Victoria Provincial (Family) Courts have their own procedures in place including if you want to resolve a family dispute.

How to get a order about a priority parenting matter in Provincial Court — time-sensitive issues such as a child's emergency medical treatment, relocation, or upcoming travel or activity.

The difference between Provincial and Supreme Court for family law issues and when you might use each court.

Tips for handling the stress of going to court.

Explains what divorce is, including the difference between uncontested and contested divorce, what you need to get a divorce, and an overview of the process. Also lists several places to get help.

Explains what a Family Case Conference in Provincial Court is and what might happen at one.

Describes how you can bring a person to sit beside you to help you quietly through the court process.

Explains how to apply for mediation if you have a Supreme Court family law case.

Tips for getting ready to go to court if you’re representing yourself (you don't have a lawyer).

Describes the Provincial Court trial process and how to prepare a trial book.

How to create a court file for your Provincial Court case by taking your signed agreement to the court registry.

How to create a court file for your Supreme Court case by taking your signed agreement to the court registry.

What happens at a Provincial Court trial and what to do to be well-prepared.

Explains what discovery means and how to share information as part of the discovery process in family law cases.

Describes the types of evidence you can use to support your case in a Supreme Court trial when you represent yourself (don't have a lawyer) and how to present them.

Explains how to use documents as evidence if you're going to Supreme Court without a lawyer

Explains who counts as an expert witness and how to use their opinion as evidence in Supreme Court if you don't have a lawyer.

Explains how to question witnesses in Supreme Court, what type of questions are allowed, and gives tips for being a witness.

Explains how to make a formal offer to settle your issues before going to trial.

Tips about how to behave in court if you're going to a Supreme Court trial without a lawyer.

What happens at a Supreme Court trial when you represent yourself (don't have a lawyer).

Information about cross-examining witnesses if you go to Supreme Court without a lawyer, plus sample questions to ask.

Tips about questioning witnesses if you go to Supreme Court without a lawyer, plus sample questions to ask.

Explains the basic things you need to know if you want to change or enforce a support order that was made in a different place than where you or the other person now live (an interjurisdictional issue).

What happens when you go to Supreme Court Chambers to make (or respond to) an application.

Beginning May 13, 2019, Surrey and Victoria Provincial (Family) Courts have their own procedures in place including if you want to resolve a family dispute.

Tips to help you prepare to attend a remote Provincial Court proceeding.

A list of people and organizations who can help with filling out court forms, explains where these organizations are located, and provides links to more information about them.

Checklist of the information you need to support an application for child or spousal support, parenting arrangements, or contact.

A list of people and organizations who can help with filling out court forms, including where these organizations are located, and links to more information about them.

Beginning May 13, 2019, Surrey and Victoria Provincial (Family) Courts have their own procedures in place including if you want to resolve a family dispute.

Tips for how to organize your documents for your court appearance, whether the documents are printed or digital, and whether you're attending court in person or online.

Explains the differences between costs and expenses in a family law court case and how to collect them.

Explains what divorce is, including the difference between uncontested and contested divorce, what you need to get a divorce, and an overview of the process. Also lists several places to get help.

Describes how to change an agreement that was made after separation to deal with issues of parenting, support, and/or property. Includes information on when to file a changed agreement with the court.

Describes agreements (often called separation agreements), how to make one, what to do with it once you've made it, how to change or enforce an agreement, and when to get a consent order instead.

Making a written agreement when you live together can reduce or prevent conflict about your property, savings, and debt if your relationship ever breaks up. This page describes what an agreement can and can't include and links to where to get help writing one.

Explains how to research case law to help you prepare for going to court without a lawyer.

Explains how to research case law to help you prepare for going to court without a lawyer.

Explains the types of laws used in family law cases in BC and when they’re used.

Tips for working well with a lawyer: how to prepare for meetings, keep records, help the lawyer work efficiently, follow through on your responsibilities. .

Explains what independent legal advice is and why you should get it before you sign a family law agreement.

Who can help you reach an agreement with your spouse about your family law issues. Describes family justice counsellors, mediators, and collaborative family lawyers and how to find them.

Explains what an advocate does and how they can help.

Explains what the Representative for Children and Youth and how they can help.

Info about non-family legal problems that Legal Aid doesn't cover, including motor vehicle injury claims, WorkSafeBC issues, medical care situations, residential tenancy, credit/debt issues, real estate transfers, wills or business disputes, shoplifting, and where you can get legal advice about these matters.

Explains where to get legal help if you don't have a lawyer or can't afford one.

Describes Legal Aid and which family legal issues it might be able to help you with.

Tips for preparing to meet with a lawyer, including a checklist of what information to take to meetings. The checklist of information is also presented as a downloadable PDF.

Tips on how to write an affidavit: what information to include and in what order, what it should look like, how to use and attach exhibits, and how to swear or affirm the finished affidavit.

Explains how a family law lawyer can help and lists some questions people can ask their lawyers.

Tips on what to do if you can't use the PDF forms or have questions about how they work.

Describes how anything you say or write to your spouse while you're settling your issues are privileged and can't be used in court if you don't want them to be.

Explains what's happening in the Provincial Court during COVID-19.

Tips for how to organize your documents for your court appearance, whether the documents are printed or digital, and whether you're attending court in person or online.

What you need to do before you can go to court in a Family Justice court registry in BC.

What you need to do before you can go to court in a Parenting Education Program court registry in BC.

Describes agreements (often called separation agreements), how to make one, what to do with it once you've made it, how to change or enforce an agreement, and when to get a consent order instead.

Making a written agreement when you live together can reduce or prevent conflict about your property, savings, and debt if your relationship ever breaks up. This page describes what an agreement can and can't include and links to where to get help writing one.

Explains the laws about wills, inheritances, and other rights for people who weren't married but lived together in a marriage-like relationship if one of them dies.

Describes legal issues to think about before you move in with someone (for example, property, debt, children, benefits, and wills).

Describes agreements (often called separation agreements), how to make one, what to do with it once you've made it, how to change or enforce an agreement, and when to get a consent order instead.

Defines adoption, sets out how adoption works in BC and who can adopt, and provides links to other resources.

Describes what documents you need to take to prove you're allowed to take your children out of the country if you travel without the other parent.

Describes how professional parenting coordinators can help parents resolve day-to-day conflicts about parenting agreements or orders, where to find parenting coordinators, and how parenting coordinators can get involved.

Describes guardianship under the Family Law Act, and includes who is a guardian, who can apply to become one, what being a guardian means, what happens when you separate, what you need to put into an agreement about guardianship, and whether guardianship issues can be settled in court.

Describes the different legal terms about parenting after separation in the BC Family Law Act and Divorce Act.

Beginning May 13, 2019, Surrey and Victoria Provincial (Family) Courts have their own procedures in place including if you want to resolve a family dispute.

Describes what documents you need to take to prove you're allowed to take your children out of the country if you travel without the other parent.

Describes what a parent or guardian must do (give notice) before moving to another city with children, and what might happen if the other parent/guardian doesn't agree with the move.

Beginning May 13, 2019, Surrey and Victoria Provincial (Family) Courts have their own procedures in place including if you want to resolve a family dispute.

Explains what a Family Case Conference in Provincial Court is and what might happen at one.

Information about the rights of children and grandparents, and what to do if the parents refuse to allow contact.

The rights of children under the age of 19 when their parents separate and what the courts consider when making decisions about who a child will live with.

Describes the "best interests of the child," which the law says parents and judges must consider in making decisions about parenting.

Describes what contact is, under the federal Divorce Act and the BC Family Law Act, and who can get it. Describes how a person can apply for contact, and how a parent can apply to limit a person's contact with a child.

Explains the rights of children and youth to get medical treatment without permission from their parents or without their parents knowing about it.

Information for young people 12 to 18 who've been asked to agree (in writing) to a plan of care by a social worker for the Director of Child Welfare. Explains how it's important to see a lawyer to get answers to your questions, and how to get a lawyer.

Information about the rights of children and grandparents, and what to do if the parents refuse to allow contact.

Information about the rights of children and grandparents, and what to do if the parents refuse to allow contact.

Defines who is a guardian, who can become a guardian, who can apply for a court order to become a guardian, and how to apply. Includes links to resources and help.

Describes guardianship under the Family Law Act, and includes who is a guardian, who can apply to become one, what being a guardian means, what happens when you separate, what you need to put into an agreement about guardianship, and whether guardianship issues can be settled in court.

Explains when someone 19 or over can apply to court for guardianship of their younger siblings and the things the court considers when making its decision.

Beginning May 13, 2019, Surrey and Victoria Provincial (Family) Courts have their own procedures in place including if you want to resolve a family dispute.

Describes how professional parenting coordinators can help parents resolve day-to-day conflicts about parenting agreements or orders, where to find parenting coordinators, and how parenting coordinators can get involved.

Describes how professional parenting coordinators can help parents resolve day-to-day conflicts about parenting agreements or orders, where to find parenting coordinators, and how parenting coordinators can get involved.

Describes agreements (often called separation agreements), how to make one, what to do with it once you've made it, how to change or enforce an agreement, and when to get a consent order instead.

Describes guardianship under the Family Law Act, and includes who is a guardian, who can apply to become one, what being a guardian means, what happens when you separate, what you need to put into an agreement about guardianship, and whether guardianship issues can be settled in court.

Explains what happens if you don't follow an order or agreement that's about parenting or support.

Beginning May 13, 2019, Surrey and Victoria Provincial (Family) Courts have their own procedures in place including if you want to resolve a family dispute.

Gives basic definitions of birth mother; biological father; birth mother’s partner; sperm, egg, or embryo donor; and surrogacy. Links to resource about adoption.

Describes what will happen if you die without making arrangements for who will look after your child, what you can do about it (appoint a stand-by or testamentary guardian), and how you can record your decisions.

Describes what contact is, under the federal Divorce Act and the BC Family Law Act, and who can get it. Describes how a person can apply for contact, and how a parent can apply to limit a person's contact with a child.

Describes guardianship under the Family Law Act, and includes who is a guardian, who can apply to become one, what being a guardian means, what happens when you separate, what you need to put into an agreement about guardianship, and whether guardianship issues can be settled in court.

Beginning May 13, 2019, Surrey and Victoria Provincial (Family) Courts have their own procedures in place including if you want to resolve a family dispute.

Describes the different legal terms about parenting after separation in the BC Family Law Act and Divorce Act.

Describes the course (a free, three-hour information session for BC parents and other family members, dealing with parenting and support issues) and who can/must attend it.

Defines decision-making responsibility and parenting time, which are terms used in the Divorce Act to describe the arrangements parents make for their children when they separate.

Information for step-parents who want to apply for guardianship, decision-making responsibility, parenting time, or contact with their step-children, and if they need to pay child support.

Explains what divorce is, including the difference between uncontested and contested divorce, what you need to get a divorce, and an overview of the process. Also lists several places to get help.

Describes agreements (often called separation agreements), how to make one, what to do with it once you've made it, how to change or enforce an agreement, and when to get a consent order instead.

Provides options on how to ease financial burden during COVID-19

Explains what divorce is, including the difference between uncontested and contested divorce, what you need to get a divorce, and an overview of the process. Also lists several places to get help.

Describes how you can get a divorce if your same-sex marriage isn't recognized in your home country.

Explains the Online Divorce Assistant and how you can use it to fill out the court forms for a joint divorce.

Explains what a Family Case Conference in Provincial Court is and what might happen at one.

Explains how to research case law to help you prepare for going to court without a lawyer.

Describes mediation and what mediators do and where to find a mediator.

What a Judicial Case Conference in Supreme Court is, how to get ready for it, who has to attend, and what happens if one person doesn't turn up.

Describes what separation is and explains the difference between separation and divorce. Includes what to take with you when you leave and why it’s a good idea to write a separation agreement.

Describes how to prove to a court that you and your spouse have separated if you're still living together for financial or other reasons but want to get a divorce or divide up your assets.

Describes how you can get a divorce if your same-sex marriage isn't recognized in your home country.

Explains how to apply for mediation if you have a Supreme Court family law case.

Describes the different legal terms about parenting after separation in the BC Family Law Act and Divorce Act.

Describes the course (a free, three-hour information session for BC parents and other family members, dealing with parenting and support issues) and who can/must attend it.

Explains how to get a certified copy of your marriage certificate if you want a divorce.

Answers some common questions about how moving from country to country can affect your marital status in BC and abroad.

Explains the Online Divorce Assistant and how you can use it to fill out the court forms for a joint divorce.

Explains what you can do if the other person doesn't follow an agreement or order about parenting, support, and property and debt.