Make This Website Your First Stop
Visit My Law BC
This is the go-to website. You can enter the factors of your scenario. It will tailor information about possible “pathways” for solving things and link you to the most relevant tools and resources.
Tools for Trying to Work It Out Yourself
See where you agree and disagree
The Negotiation Toolkit has tools you and your spouse can use to see what the law says is fair. It also has checklists you can each go through to see where you agree and don’t agree.
Make an agreement with the Dialogue Tool
MyLawBC’s Dialogue Tool helps you and your spouse work together to make an agreement. It lets you communicate online, and helps you to find your common goals and interests. At the end, you will have a separation agreement that you can file in court. It’s free. It’s easy to use. And you and your spouse can work at your own pace.
Places for Help When You Can’t Work Together
Get help from a dispute resolution professional
Get help from a mediator
- Mediate BC has a list of qualified mediators throughout BC and information about how mediation works
- Family Mediation Canada has a list of qualified mediators throughout Canada
Get help from a Family Justice Counsellor
Get Help from a Collaborative Family Lawyer
Places to Get Legal Help
Legal Aid BC (Legal Services Society)
- Visit their website here
- Call the Provincial Call Centre to find out if you qualify for the services below.
- Phone: 604-408-2172 (Greater Vancouver), 1-866-577-2525 (no charge outside Greater Vancouver)
Free legal advice
You may be able to get legal advice from family lawyers called duty counsel. Family duty counsel are available in Provincial Court and Supreme Court. In some locations, you can make an appointment to see duty counsel even if you aren’t in court. Family duty counsel are available across BC. You may also be able to get free legal advice over the phone.
Free mediation
You may be able to get mediation to help you resolve your matters out of court.
A free lawyer to take your case
If family violence is an issue, you may be able to get a lawyer to take your case.
Access Pro Bono Society of BC
If you don’t qualify for legal aid but can’t afford a lawyer, you may be able to get free legal advice or help preparing for court.
- Visit their website here
- Phone: 1-877-762-6664
Child Support Officers
Child support officers help parents make agreements about child support or get child support orders. They provide information and referrals and facilitate negotiations.
- Visit their website here
- Phone: 250-387-6121 (Greater Victoria)
Family Justice Counsellors
Family justice counsellors help you plan a separation agreement and give mediation and conciliation services. They can give you information about the law and about family court processes. They can also help you fill out court forms.
- Visit their website here
- Phone: 250-387-6121 (Greater Victoria)
Justice Access Centres
Staff in these offices help you get the information you need to prepare for your family or civil case. They provide advice and referrals, and help you fill out forms. Justice Access Centres are in Nanaimo,Vancouver, and Victoria.
- Visit their website here
- Phone (Victoria): 250-356-7012
- Phone (Nanaimo): 250-741-5447
Lawyer Referral Service
The Lawyer Referral Service can help you find a lawyer, including a collaborative family lawyer. They will give you the name and number of a lawyer who practices family law. You’ll have to phone the lawyer to make an appointment. You can meet with the lawyer for 30 minutes to explain your situation. The meeting costs $25 (plus taxes).
- Visit their website here
- Phone: 1-800-663-1919 (no charge outside Greater Vancouver)
Finances in Separation
Get help with your debt
Credit Counselling Society of BC
Credit counselors help you manage your money, solve debt problems, and use credit responsibly. Appointments are free and confidential. The Credit Counselling Society’s website has a financial calculator that lets you make a plan for managing your debts.
- Visit their website here
- Phone: 1-888-527-8999
Use a budget calculator to make a budget
The federal government has an online budget calculator that can help you create and understand your budget.
Emotional Support
Get support
Coping With Separation Handbook
Separation is stressful. It may be helpful to get emotional support for you and your children from a counsellor or another professional. This handbook provides information on who can help.
Families Change
This website has information for children and for parents. It tells you what to expect from the divorce or separation process. And it has information on how you can take care of yourself and your children.
Parenting After Separation
Download the Parenting After Separation Handbook for information on how to take care of yourself and your children during the separation or divorce process. It also has tips for parents on how they can work together to keep their children’s best interests in mind. Or, take the free course in person, or online.
Free Visual Guide – Preparing to Separate Emotionally
I’ve created a free gift for you to help support you through this process.
Educating Yourself on BC Family Law
Access these free tools
Family Law in BC: Quick Reference Tool
This set of postcards introduces you to family law in BC. Each card covers different legal aspects of separation.
Living Together or Living Apart
This booklet explains the basics of family law in BC. It has more information on the legal aspects of separation and what your options are.
Separation Agreements — Your Right to Fairness
This booklet explains the law about the fair division of family property or debt when you separate. It tells you what to do if you think your agreement might be unfair.
Find out more about family law online
Family Law in BC website
This website has comprehensive information on family law in BC, including on separation and divorce. It has self-help guides to walk you through legal processes, including the forms you need.
Clicklaw Wikibooks
Easy to read, plain language information about mediation, separation and divorce and other legal topics.
