Spousal & child support & dividing property
Last reviewed March 2024 by the Clicklaw editors
Support is the financial assistance that one parent or ex-spouse provides the other after separation. The parent who doesn’t live with the children is legally responsible to pay child support. Unlike child support, spousal support isn’t legally required, but a spouse will have to pay in certain situations.
When you separate, it’s usually expected that whatever you acquired together during your marriage or common-law relationship will be divided up equally, along with any debts. Anything you had before the marriage typically isn’t part of the deal, although you may have to divide any increase in value.
Explore the links below to reliable online guides and tools and to organizations in BC. They have been chosen by librarians at Courthouse Libraries BC.
Selected resources
Click on a topic to see a list of resources.
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Child & Spousal Support
Family Law in BC (Justice Education Society)
Describes child and spousal support, how to track support payments, and what to do if the payor can’t or won’t pay.
Last reviewed August 2026
The Federal Child Support Guidelines: Step-by-Step
Government of Canada
This guide has general information, instructions and worksheets, as well as other tools to help you make decisions about child support when you separate or divorce. It is based on the Divorce Act.
Last reviewed August 2026
Child Support Table Look-Up
Government of Canada
The Federal Child Support Tables were updated in 2017 to reflect more recent tax rules. The updated tables came into effect on November 22, 2017. Both 2011 and 2017 tables are provided here.
Last reviewed March 2024
What Are the Child Support Guidelines?
Government of British Columbia
Brief description of the federal child support guidelines, which are the rules for calculating the amount of child support one parent must pay to the other parent to help support their child or children.
Last reviewed August 2026
What Is Financial Disclosure?
Family Law in BC (Justice Education Society)
Explains when you have to share information about your income, expenses, assets, and debts with your ex-spouse, and how to go about doing so.
Last reviewed March 2024
Dial-a-Law: Spousal Support
People’s Law School
When a relationship ends, one spouse may seek help from the other with living expenses or to compensate for choices the spouses made during the relationship. Learn about spousal support.
Last reviewed March 2024
Dial-a-Law: Couples Who Aren’t Spouses: Your Income, Support, and Property Rights
People’s Law School
Not all couples who live together meet the definition of “spouse” under BC’s family law. For these couples, learn your entitlement to benefits and what happens if you split up.
Last reviewed August 2026
Dial-a-Law: Deciding Who Will Move Out When You Separate
People’s Law School
Provides information about who will move out when a couple separates. Learn your rights when deciding who goes and who stays — and how to enforce the decision. It also covers information about renting. Find out your next steps, and the answers to some common questions.
Last reviewed March 2024
Divorced or Separated: Splitting Canada Pension Plan Credits
Government of Canada
Explains how Canada Pension Plan pension credits built up during the time a couple lived together can be split equally between them upon divorce or separation. It also outlines how to request “credit splitting.”
Last reviewed March 2024
Property & Debt
Family Law in BC (Justice Education Society)
Information about what’s considered shared property and debt, how to divide them between you after you separate or divorce, and how to protect your property and finances from being unfairly divided without your consent.
Last reviewed March 2024
Dial-a-Law: Enforcing Support Orders and Agreements
People’s Law School
Unfortunately, some parties who owe child support or spousal support fail to make their payments. Learn the steps to take to enforce payments owed under a support order or agreement.
Last reviewed March 2024
Family Maintenance Enforcement Program: How to Enrol
BC Family Maintenance Agency (BCFMA)
BCFMA is a free service helping families and children get the support payments they’re entitled to. This web page explains how to enrol in the program and get an order, and what to expect after sending an application.
Last reviewed March 2024
Unbundled Legal Services
People’s Law School
This website provides information about unbundled legal services — a service model for lower-cost legal help. You hire a lawyer to help with parts of your legal matter (rather than the whole file). You get the support you need at a manageable cost.
Last reviewed August 2026
Information for All Types of Provincial Court Cases
Provincial Court of British Columbia
Information about preparing for different types of cases in Provincial Court and appearing in court including tips about dress, food, and electronic devices; legal terms; courtroom layout; and the people you will see in a courthouse.
Last reviewed August 2026
JP Boyd on Family Law: Property & Debt
John-Paul Boyd, KC
This chapter provides information about the division of property and debt between married spouses and unmarried spouses and the steps you can take to protect family property.
Last reviewed March 2024
JP Boyd on Family Law: Child Support
John-Paul Boyd, KC
This chapter provides an overview of child support and child support orders, and includes information about exceptions to the Federal Child Support Guidelines, how to make changes to child support, and how to deal with arrears of child support.
Last reviewed March 2024
JP Boyd on Family Law: Spousal Support
John-Paul Boyd, KC
This chapter provides an overview of the law on spousal support, and includes more detailed information about the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines, how to make changes to spousal support, and how to deal with arrears of spousal support.
Last reviewed March 2024
Separating Finances
Justice Education Society (JES)
Formerly part of the Parenting After Separation course, this guide book helps separating couples divide their finances. Includes child and spousal support sections, as well as separating debt, and communication strategies.
Last reviewed August 2026