Children & parenting
Last reviewed March 2024 by the Clicklaw editors
Your role as a parent or guardian is to make decisions that put the well-being of your children first. Things can get complicated when you go through a separation or divorce. Learn about sorting out parenting arrangements and parenting decisions after separation, and about children’s rights and adoption laws.
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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Dial-a-Law: Guardianship, Parenting Arrangements, and Contact
People’s Law School
Explains that when parents separate, they must work out the details of how their children will be cared for. This includes decisions about guardianship, parenting arrangements, and contact. Learn about these parenting after separation issues and the laws that apply. You can also find answers to some common questions.
Last reviewed March 2024
Parenting & Guardianship
Legal Aid BC
Describes who is a parent, how to become a guardian, and the responsibilities of parents and guardians after separation. Also explains the rights of the child, parents, step-parents, and other relatives
Last reviewed March 2024
AFCC-BC Parenting Plan Guide
AFCC-BC (Association of Family and Conciliation Courts’ Provisional BC Chapter)
A guide for parents and professionals across BC to create parenting plans that focus on what’s best for the child and appropriate for their development. A parenting plan is a written agreement between parents about how they‘ll raise their children if they separate or get divorced, setting out how to share responsibilities and time with the kids.
Last reviewed September 2024
How Do I Change My Name after Marriage or Divorce?
John-Paul Boyd, KC
Explains the differences between using an alias and legally changing your name, if you have to apply to the court to change your name when you marry or divorce, and the steps for doing so.
Last reviewed March 2024
Dial-a-Law: Children’s Rights
People’s Law School
The legal rights of children vary from those of adults. Learn the rights of children in several contexts, and situations where their views are considered in decisions that affect them.
Last reviewed March 2024
Dial-a-Law: Mediation, Collaborative Negotiation, and Arbitration
People’s Law School
Explains that going to court over a family law problem can be stressful, time consuming, and expensive. Learn how to use mediation, collaborative negotiation, or arbitration to resolve issues without going to court. You can also find answers to some common questions.
Last reviewed March 2024
Early Resolution Process (Family Justice)
Government of British Columbia
On December 7, 2020, the provincial court registries in Surrey and Victoria adopted the early resolution and case management aspects of the new Provincial Court Family Rules. This page tells you about the process and the steps involved. Also includes a poster and a brochure downloadable in PDF.
Last reviewed March 2024
Family Management Conference
Provincial Court of British Columbia
This article explains the Family Management Conference at the Provincial Court of BC. Includes definitions, steps for preparing yourself, what will happen at the conference, what happens if you need a trial, getting a copy of an order, and links to more details.
Last reviewed September 2024
If You Have to Go to Court
Legal Aid BC
Describes what to expect when you go to court for a conference, Chambers hearing, or trial. Includes how to prepare for court, and tips on what you can do and how you should act to make your case go smoothly.
Last reviewed March 2024
I’ve Been Served with a Court Form
Legal Aid BC
Step-by-step guides to help you figure out what to do if you’re the respondent in a family law case and you’ve been served with a court form.
Last reviewed March 2024
Before Trial: Judicial Case Conference
Supreme Court BC (Justice Education Society)
This guidebook introduces what a judicial case conference is, including which forms you will need.
Last reviewed March 2024
Schedule and Prepare for Your Supreme Court Trial
Legal Aid BC
A four-and-a-half-minute video that gives an overview of the steps leading up to a Supreme Court family law trial, including scheduling a trial, attending a Trial Management Conference, and filing and serving the necessary documents.
Last reviewed March 2024
Trials in Provincial Court
Legal Aid BC
Information about getting ready for a family law trial in Provincial Court, including what happens at a trial, how the courtroom is set up, how evidence is presented, and what goes in a trial book.
Last reviewed May 2024
Unbundled Legal Services
People’s Law School
This website is for people in British Columbia who are interested in unbundled legal services — a new 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 March 2024
Adoption
Legal Aid BC
Explains the different types of adoption in BC, and where to find out more about applying.
Last reviewed March 2024
Dial-a-Law: Adoption of a Child
People’s Law School
Adoption is the process to legally transfer parental responsibilities for a child from one family to another. Learn what’s involved in adopting a child or placing a child for adoption.
Last reviewed March 2024
Intercountry Adoption and the Immigration Process
Government of Canada
Provides information about the process of international adoption.
Last reviewed March 2024
Children
Legal Aid BC
Information for parents, guardians, relatives of children, and children and teens about child rights, parenting and contact arrangements, child protection, and adoption.
Last reviewed March 2024
JP Boyd on Family Law: Children in Family Law Matters
John-Paul Boyd, KC
This chapter provides an overview of the law on the care of children after separation, looking at where the children will live, how parenting decisions will be made, and how often each person will see the children in more detail.
Last reviewed March 2024