Legal Resources

Find websites and materials written in plain language.

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Children

Family Law in BC (Justice Education Society)
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
Logo with the word "Canada" and a small Canadian flag above the last "a."

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
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Child Support

Government of Canada
This fact sheet provides general information about child support under the Divorce Act. Includes information about calculating child support, the difference between Federal Guidelines and provincial guidelines, and paying and ending child support.
Last reviewed March 2024
Logo with six rectangles and a circle in six bright colours to represent people, and "People's Law School."

Dial-a-Law: Child Support

People’s Law School
Parents have a legal duty to support their children, even if one parent doesn’t see or take care of the children. Learn about child support and how to get it.
Last reviewed March 2024
Logo with the words "British Columbia" and a sun rising behind mountains.

Child Protection Mediation

Government of British Columbia
Sometimes people responsible for a child disagree with the Ministry of Children and Family Development or Aboriginal child and family service agency about a child’s safety. Child protection mediation is a way to make a plan for a child’s safety with the help of an impartial person called a mediator.
Last reviewed March 2024
Logo with six rectangles and a circle in six bright colours to represent people, and "People's Law School."

Dial-a-Law: Child Protection and Removal

People’s Law School
If someone reports that a child has been abused (or is likely to be), it starts a legal process designed to keep the child safe. Learn about child protection law.
Last reviewed March 2024
Logo with a green geometric design resembling two peaks of a roof that is repeated upside-down, above the text "FamilyLaw" in black with the tagline "Legal help for people in BC" below.

Child Protection

Family Law in BC (Justice Education Society)
Describes what can happen if the ministry thinks your child’s safety is at risk, including your responsibilities and rights as a parent, how you can be involved in making decisions for your child’s future, and how to avoid having to go to court.
Last reviewed March 2024
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Child Protection

Legal Aid BC
Identifies the law around child protection for Aboriginal children in BC, sets out some aspects of the child protection/removal process, and explains parents’ and the band’s rights and responsibilities.
Last reviewed March 2024
Thumbnail of the cover, with the title, the Government of Canada logo, and a design with a heart and a teardrop shape, partially overlapping. There is a silhouette of a child holding a teddy bear.

Child Abuse Is Wrong: What Can I Do?

Government of Canada
This booklet is for the parents or guardians of children. It talks about child abuse in families. It answers questions about the law on child abuse in Canada. This booklet may also be useful even if you are not a parent, but you believe a child you know is being abused.
Last reviewed March 2024
Logo with a green geometric design resembling two peaks of a roof that is repeated upside-down, above the text "FamilyLaw" in black with the tagline "Legal help for people in BC" below.

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 March 2024