Legal Resources

Find websites and materials written in plain language.

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Protecting Yourself & Your Family

Family Law in BC (Justice Education Society)
Explains peace bonds, family law protection orders, and things you can do to help you and your family stay safe from an abusive or violent person.
Last reviewed March 2024
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Protecting Children — Your Role as a Relative

Government of British Columbia
Provides information about what you can do if there is a child protection concern in your family and contacts for getting legal help. It also explains your role as a relative in a child abuse case, such as being involved in developing a comprehensive plan of care and providing a safe home for the child.
Last reviewed March 2024
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Protecting a Vulnerable Adult From Abuse, Neglect or Self-Neglect

Public Guardian and Trustee of British Columbia
Describes what abuse, neglect, and self-neglect are, what a designated agency can do, and how the community-response network aims to provide a coordinated response to these complex problems.
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.

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
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Permanent Transfer of Custody of a Child to Someone Familiar in BC

Government of British Columbia
When a temporary placement for a child is not possible, the alternative could be transferring custody to the caregiver by adoption or a court order. This page briefly describes the conditions, guardian’s responsibilities, financial support, rights, access orders, and future legal matters.
Last reviewed March 2024
Thumbnail of the cover, with the title and an illustration of a child’s hand holding and adult’s hand, and the Legal Aid BC logo.

Parents’ Rights, Kids’ Rights: A Parent’s Guide to Child Protection Law in BC

Legal Aid BC
Explains what happens if the Director of Child Protection has concerns about a child's safety or plans to remove them. Describes collaborative (shared) planning, decision-making options, and presentation and protection hearings. Includes information for Indigenous families, where to get help, and definitions.
Last reviewed March 2024
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Parents Legal Centres

Legal Aid BC
Describes Parents Legal Centres (PLCs), a Legal Aid BC service that provides a free lawyer and an advocate to help parents address child protection issues early on. The service is available to eligible parents any time after the social worker contacts them.
Last reviewed March 2024
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Parenting Coordinators

Government of British Columbia
Explains that a parenting coordinator helps parents carry out their parenting agreement or order. A parenting coordinator does not create or change parenting arrangements. They help parents resolve disagreements about how parenting agreements or orders are put into effect. It also explains how to find a parenting coordinator.
Last reviewed March 2024
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Parenting Arrangements after Separation or Divorce

Government of Canada
This fact sheet provides general information about parenting after separation or divorce. Includes parenting arrangements for orders or agreements made or changed after the new Divorce Act came into force in 2021.
Last reviewed March 2024
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Parenting Apart

Government of British Columbia
The BC Ministry of Justice provides information to families that will parent apart. This resources answers basic questions that parents may have during a separation or divorce.
Last reviewed March 2024