Legal Resources

A marriage or cohabitation agreement can set out how couples will deal with issues that come up if their relationship ends, but also with issues during the relationship such as property and debts. This page talks about what an agreement covers and doesn’t cover, legal requirements, and how to change one.

This guide is designed for parents making a parenting arrangement under the Divorce Act, but can be useful for others too. The basic decisions that you have to make about parenting arrangements are similar whether you’re separating or divorcing.

Explains the basics of family law in BC. Includes information about why you might want an agreement for living together, and how to write one; what to do if you decide to separate or divorce; how to sort out money matters and work out parenting arrangements; and how the court process works.

Provides information on how to legally change your name.

When you have a protection order against your children’s other parent, plan how to keep yourself and your children safe during parenting time and at handover.

Provides definitions of child abuse according to the law, the warning signs of child abuse, and what to do when a child tells you about it. Includes tips about keeping children safe and where to get help.

Illustrated booklet that explains the child protection process for Aboriginal children and families. Describes delegated Aboriginal agencies, mediation, the court process, and the Family Extended Program. Has a flow chart of the child protection process.

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.

This chapter provides an overview of the ways some laws apply differently to specific communities regarding family law problems. It covers Indigenous families, newcomers to Canada, same-sex relationships, and issues affecting transgender and transsexual people.

This chapter provides information about the legal and practical aspects, as well as the emotional dimensions, of separation. Also provides a detailed review of the do-it-yourself divorce process.