Legal Resources

Find websites and materials written in plain language.

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BC CHARMS (for refugee claimants)

MOSAIC
Offers important resources and services for refugee claimants in British Columbia. It helps connect refugees with settlement workers who provide information about settling into their new lives and accessing support services.
Last reviewed June 2024
Thumbnail of the manual cover showing stylized profiles of women's faces in shades of green, blue, and purple. It includes the (Battered Women's Support Services logo.

Resources for Women and Advocates

Battered Women’s Support Services (BWSS)
Provides a list of resources and contacts for women and advocates. This manual is designed to enhance knowledge and strengthen skills of the women and men who are the first point of contact to comprehensively meet the needs of refugee and immigrant women.
Last reviewed March 2024
Thumbnail of the first page, with title, text, and Nidus logo.

Refusing Health Care: What Are My Rights?

Nidus Registry
This fact sheet answers questions based on BC law about health care consent. Can I refuse health care? What does it mean to be capable of informed consent? Can I request assistance with dying? If I’m incapable, who can consent on my behalf? How can I be proactive and plan?
Last reviewed March 2024
Logo shows the letters "PGT" in shades of blue and green, with the organization name to the right.

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
Cover of the booklet with the title and a photo of a mother holding a young child. The YWCA logo is at the bottom.

Mothers Without Status

YWCA Vancouver
This booklet is for service providers assisting “mothers without status” — women who are neither Canadian citizens nor permanent residents. It gives an overview of the issues they face and options they can take. It includes information on where to get help.
Last reviewed March 2024
Logo with six rectangles and a circle in six bright colours to represent people, and "People's Law School."

Migrant Workers

People’s Law School
This page contains links to what you need to know if you’re preparing to work in BC, including the rights of caregivers and farm workers coming to BC. It explains the steps you need to take to work in BC temporarily, and to extend your work permit. It also includes the steps caregivers can take if they have a problem at work.
Last reviewed March 2024
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Legal Rights and Resources for People Living with Cerebral Palsy and Other Disabilities

Cerebral Palsy Association of British Columbia
What do you do if you feel you’re being overlooked for employment because of your disability? What if your parenting skills are questioned because of your lack of mobility? This booklet is designed to answer these questions and more, and support those with disabilities to live a Life Without Limits.
Last reviewed March 2024
Thumbnail of the cover of the PDF version of the guide, with a scenic photograph of a mountainous landscape with a path running through a lush green valley.

JP Boyd on Family Law: Specific Communities and Family Law

John-Paul Boyd, KC
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.
Last reviewed March 2024
Logo is a book out of which pixels are flying, and the organization name.

Canadian Citizenship Practice Test

Richmond Public Library
An online practice test for Canadian citizenship. Has multiple choice questions from the book on which the test is based.
Last reviewed March 2024
Logo with "Plan Institute" and three overlapping green circles to the right, and the words “for caring citizenship” below.

RDSP Tutorial

Plan Institute
This online tutorial helps you learn about Canada’s Registered Disability Savings Plan. It consists of four chapters: about RDSP, getting started, opening RDSP, and other info. Each chapter has a list of questions or topics that you can navigate to directly.
Last reviewed March 2024