Legal Resources

A general reference for self-represented litigants appearing in Canadian courts. Includes SRL’s rights and responsibilities, family law basics, resolving disputes out of court, legal research and writing, court processes, family violence, and more. Also provides a list of Canadian and BC resources.

Helpful versions of BC’s Family Law Act terms used in the BC Provincial Court’s DARS computer system. When orders can be drafted using these terms, the court clerk can record them very quickly, and can also speed processing in the court registry. Search for “court orders” on Clicklaw for more info.

Online step-by-step guide to getting a divorce in BC if you both agree about how to deal with your parenting, support, and property and debt issues. Includes links to blank forms you’ll need and instructions about filing them at the registry.

This fact sheet provides general information about getting a divorce in Canada under the federal Divorce Act. This act applies when at least one spouse has resided in a Canadian province or territory for at least one year before they apply for a divorce.

When their relationship ends, spouses are presumed to keep property they brought into the relationship and to share in property they acquired during their relationship. The same goes for debt.

If you and your spouse agree on the issues of parenting, support, and property, there is a fast-track way to get a divorce. You can apply for a “desk-order divorce.”

Provides information about who will move out when a couple separates. Learn your rights when deciding who goes and who stays — and how to enforce the decision. It also covers information about renting. Find out your next steps, and the answers to some common questions.

Not all couples who live together meet the definition of “spouse” under BC’s family law. For these couples, learn your entitlement to benefits and what happens if you split up.

Short answers to common questions about separation and divorce, children, abuse and family violence, finances and support, and the BC legal system.

Under the law, a child born outside marriage is treated the same as a child born to married parents. However, there are some implications for parents and other practical considerations.