Legal Resources

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.

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.

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.

Explains peace bonds, which can offer protection if you fear for your safety. Topics include how peace bonds work, and what to do if a person disobeys a peace bond. It includes the steps you need to take to get a peace bond.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This handbook builds on the information provided in the Parenting After Separation (PAS) course. That course focuses on the legal aspects of separating and how to make decisions that put the needs of the children first.