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Fundamentals of law and criminal and civil law

Canadian Bar Association	"Our Court System and Solving Disputes" offers information describing our court system and ways to resolve legal disputes without going to court.	www.cbabc.org/For-the-Public/Dial-A-Law/Scripts/Lawyers-Legal-Services-and-Courts/432
Clicklaw	A website with legal information and education from across BC. The resources available through Clicklaw are designed to be used by the public.	www.clicklaw.bc.ca
Dial-A-Law	Has brief legal information on over 130 topics, available in English, Chinese and Punjabi. Dial-A-Law is a free service of the Canadian Bar Association, British Columbia branch. You can listen on the telephone or online. You can also read the information online.	Phone: 604-687-4680 Phone toll-free: 1-800-565-5297 www.dialalaw.org
Family Law in BC	Family Law in BC is a website that provides information and resources on a wide range of family law issues. It is produced by the Legal Services Society.	www.familylaw.lss.bc.ca
ImmigrantLegal.ca	ImmigrantLegal.ca provides free legal information and education on legal topics for newcomers to Canada and the people working with them. The website is a project of the Immigrant Public Legal Education and Information Consortium. It is managed by the Justice Education Society	www.immigrantlegal.ca
JusticeBC	This is the website of the BC Ministry of Justice, which is responsible for managing the justice system in BC. The website provides information on a wide range of legal topics and describes the government services available to help you.	www.justicebc.ca
Justice Education Society	The Court Information Program for Immigrants provides free legal information to new immigrants and refugees. All content on the website is available in English, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Hindi. Your Human Rights in BC has a series of five videos – available in English, Mandarin and Punjabi – which teaches immigrants about human rights in BC and Canada. Discrimination occurs when someone treats you differently based on your personal characteristics. Courts of BC is a website that uses information and videos to describe the structure and function of BC’s courts: Provincial Court, Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. Administrative Law BC - Resolving Disputes is a website that explains what tribunals are and how they work.	www.justiceeducation.ca/programs/court-information-program-immigrants www.justiceeducation.ca/resources/human-rights-in-bc www.courtsofbc.ca www.adminlawbc.ca/]
Lawyer Referral Service	This service can help you find a lawyer who will meet with you for 30 minutes for $25.	Phone: 604-687-3221 Phone toll-free: 1-800-663-1919 cbabc.org/For-the-Public/Lawyer-Referral-Service
Legal Services Society of BC	You may be able to get free legal help (legal aid) if: your legal problem is covered by legal aid rules, your income and the value of your property are below a certain limit, and you have no other way of getting legal help. The Legal Services Society also has free booklets on legal topics in English and many other languages.	Phone: 604-408-2172 Phone toll-free: 1-866-577-2525 www.lss.bc.ca
MOSAIC	Offers programs and services to help immigrants and refugees in their settlement and integration into Canadian society. MultiLingoLegal.ca website features many legal publications in nine languages. MultiLingoLegal is operated by MOSAIC - a settlement and integration organization for immigrants and refugees in BC. Multilingual Legal Glossary is an online dictionary that allows you to search for the meaning of legal words. It provides the meaning of the word in English, and translates it into Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Farsi, Korean, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, or Vietnamese.	Phone: 604-254-9626 www.mosaicbc.com www.multilingolegal.ca www.legalglossary.ca/dictionary
People's Law School	The People's Law School provides people in BC with free public legal education and information. Visit our website or call us to find out how to access the education and information needed to exercise your legal rights and responsibilities.	Phone: 604-331-5400 www.publiclegaled.bc.ca
Pro Bono Legal Services	In these programs, lawyers volunteer to provide free legal advice to those who can’t afford a lawyer or can’t get legal aid. A good place to start is with the Access Pro Bono Society of BC, which has legal advice clinics across BC.	Phone: 604-878-7400 Phone toll-free: 1-877-762-6664 www.accessprobono.ca
Victimsinfo.ca	A website for victims and witnesses of crime in BC. The website gives people the information they need to deal with the consequences of crime.	www.victimsinfo.ca

Family law

Clicklaw	A website with legal information and education from across BC. The resources available through Clicklaw are designed to be used by the public. Start on home page (Solve Problems) and explore by topic. Select Family Law.	www.clicklaw.bc.ca
Family Law in British Columbia	The Family Law in British Columbia website has important information about family matters including: child protection, child support, common-law relationships, divorce and separation, and family violence. Information is available in 12 languages. The website is produced by the Legal Services Society. The Legal Services Society has free print and online booklets on family law topics in English and many other languages. Select Family and look for these publications: Living Together or Living Apart: Common-Law Relationships, Marriage, Separation, and Divorce This booklet explains the basics of family law in BC. It includes information about living common-law or being married, getting separated or divorced, and where to find help. The booklet is available in eight languages. Parents’ Rights, Kids’ Rights: A Parent’s Guide to Child Protection Law in BC This booklet explains what happens if the Ministry of Children & Family Development has concerns about a child’s safety. For Your Protection This is written for people who need protection from violent partners or ex-partners, but the information applies to anyone in an abusive relationship. If Your Child is Taken This explains the steps that parents or guardians can take if the director of Children and Family Development removes their child or is planning to remove their child from the home. Describes what the law says, what parents can do, and what happens in court.	www.familylaw.lss.bc.ca www.familylaw.lss.bc.ca/resources/publications
ImmigrantLegal.ca	This website provides free legal information and education on legal topics for newcomers to Canada and the people working with them. The website is a project of the Immigrant Public Legal Education and Information Consortium. It is managed by the Justice Education Society. On the home page of the site, select Family.	www.immigrantlegal.ca
JP Boyd on Family Law	This website offers information about family law and the court process in British Columbia. It’s written in language that is easy to understand, and it has definitions for legal words and phrases.	www.wiki.clicklaw.bc.ca/index.php/jpboyd
JusticeBC	The Ministry of Justice manages BC's justice system. This website has information to help parents who are separating. It includes how parents can reach an agreement, what government services are available, and where parents can find programs to help them and their children cope.	www.justicebc.ca or www.ag.gov.bc.ca/family-justice
Justice Education Society	On the home page, select the quick link to Family Law. Court Information Program for Immigrants provides free legal information to new immigrants and refugees. All content on the website is available in English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Punjabi, and Hindi. Families Change: Guide to Separation & Divorce is a multimedia website that provides information on separation and divorce for children, teens, and parents. KidsBC.ca: Explore Changeville is a multimedia website that aims to help children cope with the changes in their lives when parents separate or divorce.	www.justiceeducation.ca www.courtinformation.ca www.familieschange.ca www.kidsbc.ca
Lawyer Referral Service	This service can help you find a lawyer who will meet with you for 30 minutes for $25.	Phone: 604-687-3221 1-800-663-1919 www.cba.org/bc
Legal Services Society of BC	You may be able to get free legal help (Legal Aid) if you have a serious family law problem and: your legal problem is covered by legal aid rules, your income and the value of your property are below a certain limit, and you have no other way of getting legal help.	www.legalaidbc.ca
Mediate BC Society - Family Mediation Services	Parenting After Separation is a free three-hour workshop that helps parents make decisions about their separation that focus on the best interests of their children.	www.justicebc.ca/en/fam/index.html
Parenting After Separation	Mediate BC can put you in touch with a mediator who can help you and your spouse work together to find a solution to legal problems and help you make an agreement.	Phone: 1-604-684-1300 local 23 1-855-660-8406 [http:/www.mediatebc.com www.mediatebc.com]
People’s Law School	The People’s Law School offers free public legal education and information to the people of British Columbia. Free booklets are available online and in print. They include: Caring for Children outlines parents’ responsibilities and children’s rights, and where to get help. Child Support in BC booklet offers general information for parents about child support in BC. Talking about Abuse is a video series that can help non-English speakers understand how Canadian law defines family violence. It includes information on where people in BC can get help in their own language. You can order resources online.	Phone: 604-331-5400 www.publiclegaled.bc.ca www.publiclegaled.bc.ca/media/violence-against-minority-women www.store.publiclegaled.bc.ca
Pro Bono Legal Services	In these programs, lawyers volunteer to provide free legal advice to those who can’t afford a lawyer or can’t get Legal Aid. If you have a family law problem, you can contact Access Pro Bono Society of BC. It has legal advice clinics across BC.	Phone: 604-878-7400 1-877-762-6664 [http:/www.accessprobono.ca www.accessprobono.ca]
VictimLink.ca	VictimLink can put you in touch with services that will help victims of violence.	1-800-563-0808 www.victimlink.ca

Young people and the law

Child Abuse Prevention	This website from the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development has two sections: Preventing Child Abuse in Your Community, and Just for Teens.	www.safekidsbc.ca
Clicklaw	A website with legal information and education from across BC. Clicklaw is operated by Courthouse Libraries BC. Start on home page (Solve Problems) and explore by topic. Select Children & teens. You can use the Clicklaw Help Map to find someone who can help with legal problems.	www.clicklaw.bc.ca www.clicklaw.bc.ca/helpmap
Dial-A-Law	Has brief legal information on over 130 topics, available in English, Chinese and Punjabi. Dial-A-Law is a free service of the Canadian Bar Association, British Columbia branch. You can listen on the telephone or online. You can also read the information online. Scripts include Children’s Rights and Young People and Criminal Law.	Phone: 604-687-4680 1-800-565-5297 www.dialalaw.org
JusticeBC	This is the website of the BC Ministry of Justice, which is responsible for managing the justice system in BC. The website provides information on a wide range of legal topics and describes the government services available to help you. Select Criminal Justice System for information about young offenders.	[http:/www.justicebc.ca www.justicebc.ca] orwww.justicebc.ca/en/fam/index.html
Justice Education Society	Gang Prevention is a website that aims to prevent youth involvement in gang activity. It provides information and resources to parents and youth. On the website, select Youth, Families & Community. Legal Rights for Youth is a website for youth. It describes the legal rights for youth living in British Columbia.	www.gangprevention.ca www.legalrightsforyouth.ca
Lawyer Referral Service	This service can help you find a lawyer who will meet with you for 30 minutes for $25.	Phone: 604-687-3221
People’s Law School	The People’s Law School offers free public legal education and information to the people of British Columbia. Free booklets are available online and in print. They include: Consequences of a Youth Record This free booklet explains what a youth record is, how long it remains, and what a record means for the youth. You can order booklets online.	Phone: 604-331-5400 www.publiclegaled.bc.ca www.store.publiclegaled.bc.ca
Pro Bono Legal Services	In these programs, lawyers volunteer to provide free legal advice to those who can’t afford a lawyer or can’t get Legal Aid. If you have a family law problem, you can contact Access Pro Bono Society of BC. It has legal advice clinics across BC.	Phone: 604-878-7400 1-877-762-6664 [http:/www.accessprobono.ca www.accessprobono.ca]

Elder law

BC Association of Community Response Networks (BCCRN)	Provides information and help to anyone who is being abused or neglected, or is supporting someone who is.	www.bccrns.ca
BC Centre for Elder Advocacy and Support (BCCEAS)	BCCEAS provides information about benefits and programs for seniors, financial and legal planning, elder abuse and where to go for help, and how to protect yourself against theft and fraud.	Phone: 604-437-1940 1-866-437-1940 Call between 9am and 1pm Monday-Friday www.bceas.ca
Clicklaw	A website that will take you to legal information and education from across BC. Clicklaw is operated by Courthouse Libraries BC. Start on the home page (Solve Problems) and explore by topic. Select Seniors. You can use the Clicklaw Help Map to find someone who can help with legal problems.	www.clicklaw.bc.ca www.clicklaw.bc.ca/helpmap
Dial-A-Law	Has brief legal information on over 130 topics, available in English, Chinese and Punjabi. Dial-A-Law is a free service of the Canadian Bar Association, British Columbia branch. You can listen on the telephone or online. You can also read the information online. Scripts include Elder Law, Elder Abuse and Seniors Rights.	Phone: 604-687-4680 1-800-565-5297 www.dialalaw.org
Human Rights Coalition	The BC Human Rights Coalition provides information and services to people in BC who need help to protect their rights under the BC Human Rights Code.	Phone: 604-689-8474 1-877-689-8474 www.bchrcoalition.org
Justice Education Society	The Justice Education Society creates programs and resources that improve access to British Columbia’s justice system. They include: Your Human Rights in BC. This is a series of five videos for immigrants about human rights in BC and Canada. The videos are available in English, Mandarin and Punjabi.	www.justiceeducation.ca www.justiceeducation.ca/resources/human-rights-in-bc
Lawyer Referral Service	This service can help you find a lawyer who will meet with you for 30 minutes for $25.	Phone: 604-687-3221 Phone toll-free: 1-800-663-1919 cbabc.org/For-the-Public/Lawyer-Referral-Service
Nidus Personal Planning Resource Centre and Registry	Nidus provides information to British Columbians about personal planning, including information on making a representation agreement or enduring power of attorney. At the home page, select Information and Self-Help.	www.nidus.ca
People's Law School	The People’s Law School offers free public legal education and information to the people of British Columbia. Free booklets are available online and in print. They include: When I'm 64 is a series of three booklets with information about benefits and services available to seniors and about planning for your future. You can order booklets online.	www.publiclegaled.bc.ca www.store.publiclegaled.bc.ca
Pro Bono Legal Services	In these programs, lawyers volunteer to provide free legal advice to those who can’t afford a lawyer or can’t get Legal Aid. If you have a family law problem, you can contact Access Pro Bono Society of BC. It has legal advice clinics across BC.	Phone: 604-878-7400 1-877-762-6664 [http:/www.accessprobono.ca www.accessprobono.ca]
Public Guardian and Trustee	The office of the Public Guardian and Trustee provides services to adults who need help managing their affairs.	Phone: 604-775-1007 www.trustee.bc.ca/services/adult/index.html
VictimLink.ca	VictimLink can put you in touch with counselling and helping services, and people who may be able to help you find a safe place to stay.	1-800-563-0808 www.victimlink.ca

Working and renting in BC

Clicklaw

A website with legal information and education from across BC. The resources available through Clicklaw are designed to be used by the public. Start on home page (Solve Problems) and explore by topic.

www.clicklaw.bc.ca

More resources

This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by People's Law School, 2013.

Learning about the Law Wikibook © People's Law School is, except for the images, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International Licence.

The testing of the claims in a court proceeding at a formal hearing before a judge with the jurisdiction to hear the proceeding. The parties present their evidence and arguments to the judge, who then makes a decision resolving the parties' claims against one another that is final and binding on the parties unless successfully appealed. See "action," "appeal," "argument," "claim," "evidence" and "jurisdiction."

In law, the re-examination of a term of an order or agreement, usually to determine whether the term remains fair and appropriate in light of the circumstances prevailing at the time of the review. In family law, particularly the review of an order or agreement provided for the payment of spousal support. See "de novo," "family law agreements," "order" and "spousal support."

A court established and staffed by the provincial government, which includes Small Claims Court, Youth Court, and Family Court. The Provincial Court is the lowest level of court in British Columbia and is restricted in the sorts of matters it can deal with. It is, however, the most accessible of the two trial courts and no fees are charged to begin or defend a family law proceeding. The Family Court of the Provincial Court cannot deal with the division of family property or any claims under the Divorce Act. See "Divorce Act," "judge" and "jurisdiction."

The highest level of court in the province, having the jurisdiction to review decisions of the Supreme Court, all provincial lower courts, and certain tribunals. See "appeal."

A person licensed to practice law in a particular jurisdiction by that jurisdiction's law society. See "barrister and solicitor."

Something which can be owned. See "chattels" and "real property."

Money paid by one parent or guardian to another parent or guardian as a contribution toward the cost of a child's living and other expenses.

In family law, the decision of one or both parties to terminate a married or unmarried relationship; the act of one person leaving the family home to live somewhere else with the intention of terminating the relationship. There is no such thing as a "legal separation." In general, one separates by simply moving out, however, it is possible to be separated but still live under the same roof. See "divorce, grounds of."

A person who is younger than the legal age of majority, 19 in British Columbia. See "age of majority."

The legal termination of a valid marriage by an order of a judge; the ending of a marital relationship and the conjugal obligations of each spouse to the other. See "conjugal rights," "marriage" and "marriage, validity of."

Under the Divorce Act, either of two people who are married to one another, whether of the same or opposite genders. Under the Family Law Act, spouse includes married spouses, unmarried parties who have lived together in a marriage-like relationship for at least two years, and, for all purposes of the act other than the division of property or debt, unmarried parties who have lived together for less than two years and have had a child together. See "marriage" and "marriage-like relationship."

A mandatory direction of the court that is binding and enforceable upon the parties to a court proceeding. An "interim order" is a temporary order made following the hearing of an interim application. A "final order" is a permanent order, made following the trial of the court proceeding or the parties' settlement, following which the only recourse open to a dissatisfied party is to appeal. Failing to abide by the terms of an order may constitute contempt of court. See "appeal," "consent order," "contempt of court," "decision" and "declaration."

Under the Family Law Act, a term that describes the time a person who is not a guardian of a child, including a parent who is not a guardian, has with that child. Under the Divorce Act, a term that describes the time a person who is not a married spouse has with a child. See "guardian" and "parental responsibilities."

In law, (1) a written argument, or (2) a memorandum of law. A brief is usually presented to a judge as a summary of an argument or the law on a particular issue. Curiously, briefs are rarely brief.

In law, in British Columbia a person under the age of 19.

Under the old Divorce Act, the schedule of a parent's time with their children under an order or agreement, replaced with "parenting time" and "contact" in the new Divorce Act. Access usually referred to the schedule of the parent with the least amount of time with the child. See "contact," "custody" and "parenting time."

In contract law, a promise made by someone about a certain state of affairs, like "the plumbing was replaced last year" or "I had a vasectomy two years ago." See "misrepresentation."