Introduction to Beginner's Guide to Finding Legal Information

Who This Guide is For

If you:

• want to find out about how to handle a legal problem you are having;
• need information about representing yourself in court; or
• are curious about how the law and the courts work in BC and Canada.

This guide explains how to find legal information in British Columbia, and also provides links to many more self-help resources and guides. This guide is a starting point and is not meant to be exhaustive. It explains the law and legal procedures in general, and is not intended to give legal advice on your particular legal problem.

Guide Authors

This Guide was created by Courthouse Libraries BC Information Services staff Rebecca Slaven, Janet Freeman and Kate Sloan.

Clicklaw Wikibooks

Clicklaw Wikibooks are collaboratively developed, plain language legal publications that can be read online and can also be printed. The authors update the Guide online on Clicklaw Wikibooks, which should be consulted for the most recent information on topics covered by this Guide.

Your comments

Your comments on the content and format of this Guide are most appreciated. Please forward them to:

Courthouse Libraries BC

Phone: 1-800-665-2570

Email: editor@clicklaw.bc.ca

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."