Specific Communities and Family Law

This page from JP Boyd on Family Law and others highlighted in orange explain trial procedure and litigation in BC family law. They are under editorial review to provide more thorough, current, and practical guidance. Since 2020, procedures, forms, and laws have changed significantly. While gross inaccuracies have been corrected, some details may still be outdated. These pages were not included in the 2024 print edition.

JP Boyd on Family Law
This page is from the Clicklaw Wikibook JP Boyd on Family Law. See the full contents and the list of contributors.
Getting Started
Introduction · Family Law in BC Definitions · Legislation Divorce Act Basics · Family Law Act Basics
Chapters
The Legal System · The Law · You & Your Lawyer · Justice Access
Family Relationships · Married Spouses · Unmarried Spouses · Parents · Polyamorous Relationships · Grandparents and Extended Family · Adoption · Assisted Reproduction
Separation and Divorce · Separating Emotionally · Behaviour & Boundaries · Separation and the Law · Divorce Law
Resolving Problems out of Court · Collaborative Negotiation · Mediation · Arbitration · Parenting Coordination
Resolving Problems in Court · The Court System
Supreme Court Litigation · Starting & Responding to Claims · Disclosure & Discovery · Court Conferences · Interim Applications · Supreme Court Trials · Changing Orders · Enforcing Orders
Provincial Court Litigation · Starting & Responding to Claims · Disclosure · Court Conferences · Interim Applications · Provincial Court Trials · Changing Orders · Enforcing Orders
Family Law Agreements · Cohabitation Agreements · Marriage Agreements · Separation Agreements · Changing Agreements · Enforcing Agreements
Children & Parenting · Rights of Children · Parenting Apart · Basic Principles · Moving Away after Separation · Children Who Resist Seeing a Parent · Making Changes · Enforcing Orders & Agreements
Child Support · The Guidelines · Exceptions to the Guidelines · Making Changes · Child Support Arrears
Spousal Support · The Advisory Guidelines · Making Changes · Spousal Support Arrears
Property & Debt · Basic Principles · Protecting Property & Debt · Dividing Property & Debt
Family Violence · FLA & Divorce Act · Criminal Code · Civil Claims · Child Protection
Court Forms & Documents
Supreme Court: Forms & Examples Provincial Court: Forms & Examples Other Family Law Forms & Documents Helpful Guides & Common Questions View See more topics From the Author Editorial Manifesto · Rights & Duties of Self-Represented Litigants
v • d • e

Page Editor(s)
JP Boyd, KC
Previously: Gayle Raphanel and Rhaea Bailey
Read: Past contributors

This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by Gayle Raphanel, July 8, 2014.

JP Boyd on Family Law

Getting Started

Introduction · Family Law in BC · Definitions · Family Law Legislation · Divorce Act Basics · Family Law Act Basics

Chapters

The Legal System	The Law · You & Your Lawyer · Access to Family Justice

Family Relationships	Marriage & Married Spouses · Unmarried Spouses · Parents · Polyamorous Relationships · Grandparents and Extended Family · Adoption · Assisted Reproduction

Separation & Divorce	Separating Emotionally · Behaviour & Boundaries · Separation and the Law · Divorce Law

Resolving Problems out of Court	Collaborative Negotiation · Mediation · Arbitration · Parenting Coordination

Resolving Problems in Court	The Court System

Supreme Court Litigation	Starting & Responding to Claims · Disclosure & Discovery · Court Conferences · Interim Applications · Supreme Court Trials · Changing Orders · Enforcing Orders

Provincial Court Litigation	Starting & Responding to Claims · Disclosure · Court Conferences · Interim Applications · Provincial Court Trials · Changing Orders · Enforcing Orders

Family Law Agreements	Basic Principles · Protecting Property & Debt · Dividing Property & Debt

Children & Parenting	Rights of Children · Parenting Apart · Basic Principles · Moving Away after Separation · Children Who Resist Seeing a Parent · Making Changes · Enforcing Orders & Agreements

Child Support	The Guidelines · Exception to the Guidelines · Making Changes · Child Support Arrears

Spousal Support	The Advisory Guidelines · Making Changes · Spousal Support Arrears

Family Violence	FLA and Divorce Act · Criminal Code · Civil Claims · Child Protection

Helpful Guides & Common Questions

Marriage, Separation & Divorce	Get Married in British Columbia? · Prepare for Separation? · Separate from My Spouse? · Find Out if I'm Divorced? · Get Divorced? · Get my Certificate of Divorce?

Avoiding an Obligation	Get Out of Paying Child Support? · Get Out of Paying Spousal Support? · Get Out of Sharing My Assets?

Alternatives to Court	Start Negotiations with My Spouse? · Start Mediation with My Spouse? · Start a Collaborative Process with My Spouse? · Start Arbitration with My Spouse? · Hire a Parenting Coordinator?

Agreements	Execute a Family Law Agreement? · Change a Family Law Agreement? · File an Agreement in Court?

Starting an Action	Find My Ex? · Start an Action in the Provincial Court? · Start an Action in the Supreme Court? · Apply to Waive Filing Fees in the Supreme Court? · Personally Serve Someone with Legal Documents? · Substitutionally Serve Someone with Legal Documents? · Change Something in My Notice of Family Claim? · Stop an Action in the Supreme Court?

Defending an Action	Respond to an Action in the Provincial Court? · Respond to an Action in the Supreme Court? · Apply to Waive Filing Fees in the Supreme Court? · Change Something in My Response to Family Claim or Counterclaim? · Stop Defending an Action in the Supreme Court?

Interim Applications	Make a Priority Parenting Matter Application in the Provincial Court? · Make an Interim Application in the Supreme Court? · Reply to a Priority Parenting Matter Application in the Provincial Court? · Reply to an Interim Application in the Supreme Court?

Affidavits	Prepare an Affidavit? · Prepare a Supplemental Affidavit? · Fix an Error in an Affidavit or Add to an Affidavit?

Courtroom Protocol	Address the Judge? · Address the Lawyer When I'm Representing Myself? · Conduct Myself in Court at an Application?

Appealing a Decision	Appeal a Provincial Court Decision? · Appeal an Interim Supreme Court Decision? · Appeal a Final Supreme Court Decision? · Appeal a Court of Appeal Decision?

Other Litigation Issues	Schedule a Family Management Conference? · Schedule a Judicial Case Conference for Hearing? · Arrange a Needs of the Child Assessment? · Get a Report about a Child's Views? · Find an Order or Another Court Document? · Fix an Error in an Order? · Tell Everyone That I'm Representing Myself? · Change My Address for Service?

Miscellaneous	Prepare for My First Meeting with a Lawyer? · Become a Lawyer? · Divide Our CPP Pensions after We're Divorced? · Change My Name?

Forms and Documents

Supreme Court	Supreme Court Forms & Examples

Provincial Court	Provincial Court Forms & Examples

Family Law	Other Forms & Documents

JP Boyd on Family Law © John-Paul Boyd and Courthouse Libraries BC is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 Canada Licence.

Specific Communities and Family Law

Navigation menu

Search