Find Out More in Learning about the Law
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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 While gross inaccuracies have been corrected, some details may still be outdated.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. |
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 |
| 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. |
www.justiceeducation.ca/programs/court-information-program-immigrants 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 |
| Legal Services Society of BC | You may be able to get free legal help (legal aid) if:
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 |
| 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. |
Phone: 604-254-9626 www.mosaicbc.com |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 the homepage (Solve Problems) and explore by topic. Select "Family Law." You can use the Clicklaw HelpMap to find someone who can help with legal problems. |
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 |
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 homepage 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.justicebc.ca/en/fam |
| Justice Education Society | On the homepage, 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:
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www.legalaid.bc.ca |
| Mediate BC Society - Family Mediation Services | 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 www.mediatebc.com |
| Parenting After Separation | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 www.accessprobono.ca |
| VictimLink | VictimLink can put you in touch with services that will help victims of violence. | 1-800-563-0808 www.victimlinkbc.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 the homepage (Solve Problems) and explore by topic. Select "Children & teens." You can use the Clicklaw HelpMap 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. |
www.justicebc.ca or www.justicebc.ca/en/fam |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by People's Law School, 2013. |
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 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.
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