This section provides a top to bottom overview of the ''[[Family Law Act]]'' in an easy-to-read question and answer format. It is written primarily for justice system workers and legal advocates, but anyone can use it. All of the information provided in this section is discussed in more detail elsewhere in ''JP Boyd on Family Law''. Use the search tool at the top of the page to find more information about specific topics.

The ''[[Family Law Act]]'' became law in 2013. It replaced the ''Family Relations Act'' which had been the law in British Columbia, in one form or another, since 1972. The ''Family Law Act'' made a lot of important changes to family law in the province. We stopped talking about parenting children in terms like ''custody'' and ''access'', which were about the rights of parents and tended to encourage conflict between separated parents, and started talking about a bigger idea of what ''guardianship'' means and new ideas about ''parental responsibilities'' and ''parenting time'', which focus on the rights of children and encourage separated parents to cooperate.