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Where can I find out more about separation and divorce?

Last updated on August 7, 2026

Talking to a family justice counsellor is a good place to start to get information about separation and divorce. For more information about family justice counsellors and other people who can provide in-person and virtual services, see Who Can Help?

Family Law in British Columbia – Legal Aid BC

The Legal Aid BC website Family Law in British Columbia provides information and step-by-step guides to help people solve family law problems.

Information on the site includes:

Legal Aid BC also offers the MyLaw BC website which provides information based on your responses to a series of questions.

Clicklaw – Courthouse Libraries BC

The Clicklaw website provides user-friendly, searchable access to key legal information in B.C., including information about family law. The JP Boyd on Family Law Wikibook also provides in-depth information.

Clicklaw’s HelpMap can help you locate services that can assist with family law problems.

Clicklaw also links you to information and services in other languages.

Dial-A-Law – People's Law School

The Dial-A-Law website is a service of the People's Law School. It offers information on family law topics including separation and divorce.

Helping children and teens understand separation and divorce

Families Change – Ministry of Attorney General and Justice Education Society of BC

Families Change: Guide to Separation and Divorce is a multimedia website designed to help children and teens understand separation and divorce. It also has resources to help parents support their children.

Helping your children understand separation - Ministry of Attorney General

Helping Your Children Understand Separation is a pamphlet for parents. It gives information about how separation affects children and provides ideas about how to help them through a difficult time.

Parenting After Separation - Ministry of Attorney General

Parenting After Separation (PAS) courses are free online courses designed to help families in B.C. dealing with separation or divorce. They provide information to parents and other family members who are responsible for making decisions for a child or youth. This helps parents make careful and informed decisions about:

There are 2 PAS courses available:

Each course takes about 3 hours to complete. You must register for the PAS course you want to complete. When you have finished the entire course, you will get a Certificate of Completion.

If you are involved in a family law case in Provincial Court, you may be required to complete a PAS course. Learn more about who needs to take a PAS course.

If you and your spouse agree without going to court, you do not have to complete a PAS course but you are welcome to do so.

All PAS courses cover:

  • The impact of separation on you and your child or youth
  • How to make decisions based on the best interest of your child or youth
  • Strategies to help your family adjust to change
  • Effective ways you can communicate with your child or youth’s other parent
  • How to keep your child or youth out of the middle of conflict
  • Options for resolving family disputes, including mediation, counselling and the court process
  • How the child support guidelines are applied
  • What resources are available in your community for parents and children

 

Access free family justice services in person or virtually at Family Justice Centres and Justice Access Centres. See the list of locations to find the one closest to you.

Staff can help you understand your options in a separation or divorce. They can talk with you, assess your needs and provide information about:

Learn more about family law and companion animals.

You can also take a free Parenting After Separation course.

Find more family law information and legal help:

  • Visit Clicklaw for practical legal information and organizations that provide free or low-cost legal services
  • Visit Family Law in BC from the Justice Education Society (JES) for information about family law issues
  • Contact the BC Legal Referral Service to consult a lawyer for free
  • Visit Legal Aid BC for free legal help for B.C. residents.

Learn more about Separating Finances and Moving Forward Financially from the JES.

In a joint divorce, you and your spouse apply together for a simple, uncontested divorce. You both agree on all family law issues that affect your family and only need to apply for a divorce order.

Apply for a joint divorce

B.C. has a central authority that helps parents when someone takes their children to another country without permission. For details and contact information visit the International child abduction page.