Who can help?

Last updated on June 23, 2026

This page lists some available resources to help you and your children adjust to separation and divorce, and deal with issues such as how to collect child support and how to handle debt.

Family Justice Services Division

Family Justice Services Division delivers services that promote the timely and just resolution of family disputes within a comprehensive family justice system.

Learn more about available family justice services, including:

Maintenance Enforcement and Locate Services

Maintenance Enforcement and Locate Services (MELS) is responsible for programs that help families get support they are entitled to under court orders or agreements.

Learn more about MELS programs, including:

BC Family Maintenance Agency

The BC Family Maintenance Agency provides a free service for families in British Columbia who are eligible to receive or pay family support.

Learn more about getting help from the BC Family Maintenance Agency.

Court interpreters

The Ministry of Attorney General's Court Services Branch provides spoken-language interpreters for people who do not speak English, and sign-language interpreters or real-time captioning for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Learn more about getting help from court interpreters.

Mediators

In mediation, you and your spouse work with a person who is specially trained to help you reach an agreement. A family law mediator will assist families in a formal dispute resolution process to resolve family law issues after separation.

Learn more about getting help from mediators.

Parenting coordinators

A parenting coordinator helps parents carry out their parenting agreement or order. A parenting coordinator does not create or change parenting arrangements. They help parents resolve disagreements about how parenting agreements or orders are put into effect.

Learn more about getting help from parenting coordinators.

Arbitrators

Arbitrators play a private judge-like role. A family law arbitrator will make binding decisions to resolve family law issues out of court. If you decide to settle your family law issues through arbitration, you are asking another person to make the decisions for you, after hearing both sides.

Learn more about getting help from arbitrators.

Lawyers

Family lawyers have an important role in settling family law disputes, both in and out of court. Most family law cases are settled out of court, even where lawyers are involved.

Learn more about getting help from lawyers.

Access free family justice services in person or virtually at Family Justice Centres and Justice Access Centres.

Staff across B.C. can help you understand your options during separation or divorce. They can talk with you and assess your needs, and provide information about:
- Parenting arrangements
- Guardianship
- Child and spousal support
- Contact with a child
- Property division respecting a companion animal
See Family Justice Centre and Justice Access Centre locations to find the nearest location

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 in B.C.
Visit the Justice Education Society’s Family Law in BC website for information on Separation and Divorce and other family law issues
Contact the BC Legal Referral Service (formerly the Lawyer Referral Service) to consult a lawyer for free

Visit Legal Aid BC which offers free legal help for B.C. residents

Use the Government of Canada's child support table look-up to find the base amount of child support
Enroll your support order or agreement with the BC Family Maintenance Agency
See if the Child Support Recalculation Service can help you update child support each year without going to court

Online Divorce Assistant

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

International child abduction

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.

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