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BC Family Maintenance Agency (BCFMA)

Last updated on December 17, 2025

About the BC Family Maintenance Agency (BCFMA) 

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

The BC Family Maintenance Agency will: 

  • Collect the amounts owing under a support order or agreement, including any arrears (unpaid support payments) and special or extraordinary expenses from the person paying support (referred to as the payor) 
  • Calculate arrears, record and forward payments to the person receiving support (referred to as the recipient)
  • Take steps, if necessary, to try to ensure the person who is supposed to pay support makes the required payments
    • Learn more about the possible collection actions the BC Family Maintenance Agency may take

For more information, please visit on the BC Family Maintenance Agency website.

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

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.