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Lawyers

Last updated on August 1, 2024

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.

A family lawyer can:

  • Help you negotiate a fair outcome
  • Help you reach a formal agreement
  • Advocate on your behalf
  • Provide legal advice so you understand your rights and responsibilities, and
  • Help you if you do need to go to court

You can find a lawyer who specializes in family law through:

  • Referrals from friends, community organizations or advocates
  • Legal Aid BC’s Legal help page
  • Access Pro Bono’s Lawyer Referral Service where you can receive a free 30 minute consultation with a lawyer
  • The BC Family Unbundling Roster lists lawyers and paralegals you can hire to work on only the legal tasks you agree to (instead of hiring a lawyer to represent you from beginning to end)
  • Associations of lawyers who provide collaborative family law services. You hire a collaborative lawyer to reach a settlement, not to go to court
  • Access Pro Bono Legal Clinics throughout B.C. offer free appointments with a lawyer for people who cannot afford a lawyer and do not qualify for legal aid
  • The Law Centre in Victoria offers free legal advice and representation to eligible clients who cannot afford a lawyer
  • Rise Women’s Legal Centre in Vancouver offers free family law services for women who cannot afford a lawyer and do not qualify for legal aid

Check out these resources from Legal Aid BC:

Visit a Justice Access Centre:

Talk with a family justice counsellor at a Family Justice Centre.

British Columbia has a central authority that assists left-behind parents whose children have been abducted across international borders. For more information, including contact information, please see International Child Abduction.