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Maintenance Enforcement and Locate Services (MELS)

Last updated on January 8, 2026

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About Maintenance Enforcement and Locate Services (MELS)

In B.C., there are several programs that help families get support they are entitled to under court orders or agreements. Maintenance Enforcement and Locate Services (MELS) is responsible for these programs. They include: 

MELS also supports the work of its family justice partner, the BC Family Maintenance Agency. The BC Family Maintenance Agency is a Crown agency. Support orders and agreements can be enrolled with it. Once they are enrolled, the BC Family Maintenance Agency can monitor and recover support payments owing.  

Learn more about the BC Family Maintenance Agency.

MELS programs

Locate Services

The Locate Services program employs Search Officers who have legal authority to:

  • Find a person’s location
  • Identify their assets
  • Determine their employment
  • Discover their sources of income

This supports the establishment and enforcement of family orders and agreements. Search Officers can also request information from federal databases on behalf of other justice partners, such as the BC Family Maintenance Agency.

Interjurisdictional Support Services

The Interjurisdictional Support Services ensures family support applications and support orders flow between B.C. courts, BCFMA and other provinces, territories, states or countries. This service supports families when one parent lives outside of B.C.

Learn more about Interjurisdictional Support Orders.

Child Support Recalculation Service

The Child Support Recalculation Service recalculates child support amounts in orders and agreements made or filed in a B.C. Provincial Court. They ensure that amounts owing are properly adjusted and in line with parents’ incomes.

Learn more about the Child Support Recalculation Service.

 

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.