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Government

Ministry of Justice

How can I find out more about separation and divorce?

A lawyer is a good source of information and advice about separation and divorce. Our section on Getting Legal Advice explains what a lawyer can do for you and how to find one you want to work with.

Some communities have separation and divorce counselling centres. A family justice counsellor can tell you about services in your community or check in your local yellow pages under Divorce.

If you have children, we also recommend you attend Parenting After Separation, a free three-hour information session for B.C. parents who are dealing with child custody, guardianship, access and support issues. (This session is required in some locations before you can go to court.)

In addition:

  • If you are interested in handling your own divorce, see the Legal Services Society's divorce self-help kit.
  • Dial-A-Law, operated by the B.C. Branch of the Canadian Bar Association, offers information on a range of family law topics, including separation for both common-law and married couples, as well as divorce.
  • The Legal Services Society published a booklet that discuss the legal issues surrounding separation and divorce called: Living Together, Living Apart: Common-law relationships, marriage, separation, and divorce. These booklets can also be ordered by fax at: 604 682-0965 or by email at: distribution@lss.bc.ca.
  • The Legal Services Society's Family Law web site offers self-help kits for couples who agree to a divorce, as well as kits for parents who want to change a child support order in either Provincial or B.C. Supreme Court.
  • The Legal Services Society's web site also has kits for parents who want to get an initial custody, access or guardianship order, as well as a self-help kit for people who cannot afford Supreme Court fees.