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Ministry of Justice

How can I prepare for my meeting with a Family Justice Counsellor?

Before you meet with a family justice counsellor, you may want to attend a Parenting After Separation session. This is a free, three-hour information session for BC parents - and other family members, such as grandparents, or guardians - who are dealing with child custody, guardianship, access or support issues. Once you have completed Parenting After Separation, and called the nearest Family Justice Centre to set a time to meet with a family justice counsellor, you should think carefully about your situation and what you really need or want.

  • If custody and access are important issues, you may want to look closely at the Parenting Plan, contained in the Parenting After Separation: A Handbook for Parents. The plan may help you focus on your particular situation, and you should consider preparing a draft parenting plan for discussion at your meeting.

  • If child support is one of the issues you need help to settle, you may want to take a look at the child support guidelines and the provincial court financial statement form. The form may help you identify what you need to discuss at your meeting, and what you should bring with you - for example, if you will be required to pay child support, you should bring your income tax returns, notices of assessment from the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency, and employment or business records showing your salary, fees, and benefits for the past three years. (Please see our section on Child Support for more on the guidelines. The financial statement form and instructions for completing it are available from your local Provincial Court or online.)
Finally, before you meet with a family justice counsellor, you should also:
  • Make a list of the issues you need to discuss, in priority order, and the questions you want to ask.
  • Collect copies of:
    • any court orders or written agreements now in place relating to your separation or divorce, child custody, guardianship, support or access (if you can't find them, write down the name and location of the court where your order was made, or where you filed your agreement)
    • any protection orders currently in place (if you can't find them, write down the name and location of the court where your order was made or filed), and
    • any applications you have made for a court order.
  • Write down:
    • your lawyer's name and phone number (if you have one)
    • the address and phone number of your children's other parent
    • any court dates (Provincial or Supreme Court) scheduled to deal with your separation or divorce, child custody, guardianship, access or support issues
    • whether or not you are currently enrolled with the Family Maintenance Enforcement Program, here in British Columbia or a similar program elsewhere, and
    • where and when you met with a family justice counsellor before (if you have done).
  • Make child-care arrangements for your children (please do not bring them to your meeting).