Family Justice

The Best Option for You

Getting Legal Advice

Where can I find out more about the law?

Only a lawyer can give you legal advice about your particular situation. However, there are other ways to find information about the laws that may affect you:

• Operated by the BC Branch of the Canadian Bar Association, Dial-A-Law offers information - prepared by lawyers - on a range of topics, including separation and divorce, child custody and access, child support, and choosing a lawyer.
  
  
• The Legal Services Society provides both Legal Aid and legal information. Please see their web site for a list of family law publications.
  
  
• If you have a legal question that is not answered by the information on this website, try contacting the LawLINE. LawLINE is a toll-free hotline for low-income people in BC that provides:
  
  
  • information about print and website materials and resources that can help you resolve your legal problem
  • referral to other services if another program or another agency could help you resolve your legal problem
  • legal advice that may include written opinions and advice, correspondence, help writing documents, and contact with third parties, but does not include being represented in court or other hearing
    
    
  There is no eligibility test for LawLINE legal information and referral services. However, eligibility for legal advice is based on income. For more information, please visit LawLINE's web site.

  To contact LawLINE, please call:

• (604) 408-2172 (Lower Mainland)
• 1-866-577-2525 (toll-free, outside the Lower Mainland)
• After dialing the phone number, press “7” on your phone to connect to LawLINE. Hours:
  9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
  9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Wednesday

LawLINE is unable to respond to e-mailed requests for legal information or advice.

• The Law Centre also provides information on family law issues.

• Many support groups - such as Women's Shelters or Transition Houses and Immigrant Settlement Groups - supply legal information as part of their services.
  
  
• Check with your local public library. Most libraries carry materials that deal with family law issues.

• A Kids’ Guide to Separation and Divorce and A Teen Guide to Parental Separation and Divorce include information about family law written especially for children and teens.
  
  
• If you are receiving BC Employment and Assistance, talk to your Family Maintenance Worker. He or she may be able to help you with information about your legal rights and responsibilities while you are going through separation or divorce.
  
  
• If you are of aboriginal descent, you may want to check with your local Native Friendship Centre or Native Community Law office. The Native Courtworker and Counselling Association of BC may also be able to help with legal information.