Introduction
If you or the other parent lives outside BC, you might not be able to use this guide. Speak to a lawyer for advice and see When more than one province or country is involved for more information.
This guide isn't for enforcing child or spousal support agreements or orders.
If a parent isn’t paying the spousal or child support owed to you, you can enroll in the BC Family Maintenance Agency. It’s a very helpful free service. You don’t need to come to court to force the person to pay. BCFMA will take steps to collect support payments.
If you want to enforce another part of the agreement, this guide is for you.
If a parent isn’t paying the spousal or child support owed to you, you can enroll in the BC Family Maintenance Agency. It’s a very helpful free service. You don’t need to come to court to force the person to pay. BCFMA will take steps to collect support payments.
If you want to enforce another part of the agreement, this guide is for you.
You can ask the court to enforce a parenting agreement or order if the other parent isn't doing what the order says. For example:
- if they don't show up or aren't available to care for a child as agreed or ordered, or
- if they refuse to let you spend time with the child.
When you do this, you’re asking the court to make a new order.
You can’t force a person to spend time with a child. But under the Family Law Act, if a parent has a habit of not using their parenting time, they can lose some of it.
Making court applications can be expensive and time-consuming. Do this only if:
- you and the other parent can't come to an agreement, AND
- the other parent repeatedly fails to follow an order or agreement, OR
- the other parent's failure to follow an order or agreement caused you and your child extreme inconvenience and cost you money.
Updated on 14 May 2024
Wellness
Work through this guide at your own pace. There's no need to rush.