Introduction
This step-by-step guide is for you if:
- you want to change a final family order made in Provincial Court, or
- you want to set aside or replace all or part of an agreement you have about a family matter, and
- you and the other person don't agree on what the order should say.
If neither of you lives near the original registry, you may need to apply to change the registry. Talk to duty counsel.
Know your court registry
Provincial (Family) Court registries offer extra free services to help people resolve their family law issues without going to court. You must use the services your registry offers before you can file an application with the court.
Use the registry finder, below, to find out which registry you need to use and what extra services it offers.
When to use this guide
You can use this guide if:
- your court registry doesn’t require you to use any conflict resolution services, or
- you’ve used your registry’s resolution services and some of the issues are still not settled.
What the law says about parenting, support, and property when you separate
For more information, see:
Get legal help
It's a good idea to get some legal help before you use this guide. If you can't afford a lawyer, you can get legal help in other ways, including:
- Lawyer Referral Service
- free (pro bono) legal clinics
- family duty counsel
- family advice lawyers
- family justice counsellors
Staff at Justice Access Centres in Abbotsford, Nanaimo, Surrey, Victoria, and Vancouver can also answer your questions and help you fill out forms.
For information about legal aid, see the Legal Aid BC website.
Court forms seem daunting, but it's just a matter of filling in certain facts. Take them one question at a time.