(LSNC)Introduction

Introduction

About this guide

This step-by-step guide is for people who want to apply in Supreme Court for:

  • a divorce,
  • most orders under the Divorce Act or the Family Law Act, including parenting orders, support orders, and orders about property and debt,
  • a declaration of parentage (when you ask the court to declare that someone is the parent of a child), or
  • an annulment.

This guide will help you start a family law cases in Supreme Court by filling out a Notice of Family Claim (Form F3). It gives the court details about you and your spouse, your marriage and separation, and what you're asking the court for.

For other kinds of orders, such as an adoption, you may have to apply by petition. See Rule 3-1(2) and Rule 17 of the Supreme Court Family Rules for more information.

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:

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.

Updated on 21 October 2020