What Happens If My Ex Lives in Another Province and Owes Child Support in BC?

This answer covers the law of British Columbia.

Yes, you can usually deal with it from BC without travelling to your ex's province. BC says you can apply in BC to get or change a support order in another jurisdiction, and Interjurisdictional Support Services (IJSS) administers those applications while your ex responds in the court of their own jurisdiction. Every Canadian province and territory is a reciprocating jurisdiction.

Which route applies depends on whether you already have an order. If there is no support order, you can start by submitting a support application to the designated authority in BC under the Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act, as long as your ex lives in a reciprocating jurisdiction. If an order already exists, that process does not apply, and the registration and variation routes apply instead. An order sent to the BC designated authority is registered by the BC court and can then be enforced for past arrears and future payments.

If your order or agreement is enrolled, the BC Family Maintenance Agency can help even if your ex lives outside BC. Where BC has no arrangement with your ex's location, its options are narrower. A lawyer can confirm which route fits your situation.