Can I Get Legal Aid for a Protection Order After Family Violence in BC?
This answer covers the law of British Columbia.
Possibly. Legal Aid BC delivers Family Law Centres, which give free, trauma-informed legal help to family violence survivors who cannot afford a lawyer. But you should not assume the usual income checks or waiting times are waived, so confirm with Legal Aid BC when you ask.
To qualify, you must be experiencing family violence and have at least one additional eligible legal issue. Common issues include protection orders, denial of parenting time, child support, spousal support, property division and divorce. Centres prioritize survivors who have fled an abusive partner within the past six months, but that is a priority, not a general waiver. Parenting arrangements became an eligible issue on June 22, 2026.
Offices are in Surrey and Victoria, with Kamloops and Prince George expected to open in late summer 2026, and virtual services are offered in several communities. Confirm that the Kamloops and Prince George offices are open before you plan around them. A court may make a protection order if family violence is likely to occur and you are an at-risk family member. It can be made without any other proceeding. Unless the court orders otherwise, it expires one year after it is made.
Key takeaways
- Family Law Centres, delivered by Legal Aid BC, give free legal help to family violence survivors who cannot afford a lawyer.
- You must be experiencing family violence and have at least one additional eligible legal issue.
- Survivors who fled an abusive partner within the past six months are prioritized, which is not a general waiver of the rules.
- A protection order is available if family violence is likely to occur and you are an at-risk family member, and it generally expires after one year.