- Family Law Centres are Province-funded clinics delivered by Legal Aid BC that give free, trauma-informed legal help to family violence survivors who cannot afford a lawyer.
- To qualify, you must be experiencing family violence and have at least one additional eligible legal issue, and parenting arrangements became an eligible issue as of June 22, 2026.
- Survivors who fled an abusive partner within the past six months are prioritized, but that is a priority and not a waiver of eligibility.
If you are dealing with family violence and cannot afford a lawyer, working out where to turn can feel overwhelming. British Columbia now has a service built for this situation: Family Law Centres. This article explains what they are, who qualifies and where they are located.
It also covers protection orders in plain terms and points to another free option, Family Justice Centres. Details such as locations and eligible issues can change, so confirm the current position before you rely on it.
This article covers the law of British Columbia.
What Family Law Centres are
Family Law Centres are law clinics funded by the Province and delivered by Legal Aid BC. They give free, trauma-informed legal help to family violence survivors who cannot afford a lawyer.
The centres are funded by a three-year, $29-million provincial contribution announced in 2024. Trauma-informed simply means the service is designed with an understanding of how violence and abuse can affect a person.
Who qualifies
To be eligible, you must be experiencing family violence and have at least one additional eligible legal issue. Both parts matter: family violence alone is not enough, and a legal issue alone is not enough.
Parenting arrangements, meaning obtaining an initial parenting order or changing one, were added as an eligible issue as of June 22, 2026.
Common issues the centres help with include:
- Protection orders
- Denial of parenting time
- Child support
- Spousal support
- Property division
- Divorce
The six-month priority is not a waiver
Family Law Centres prioritize survivors who have fled an abusive partner within the past six months. This is a priority, not a general waiver of the eligibility requirements.
In practical terms, do not assume you will skip any wait or any financial check because you recently left. Whether you qualify, and how soon you can be seen, depends on your circumstances, so contact the service and ask.
Protection orders in brief
Under section 183 of the Family Law Act, a court may make a protection order on application by a family member claiming to be at risk, by a person acting on that member's behalf, or on its own initiative. The order does not need to be made together with any other proceeding. The test is that family violence is likely to occur and the other person is an at-risk family member.
The court must consider risk factors, including the history of family violence, whether it is repetitive or escalating, recent separation or intention to separate, substance abuse, access to weapons, your own perception of risk, and vulnerability such as pregnancy or economic dependence. If a child is a family member, the court must also consider whether the child may be exposed to family violence and whether an order should also be made for the child.
Unless the court orders otherwise, a protection order expires one year after the date it is made.
Locations and other free options
| Type | Locations |
|---|---|
| In-person offices | Surrey and Victoria |
| Offices expected to open late summer 2026 | Kamloops and Prince George |
| Virtual services | Surrey, Abbotsford, New Westminster, Victoria, Colwood, Duncan, Kelowna, Kamloops, Prince George, Vanderhoof and Mackenzie |
Because the Kamloops and Prince George offices were only expected to open in late summer 2026, confirm that they are open before you plan a visit.
Family Justice Centres are another free option for parents and family members dealing with separation or divorce. You can call toll-free at 1-844-747-3963, Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. They also provide safety referrals to VictimLinkBC or police. Some referred services are based on financial need, so you may be asked about income.
What to do next
- If you are in immediate danger, contact police.
- Write down the family violence issues and any other legal issue, such as parenting, support, property or divorce.
- Gather any existing court orders, agreements and recent incident records.
- Contact a Family Law Centre, or call a Family Justice Centre, and ask about eligibility and current wait times.
- Confirm office locations are open, especially Kamloops and Prince George.
- Consider speaking with a lawyer about your protection order options.
Frequently asked questions
Are Family Law Centres free?
They give free legal help to family violence survivors who cannot afford a lawyer. You still need to meet the eligibility test.
Do I qualify if I have only experienced family violence?
Not necessarily. You must be experiencing family violence and also have at least one additional eligible legal issue. Parenting arrangements became an eligible issue as of June 22, 2026.
If I left my partner recently, can I skip the eligibility check?
No. Survivors who fled an abusive partner within the past six months are prioritized, but that is not a general waiver. Do not expect no wait or no financial screening.
How long does a protection order last?
Unless the court orders otherwise, a protection order expires one year after the date it is made. A lawyer can explain what may apply to your situation.
Sources
- BC Gov News – Attorney General release, July 8, 2026 — news.gov.bc.ca
- Family Law Act, SBC 2011, c 25, Part 9, s. 183 — bclaws.gov.bc.ca
- Province of BC – Family Justice Centre services — www2.gov.bc.ca
Links go to official government, court and regulator pages. The law changes — confirm you are reading the current version.
This is a family law question
An uncontested divorce with us is from $2,126.88, tax included. Third-party fees are extra.