Where Can Someone Fleeing Family Violence Get Legal Help in BC?

Leaving an abusive relationship is hard enough without also working out the legal side. You may need protection, a plan for the children, and answers about support and property, often all at once and with little money.

British Columbia has several places that offer free or low-cost help. This article explains what each one does, who can use it, and how to start. If you are in immediate danger, contact police first.

This article covers the law of British Columbia.

Family Law Centres: free legal help for survivors

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.

To be eligible, you must be experiencing family violence and have at least one additional eligible legal issue. Parenting arrangements, meaning getting an initial parenting order or changing one, became an eligible issue as of June 22, 2026.

The centres prioritize survivors who have fled an abusive partner within the past six months, but that is a priority, not a rule that shuts everyone else out. Common issues include protection orders, denial of parenting time, child support, spousal support, property division and divorce. Whether you qualify in your own situation is worth confirming directly with the centre.

Where the centres are

There are in-person offices in Surrey and Victoria. Offices in Kamloops and Prince George were expected to open in late summer 2026, so check whether they are open before you travel.

Virtual services are listed for the following communities:

• Surrey, Abbotsford and New Westminster
• Victoria, Colwood and Duncan
• Kelowna
• Kamloops, Prince George, Vanderhoof and Mackenzie

Protection orders

Under section 183 of the Family Law Act, a court may make a protection order on application by a family member who says they are at risk, or by someone on that person's behalf. The court can also act on its own initiative. The order does not have 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:

• history of family violence, and whether it is repetitive or escalating
• recent separation or intention to separate
• substance abuse and access to weapons
• your own perception of risk
• 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.

Family Justice Centres and safety referrals

Family Justice Centres offer free services to parents and other family members dealing with separation or divorce. These include help with parenting arrangements, guardianship, child and spousal support and contact with a child. They also provide a needs assessment, legal information with referrals for advice, and safety referrals to VictimLinkBC or police.

If child support is not being paid, staff can refer you to the BC Family Maintenance Agency. You can call 1-844-747-3963, Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, and services are also available by telephone and video conference. Some referred services are based on financial need, so you may be asked about income.

Mediation, safety and paying for help

Mediation is not always right where there has been violence. Family dispute resolution professionals must assess whether family violence may be present and, if so, consider how it may affect your safety and your ability to negotiate a fair agreement. If mediation is not suitable, Family Justice Centre staff help with next steps or referrals.

If you want a lawyer for only part of your case, ask about unbundling, where the lawyer does some tasks and you do the rest. In some property cases, the Supreme Court may order an interim distribution of family property to fund dispute resolution or part of a proceeding, but only if it would not harm the other spouse's interests, and it is not a general costs order.

What to do next

• If you are in danger now, contact police or VictimLinkBC.
• Contact a Family Law Centre or call a Family Justice Centre at 1-844-747-3963.
• Write down dates and events of violence, and keep copies of messages and records somewhere safe.
• Ask a lawyer whether a protection order, a parenting order or both fit your situation.
• Ask about any income questions before you rely on a referred service.

Frequently asked questions