Indigenous Family Law Help in British Columbia: Where to Start

If you are an Indigenous parent or family member facing separation, a parenting dispute or safety worries, it can be hard to know who to call first. Many public services are open to everyone in British Columbia, and some people also look for advocates or organizations who understand their community and culture.

This article explains the main public family law services in British Columbia and what each does. It does not list every Indigenous-focused service, because those can differ by community and change over time. A lawyer or a Family Justice Centre can help you find what is available near you.

This article covers the law of British Columbia.

Free legal help for family violence 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 on June 22, 2026.

The centres prioritize survivors who have fled an abusive partner within the past six months, but that is a priority and not a general waiver. Common issues include protection orders, denial of parenting time, child support, spousal support, property division and divorce.

The Family Law Centre has in-person offices in Surrey and Victoria, and Kamloops and Prince George offices were expected to open in late summer 2026, so it is worth confirming whether those two are open before you plan to visit. Virtual services are offered in Surrey, Abbotsford, New Westminster, Victoria, Colwood, Duncan, Kelowna, Kamloops, Prince George, Vanderhoof and Mackenzie. Confirm which locations are open before you travel.

Family Justice Centres

Family Justice Centres offer free services to parents and other family members dealing with separation or divorce. They can help with parenting arrangements, guardianship, child and spousal support, contact with a child, and property division for a companion animal.

• A needs assessment and legal information, with referrals for legal advice.
• Referrals to community agencies and safety referrals to VictimLinkBC or police.
• A referral to the BC Family Maintenance Agency if child support is not being received.
• A free Parenting After Separation course and information on Provincial Court processes.

You can call toll-free at 1-844-747-3963, Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Services are also available by telephone and video conference for families separated by distance. That can matter if you live far from a larger centre.

Some referred services are based on financial need, so you may be asked about income. Whether you can get lawyer advice at a Family Justice Centre depends on your situation, and staff otherwise refer you elsewhere.

Mediation and working things out outside court

Family Justice Counsellors are accredited mediators who provide mediation. Child support disputes can use facilitated negotiation with a child support officer. Justice Access Centres also offer free family justice services, including mediation in a neutral, informal setting where a trained mediator helps you discuss issues without giving legal advice.

Safety comes first. Family dispute resolution professionals must assess whether family violence may be present, and if so consider how it may affect a party's safety and ability to negotiate a fair agreement. If mediation is not suitable, staff help with next steps or referrals.

In the Vancouver Coastal, Vancouver Fraser, Vancouver Island and Interior regions, Early Resolution Registries require specific steps before a Provincial Court family case proceeds.

Protection orders when safety is a concern

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, or by a person on that member's behalf, or on its own initiative. It need not 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.

Unless the court orders otherwise, a protection order expires one year after the date it is made. The court must consider risk factors such as history of family violence, whether it is repeated or escalating, recent separation, access to weapons and your own perception of risk. If a child is a family member, it must also consider whether the child may be exposed to family violence.

Paying for help and what to do next

Unbundling means a lawyer provides legal services for part of your matter, with you and the lawyer deciding which tasks each will do. The Law Society of BC developed a Family Unbundled Legal Services toolkit with Mediate BC, available through Courthouse Libraries BC.

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. It is not a general costs order.

• Call a Family Justice Centre to get a needs assessment and referrals.
• If family violence is involved, ask about a Family Law Centre and about safety referrals.
• Ask each service whether it can connect you with Indigenous-focused support or advocates in your community.
• Write down dates, orders and any safety concerns before you call.
• Ask a lawyer about your specific situation, including any orders already in place.

Frequently asked questions