Legal Aid Denied for Family Law in British Columbia: Next Steps

Being told no when you applied for legal aid for a family matter is stressful, especially if you are dealing with parenting, support or safety issues. You may be wondering whether the decision can be challenged and what you can do in the meantime.

This article walks through how to ask about a review and the other forms of help that may still be open to you in British Columbia. It is general information, not legal advice.

This article covers the law of British Columbia.

Find out why you were refused

Start by asking Legal Aid BC for the specific reason for the refusal, since what you can do next depends on it. Legal Aid BC sets financial limits that are updated from time to time, so figures you saw earlier may be out of date. Do not assume that a safety concern or an urgent deadline removes the financial test; ask Legal Aid BC directly.

Ask Legal Aid BC whether you can request a review of the decision, how to do so and any time limit. The process depends on the reason for the refusal, and a lawyer or advocate can help you prepare your request. Whether anything else can be done, such as correcting or updating your application, depends on your situation, so it is worth confirming with Legal Aid BC or a lawyer.

Family Law Centres 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, were added as an eligible issue as of June 22, 2026.

The centres prioritize survivors who have fled an abusive partner within the past six months, which 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. There are in-person offices in Surrey and Victoria, and virtual services in Surrey, Abbotsford, New Westminster, Victoria, Colwood, Duncan, Kelowna, Kamloops, Prince George, Vanderhoof and Mackenzie. Kamloops and Prince George in-person offices were expected to open in late summer 2026. That time has now passed, so confirm whether they are open before you plan to visit.

Other free and lower-cost help

• Family Justice Centres: free services for parents and family members dealing with separation or divorce, a needs assessment, legal information and referrals, and a free Parenting After Separation course.
• Mediation: family justice counsellors provide mediation, and Justice Access Centres also offer free family justice services.
• Child support: referral to the BC Family Maintenance Agency if support is not being received.
• Unbundled legal services: a lawyer handles part of your matter while you handle the rest.
• Access Pro Bono: contact them directly to confirm current eligibility.

Family Justice Centres can be reached Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, at 1-844-747-3963. Some referred services are based on financial need, so you may be asked about income.

If you are worried about safety

Safety concerns can be raised in more than one way, and how this applies depends on your situation, so it is worth confirming with a lawyer. 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, and the order need not be made 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 such as history of family violence, whether it is repetitive or escalating, recent separation, access to weapons and vulnerability such as pregnancy or economic dependence. Unless the court orders otherwise, a protection order expires one year after it is made. Family Justice Centres can make safety referrals to VictimLinkBC or police.

Funding a lawyer another way

In some property cases, the Supreme Court may order an interim distribution of family property so you can fund family dispute resolution, all or part of a proceeding, or evidence gathering, if it would not harm the other spouse's interests. This is limited to the Supreme Court and to family property at issue in property division, and it is not a general costs order. Part 10 of the Family Law Act has no general costs provision. A lawyer can tell you if this could apply to you.

What to do next

• Get the refusal reasons in writing and note any deadlines.
• Contact Legal Aid BC to ask about a review or a new application.
• Call a Family Justice Centre for a needs assessment and referrals.
• Check whether you qualify for a Family Law Centre if family violence is involved.
• Ask a lawyer about a limited-scope arrangement.

Frequently asked questions