- A refusal from Legal Aid BC does not close every door, because separate free family services exist in British Columbia.
- Family Law Centres help family violence survivors who cannot afford a lawyer, and they need at least one additional eligible legal issue.
- A lawyer can sometimes help with only part of your matter, which may cost less than full representation.
Being told no by Legal Aid BC can feel like the end of the road, especially when you are separating and need answers about children, support or property. It is not the end. There are other places to get information, mediation and sometimes legal help.
This article explains how to approach a review of a refusal in general terms, and then walks through the other options available in British Columbia. Your own situation will decide which of them fit, so a lawyer can help you sort that out.
This article covers the law of British Columbia.
Asking Legal Aid BC to look at the decision again
How a refusal can be reviewed depends on your situation and on the service involved, so it is worth confirming the details with a lawyer. Rather than guess at steps or deadlines, contact Legal Aid BC directly and ask how a review works and whether any time limit applies.
- Ask for the reason you were refused, such as income or the type of legal issue.
- Ask how to request a review and by when.
- Tell them about anything that has changed since you applied, such as a drop in income or new safety concerns.
- Keep notes of who you spoke to and when, and keep copies of what you send.
If you are told the decision stands, you can still use the other services below. Do not wait for the review before you seek help, particularly if safety is a concern.
Free help for people experiencing family violence
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 rather than 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 Kamloops and Prince George offices were expected to open in late summer 2026, so confirm they are open. Virtual services are offered in several communities, including Abbotsford, Kelowna and Duncan.
Family Justice Centres and Justice Access 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. You can call toll-free at 1-844-747-3963, Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
They also provide a needs assessment, legal information with referrals for advice, safety referrals, and a free Parenting After Separation course. Some referred services are based on financial need, so you may be asked about income, and lawyer advice at a Family Justice Centre depends on your situation. Justice Access Centres also offer free family justice services.
| Service | Who it is for | What it offers |
|---|---|---|
| Family Law Centre | Family violence survivors who cannot afford a lawyer | Free legal help on eligible issues |
| Family Justice Centre | Parents and family members dealing with separation or divorce | Free information, referrals, mediation and a parenting course |
| Justice Access Centre | People with family justice needs | Free family justice services, including mediation |
Paying for part of a lawyer's help
Unbundling means a lawyer provides legal services for part of your legal matter, and you and the lawyer decide which tasks each of you will do. The Law Society of BC developed a Family Unbundled Legal Services toolkit with Mediate BC, including sample retainer agreements, available through Courthouse Libraries BC.
If you are in a property dispute, the Supreme Court may in some cases order an interim distribution of family property to fund family dispute resolution or part of a court proceeding, but only if it would not harm your spouse's interests. That order comes only from the Supreme Court and only from family property at issue in the property division, and it is not a general costs order.
What to do next
- Contact Legal Aid BC about a review and ask what it needs from you.
- If there is family violence, find out whether a Family Law Centre can help with your issue.
- Call a Family Justice Centre for an assessment and referrals.
- Ask a lawyer whether limited help with specific tasks would work for you.
- If you are afraid for your safety, contact the police or VictimLinkBC.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get Legal Aid BC family help if I am fleeing abuse?
Family Law Centres, delivered by Legal Aid BC, prioritize survivors who have fled an abusive partner within the past six months. That is a priority, not a promise that income or other eligibility rules are waived. Ask directly about your situation.
Is there any free help if I am refused?
Family Justice Centres offer free services to parents and family members dealing with separation or divorce. Justice Access Centres also offer free family justice services.
Can I hire a lawyer for only one task?
Yes, that is called unbundling, where a lawyer provides services for part of your matter and you decide together which tasks each will do. Ask the lawyer to explain what is and is not included.
Can the court make my spouse pay for my legal costs?
Part 10 of the Family Law Act has no general costs provision, though it has narrower expense provisions, such as s. 203(2) on children's lawyer fees, s. 211(5) on assessment report fees, s. 212(2) on the expenses of complying with disclosure orders, and s. 224(2) on fees for dispute resolution, counselling or programs. Whether the court has any other way to shift your legal costs onto your spouse depends on your situation, so it is worth confirming with a lawyer. The Supreme Court can sometimes order an interim distribution of family property to fund dispute resolution or a proceeding, within limits.
Sources
- BC Gov News – Attorney General release, July 8, 2026 — news.gov.bc.ca
- Province of BC – Family Justice Centre services — www2.gov.bc.ca
- Province of BC – Mediation at Justice Access Centres — www2.gov.bc.ca
- Family Law Act, SBC 2011, c 25, s. 89 — bclaws.gov.bc.ca
- Family Law Act, SBC 2011, c 25, Part 10 — bclaws.gov.bc.ca
- Law Society of BC – Unbundling legal services — lawsociety.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
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