Family Law (Covid-19)
This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. This page was last updated by Clicklaw team on September 2nd, 2020 - 03:30 PM PDT. As of December 14, 2020, we are no longer updating this page. Please use Clicklaw to find Covid-19 information related to your legal questions. |
This page provides links to online resources dealing with the ways Covid-19 public health directives are affecting the lives of British Columbians.
This list is a starting point and is not meant to be exhaustive. It is not intended to give legal advice on your particular legal problem.
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Find information on the filing of court documents and applications during the recovery of court operations here: BC Courts: Court Filings & Procedures |
Contents
Common Legal Questions
Legal Aid BC: Family Law in BC's COVID-19 and the Legal System
- General information on Family Law Matters affected by Coronavirus including how to contact Parent Legal Centres, Family Duty Council and Justice Access Centres.
Legal Aid BC: Family Law in BC's COVID-19 and the Law: Your Questions Answered
- Q&A on issues affected by COVID-19 including parenting, children, abuse and family violence, and the courts.
MyLawBC: Getting help without leaving the house series: Online access to justice
- Online resources including mediation tools, family law resolution tool and dialogue tool.
Justice Education Society, Legal Help BC: Q&A on Family Law
- A Q&A style article for questions concerning how COVID-10 will effect issues around family law
Separation and Divorce
Government of British Columbia: Online Divorce App
- This online app helps people complete the documents required for joint-filing divorces in the Supreme Court of BC in cases with or without children. Joint-filed divorces are where both applicants agree on all family law issues relevant to their situation, such as spousal support & the division of property.
The registry is providing some in-person service. There are now four options for filing with a Supreme Court Registry:
- E-filing
- Fax Filing
- Mailing
For more information in regards to filing please view the LSS Family Supreme Court during Covid 19 guide :You can file documents for family matters
Conflict Resolution
Mediation BC: Quarantine Conflict Resolution Service
- Quarantine conflict resolution service from Mediate BC is for conflicts arising from quarantine or isolation due to COVID-19.
MyLawBC: Remote Child Support Mediation
- A mediation service that helps change a child support agreement or order if a parents situation has been directly affected by COVID-19
MyLawBC: Family Resolution Centre
- The Family Resolution Centre helps couples that are separating or divorcing work with a free professional mediator to make a parenting plan
Family Justice Services Division Family Justice Services Division Response to COVID-19
- Family Justice Services Division is providing a range of free services by telephone and video conferencing including dispute resolution services over the phone.
Children
Legal Aid BC: Family Law in BC: Q&A on Parenting
- Answers your questions on parenting, and support payments.
Rise Women's Legal Centre: Guidelines for parenting during COVID-19
- Information and resources for parenting during COVID-19 that also includes contact details for registry and locations that are hearing urgent applications
National Self-Represented Litigants Project (NSRLP) Template Social Distancing Clauses for Parents
- Temporary parenting clauses to help parents with existing shared court orders. This resource should be read as legal information and is not legal advice.
Anxiety Canada: Talking to your children about COVID-19
- Tips for talking to your children about COVID-19
Government of British Columbia Family Maintenance Program: FAQ's from Family Maintenance Program
- Frequently asked question from the BC Family Maintenance Enforcement Program about COVID-19
Government of British Columbia: Family Justice COVID-19 Legal Questions
- Provides important information about parenting arrangements, child and spousal support, and obtaining protection orders.
Government of British Columbia: Family Justice Services Division Response to COVID-19
- Provides information about Family Justice Centre and Justice Access Centre closures, and what services are available by phone and videoconference.
Government of British Columbia: Ministry of Children & Family Development Response to COVID-19
- Information from The Ministry of Children and Family Development on how they are responding to COVID-19 to ensure children, youth, families, caregivers, service providers, partners and staff have the information they need.
Abuse and Family Violence
Rise Women's Legal Centre: COVID-19
- Rise Women's Legal Centre physical location is currently closed but they are still available through phone and email.
Battered Women's Support Services: Legal Advocacy and COVID-19
- Support and legal advocacy services at the Battered Women's Support Services including information on Co-Parenting, staying safe, and contact information for urgent hearings
Domestic Violence Hotline:Staying safe during COVID-19
- Information and resource on staying safe during the COVID-19 pandemic
Filing of Court Documents and Urgent Applications
Find current information on filing of court documents and urgent applications during the recovery of court operations here: Court Filing & Procedures
Family Law
John-Paul Boyd, QC: FMFL06 - COVID-19 and Family Law, Part 1 and FMFL11 - COVID-19 and Family Law, Part 2 (YouTube videos)
- The author of JP Boyd on Family Law talks about the most common questions people have about the coronavirus and family law problems.
John-Paul Boyd, QC: "Family law cases addressing the COVID-19 pandemic"
- A digest of the Canadian family law cases dealing with the pandemic as of April 21st, 2020 from the author of JP Boyd on Family Law.
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