Which guide should I choose? Is there a self-help guide for my situation?
If you're looking at the list of self-help guides and wondering which one to choose, here are some tips on how to find the one you need.
Note: When we use the word "spouse" on this page, we mean either someone you are or were married to, or a common-law spouse.
If you and your spouse agree about how you want to resolve all your family law issues
And you want to put your agreement in writing
- See our Separation agreements fact sheet.
And you want to get a divorce
- See How to do your own undefended (uncontested) divorce in Supreme Court and choose either:
- Joint application (both parties agree about all issues and want to file for divorce together) OR
- Sole application (your spouse doesn't contest the divorce or the orders you want OR you don't expect your spouse to respond)
And you want to get a court order that reflects your agreement, without a divorce order
If you and your spouse can't agree on how to settle your family law issues, including custody, access, guardianship, and/or support
- See How to get a non-final family order in Supreme Court if you can't agree with the other party or How to get a final order in Provincial Court to get a non-final order (Supreme Court) or a final order (Provincial Court).
OR
- See a lawyer (See Divorce & separation — Who can help for how to find a lawyer).
If you want to change an existing family order (for custody, access, guardianship, and/or support)
And the other party agrees with the change
OR
- File an Application to Change or Cancel an Order (Form 2) and follow the consent process set out in Rule 14 of the Provincial Court (Family) Rules.
And the other party does not agree with the change
- See How to change a family order if you can't agree with the other party and choose either the Provincial or Supreme Court guide.
If you want to get a temporary family order while you work things out or figure out your next steps
And the other party agrees with the order
And the other party does not agree with the order
- See How to get a non-final family order in Supreme Court if you can't agree with the other party or How to get a final order in Provincial Court to get a non-final order (Supreme Court) or a final order (Provincial Court).
If you want to get court documents to the other party
And the other party lives in BC and you know how to find him or her
- Choose either How to serve Supreme Court documents or How to serve Provincial Court documents, depending on which court your case is in.
And you can't find the other party or you don't know where he or she is
And the other party lives outside BC
If you need help filling out a Financial Statement (Form F8)
If you filed documents to start a family law case in Supreme Court but you haven't taken any more steps in the past year and want to restart the case
If you can't afford to pay Supreme Court fees
If you've been given (served with) court documents and you're not sure what to do next
If you received a Notice of Family Claim (Form F3) asking for a divorce, and you don't agree with what the claimant is asking for
- See a lawyer (See Divorce & separation — Who can help for how to find a lawyer).
If you received a Notice of Family Claim (Form F3) asking for a divorce, and you agree with what the claimant is asking for
If you received an Application (Form F31) asking for non-final family orders
AND
- See How to respond to an application for a non-final family order (Supreme Court — if you can't agree — Information for respondents).
If you received a Notice of Judicial Case Conference (Form F19) requiring you to attend a Judicial Case Conference
If you received a Notice of Application (Form F31) to change an existing order
- See How to respond to an application to change a family order (Supreme Court — if you can't agree — Information for respondents).
If you received an Application to Obtain an Order (Form 1) to get an initial family order
- See How to respond to an application for a final family order (Provincial Court — if you can't agree — Information for respondents).
If you received an Application to Change or Cancel an Order (Form 2) to change an existing order
- See How to respond to an application to change a family order, scroll to the bottom of the page, and choose either:
- How to respond to an application to change an order (includes lowering support), or
- How to respond to an application to change an order (includes raising support).
If support is not involved, you can choose either guide.
If you've been served with a summons for a committal hearing because you haven't paid maintenance (child and/or spousal support) that you owe
If you're having trouble looking after your children and want to ask the Ministry of Children and Family Development for help
If your child has been — or may be — taken away from you by the Ministry of Children and Family Development
If you're dealing with the Ministry of Children and Family Development and have a complaint about the process or how you’re being treated
Important: These self-help guides are for information only. They don't take the place of legal advice. The information here is believed to be correct as of the date it was put online, but the law is always changing. If possible, get legal advice to make sure the information in these guides is accurate and that you understand exactly what your rights are.