About this guide

This do-it-yourself guide is for people who want to apply for a final order about custody, access, guardianship, and/or support.

This guide is also for people who can agree on some issues but not on others, such as what the terms of access should be (for example: how often, or on what day or at what times access should be) or how much spousal or child support should be paid.

Note: If either party lives outside BC, you won't be able to use these guides. Contact a lawyer for advice. For more information about getting support and to get the forms you need, see Interjurisdictional Support Orders on the Ministry of Attorney General website.

This guide won't tell you how to apply for a divorce or divide property. For more information about doing your own divorce, see our online divorce guide.

Important: If you weren't married to your partner and you need support for yourself, you must start your court action within one year of separating. Talk to a lawyer. There are important time limits to know about.

It's a good idea to get some legal help before you begin a guide. If you can't afford a lawyer, there are other ways to get legal help, including the Lawyer Referral Service, pro bono (free) clinics, family duty counsel, or advice lawyers. See Who can help? for more information.

Tip: Before you begin, it may be helpful to see our flowchart Getting Initial Orders for Custody, Guardianship, Access, and Support, which provides a step-by-step overview of the process. Print out the flowchart on 11X17 paper and use it as a guide as you go through the steps.

You may also want to watch Making Your Case: The Family Court Process, an online video for people who have to go to Family Court without a lawyer.