The information we provide on this site explains the law in general and isn’t intended to be used as legal advice for specific legal problems. Because each person’s legal issue is different, it’s a good idea to talk to a lawyer. See Where can I get legal advice? to find legal services.
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Family Duty Counsel
If you have a family law or child protection problem, you may qualify for free help.
Family duty counsel are lawyers paid by Legal Aid BC to provide free legal advice to help with family law and child protection problems. You have to qualify financially. Go to legalaid.bc.ca/QualifyAdvice.
At all locations, we can:
- talk to you about your legal rights, your options in and out of court, and the steps involved and what to expect
- talk to you about how to negotiate and settle issues
- help you when you’re preparing court documents, such as affidavits, applications, and consent orders, and look over your drafts
- coach you on how to represent yourself in court and other situations
- go to court with you to ask for an adjournment (postponement of a hearing or trial); an unopposed or consent order; or emergency orders such as protection orders and changes in parenting time, if appropriate
- refer you to other services and online resources
At some locations, we may also be able to:
- give you tips about what goes in a family law agreement
- attend a Family Settlement Conference, Family Management Conference, or Judicial Case Conference with you, if you’re eligible and if this is arranged in advance
We can’t:
- help you if you already have a lawyer
- become your lawyer while acting as duty counsel
- go to your trial (where both parties and witnesses appear before a judge) or any hearing with complicated issues
- help you with complex problems about property or taxes
- prepare court documents or agreements for you
- serve or accept court documents for you
- help you with legal problems outside of family or child protection law
Find out when Family Duty Counsel is available at your location:
legalaid.bc.ca/fdc
Family LawLINE
You can also get advice from a lawyer on the Family LawLINE:
604-408-2172 (Greater Vancouver)
1-866-577-2525 (elsewhere in BC)