Family Law Resources
Checklists, guides, and trusted resources to help you prepare for your family law matter.
Preparation Guides
Checklists & Guides
These checklists are designed to help you prepare for meetings with your lawyer and stay organized throughout the process.
Safety first: Always ensure the safety of yourself and the safety of your children. If there is an immediate risk of harm, please contact the police at 9-1-1 or Victim Link BC at 1-800-563-0808.
First Consultation Checklist
A list of items to prepare and send in prior to your initial online consultation.
- A brief written summary of your situation and key dates
- Marriage certificate or proof of common-law relationship
- Any existing court orders, agreements, or protection orders
- Recent tax returns (2-3 years) and notices of assessment
- Pay stubs or proof of income (last 3 months)
- List of assets in your name or jointly held (property, vehicles, accounts, pensions)
- List of debts (mortgages, loans, credit cards)
- List of your questions and concerns
- Two pieces of Identification with at least one being a photo ID (e.g. Driver's License and Birth Certificate)
Financial Disclosure Checklist
Financial disclosure is a critical part of family law matters and will be required to complete a Statement of Finance, and/or a Financial Statement in either Provincial Court or Supreme Court.
- Tax returns and notices of assessment (last 3 years)
- Employment income: pay stubs, T4s, employment letters
- Self-employment income: financial statements, corporate tax returns, GST returns
- Bank statements for all accounts (last 12 months)
- Investment account statements (RRSPs, TFSAs, non-registered)
- Pension statements and benefit summaries
- Real estate: property assessments, mortgage statements, title searches
- Vehicle registrations and loan information
- Credit card statements (last 12 months)
- Line of credit and loan statements
- Life insurance policies
- Business documents (if applicable): shareholder agreements, financial statements, corporate tax returns
- Monthly budget: detailed list of your monthly expenses
Parenting Plan Discussion Guide
Key topics to think about when working out parenting arrangements with your co-parent.
- Regular weekly schedule (weekdays and weekends)
- Holiday and special occasion schedule (Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, summer, spring break)
- Birthday arrangements for the children and parents
- Transportation and exchange logistics (where, when, who)
- Communication plan between homes (phone calls, video calls with children)
- Decision-making process for major decisions (education, health, activities)
- How to handle schedule changes and flexibility
- Introduction of new partners to the children
- Travel and passport arrangements
- Extracurricular activity decisions and costs
- Communication between parents (method, frequency, tone expectations)
- Dispute resolution process if you cannot agree on an issue
Document Organization Checklist
How to organize your documents so your legal matter runs smoothly and efficiently.
- Create a dedicated folder (physical or digital) for your family law matter
- Organize documents by category: financial, legal, parenting, correspondence
- Keep copies of everything you provide to your lawyer
- Save important emails and text messages (screenshot or export)
- Keep a timeline of key events and dates
- Track your expenses related to the children
- Store original documents (marriage certificate, court orders) in a safe location
- Bring organized documents to meetings rather than loose papers
- Label files clearly with dates and descriptions
External Resources
Helpful Links for BC Family Law
These external resources provide additional information about family law in British Columbia. They are provided for informational purposes and do not constitute legal advice.
Family Law in British Columbia
Free legal information about family law from Legal Aid BC.
BC Family Law Act
The full text of the BC Family Law Act.
Divorce Act (Canada)
The federal Divorce Act, which governs divorce in Canada.
Federal Child Support Guidelines
The guidelines used to calculate child support amounts.
Child Support Table Look-up
Online tool from the Department of Justice to look up child support table amounts.
Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines
Advisory guidelines used to assess spousal support amounts and duration.
BC Provincial Court — Family
Information about family law proceedings in BC Provincial Court.
BC Supreme Court — Family
Information about family law proceedings in BC Supreme Court.
VictimLink BC
Crisis support for victims of family and sexual violence. Call 1-800-563-0808.
Access Pro Bono
Free and low-cost legal services for people who cannot afford a lawyer.
Have Questions About Your Situation?
These resources are meant to help you prepare, but they are not a substitute for legal advice tailored to your circumstances. Contact our office to schedule a consultation.
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