Local Resources
Legal Services Society of BC provides lawyers (known as duty counsel) at provincial courts to help
with issues pertaining to children: custody, access, guardianship and child support, and restraining orders. Assist unrepresented people with their family court appearances, with family law problems and/or child protection issues (where the Ministry for Children and Family Development becomes involved with your family). Hours: drop in only at the Penticton Court House. Fridays, 9:00 am to 1:00 p.m.
Family Duty Counsel—Supreme Court
Legal Services Society of BC provides lawyers to assist with at Supreme Court matters including divorce.
Hours: drop in only at Penticton Court House. Some Mondays when Supreme Court in session & Thursdays, 9:00 am—1:00 p.m.
Penticton Courthouse, 100 Main St., Penticton B.C., V2A5A5
Telephone: 250-487-7410 Fax: 1-250-487-7415 Toll–free: 1-888-201-0045
email: michael.stokker@gov.bc.ca www.ag.gov.bc.ca/family-justice/help/counsellors
Helps parents resolve issues re: parenting plan, mediation/conciliation, assisting with court process. Assists with obtaining or changing orders and agreements regarding, custody, access, guardianship, and/or child or spousal support, information about enforcement of support orders.
Legal Aid, Legal Services Society (LSS) of BC
203, 304 Martin Street, Penticton, B.C. V2A 5K4 www.familylaw.lss.bc.ca
Telephone: 250-493-7164 Toll-free: 1-866-577-2525 TTY: 1-877-991-2299
You are eligible for a lawyer if your income and assets are below LSS guidelines and your family matter falls within the coverage guidelines, including matters pertaining to the Family Relations Act and Child, Family and Community Act. Call to determine eligibility. Also see Family Duty Counsel Services.
Advocacy Services: assistance with understanding and protecting rights when dealing with government, legal and community agencies. The outreach worker can make calls, write letters or attend appointments if requested. Inform clients of their rights and responsibilities in relationship breakdown.
Office: 218, 246 Martin Street, Penticton, B.C. V2A 5K3 www.sowins.com
Telephone: 205-493-4366 Fax: 250-493-3158 email: sowins@telus.net
Family Justice Services Information Line (Child Support)
A BC government information line that answers questions about the child support guidelines.
Toll-free: 1-888-216-2211
Collaborative Family Law
A new way of resolving separation and divorce issues in BC. It is a process that brings together family lawyers, mental health professionals, and financial advisors to help couples reach agreements without going to court. For more information contact the Collaborative Separation and Divorce Group of BC.
www.collaborativedivorcebc.org
Common Law
Download Living Common-Law: Your Rights and Responsibilities
Pick up a copy locally or go to website www.familylaw.lss.bc.ca
Do-It-Yourself Divorce in BC
Information about many aspects of family law, including links to the people and places that can help you with a family law problem: family law ‘A-Z’, online self-help kits for doing your own divorce; fact sheets; resolving family law problems such a custody, guardianship and access; publications in several languages.
www.familylaw.lss.bc.ca
Family Maintenance Enforcement Program, Northern & Interior Client Office
Toll-free: 1-800-663-9666 www.fmep.gov.bc.ca
Responsible for monitoring and enforcing all maintenance orders and agreements that are filed with them. Provide services for both recipients and payors to help ensure the terms of maintenance orders are fulfilled. [BC Ministry of the Attorney General]
Justice Education Society
Information on questions relating to family law.
In 2009 the Law Courts Education Society was renamed the Justice Education Society to better reflect the range of activities the Society provides. They also launched a new website: www.JusticeEducation.ca email address: info@JusticeEducation.ca
#260 - 800 Hornby Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2C5
T 604-660-1943 F 604-775-3476
Lawyer Referral Service
Toll-free: 1-800-663-1919 www.cba.org/BC/Initiatives/main/lawyer_referral.aspx
A program that connects you with the right lawyer. Lawyers who participate in the program offer an initial consultation of up to 30 minutes at a small fee of $25 plus taxes.
Same Sex Relationships
See Gay/Lesbian/Transgendered/Bisexual Issues
Download Living Common-Law: Your Rights and Responsibilities www.familylaw.lss.bc.ca
Support Orders (Interjusidictional )
Information about support orders when the recipient and the payor live in different provinces.
www.ag.gov.bc.ca/family-justice
The following online and telephone resources may also be useful. See the index for page numbers.
BC Supreme Court Self-Help Information Centre Electronic Law Library
Dial-A-Law and the Lawyer Referral Service LawLINK LawLINE
People’s Law School Penticton Court House Library PovNet – Online Resources
Free interactive website for children aged 6-11, whose parents are divorcing or separating.
Children can tour the town of Changeville to discover ways to deal positively with a family break up.
http://www.KidsBC.ca