Family Maintenance Services

Effective September 1, 2015

For the purposes of administering family maintenance services, a spouse includes a former spouse.

Effective May 13, 2024

Clients may be eligible for the following services:

• Case and safety assessment (e.g., safety and viability of obtaining an order)
• Financial assessment
• Establishing quantum
• Negotiating an agreement or consent order
• Pursuing court action for maintenance order
• Defending a respondent’s application to vary an order
• Varying an order by adding a new child to an existing maintenance order
• Obtaining spousal agreement or order
• Pursuing paternity or DNA testing

Effective: September 1, 2015

Clients are responsible for the following family maintenance services:

• Pursuing an application to vary an order where respondent’s circumstances have improved
• Registering an agreement or an order with the BC Family Maintenance Agency
• Requesting services through Interjurisdictional Support Services when the potential payor resides outside of BC

Client may access other services with the Attorney General – Family Justice Programs and Resources [see Additional Resources].

Effective May 13, 2024

If a client would like ministry help with obtaining, defending or varying a maintenance order or written agreement, the client may receive family maintenance services by assigning their maintenance rights to the ministry if they meet all of the following criteria:

• The client is in active receipt of income, hardship or disability assistance
• The client is requesting help with obtaining, defending or varying an order or agreement for child and/or spousal support
• The client does not already have an order or agreement for child support for all children in the family or for spousal support or is defending an application for variation of a maintenance order or agreement
• The client identifies the potential payor(s) of support and knows that the payor(s) resides in B.C.
• The client has information indicating that the payor receives more than the Child Support Guidelines minimum of $12,000 in income per year

A client is considered to already have an order if they have an interim order, unless the interim order has an imminent expiry or court date.

Effective September 1, 2015

A client may apply to the court to update an order if the respondent’s circumstances have improved, but is not eligible to receive ministry family maintenance services in order to do so.

A client may be eligible for ministry family maintenance services if an order is being varied to add a new child to the order.

If a client is served with an application to change or vary their existing order, the client may request ministry help to defend the order.

Effective March 2024

The Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act (ISO) [see Additional Resources] is the BC law governing reciprocity regarding support matters.  There are also provisions for reciprocity under the federal Divorce Act and the 2007 Hague Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance. Jurisdictions that support reciprocity can recognize family support orders made in each other’s jurisdictions. If you live in B.C., you can apply for a support order or apply to change an existing support order in the place where the other party lives without having to go there if the two jurisdictions have reciprocity. It works the other way too. If you live outside of B.C., you can apply for an order without having to come here. The respondent (the person in the reciprocating jurisdiction) goes to court to respond to the application.

For information on applying for a support order in a province, territory or country that has a reciprocal arrangement with BC, clients can contact a Family Justice Centre or Interjurisdictional Support Services for information or talk to a lawyer to obtain or change an order [see Additional Resources – Family Justice].

Effective September 1, 2015

Maintenance may include any of the following:

• expenses arising from and incidental to the prenatal care of a pregnant person or child, or the birth of a child
• the cost of tests for paternity
• an amount payable to a corporation with only the debtor as shareholder, or by a debtor who has failed to comply with an order
• fixed costs awarded under the regulations in favour of the director or a creditor
• taxed costs awarded in relation to anything that comes within this definition
• prescribed fees or expenses
• interest that is or may be imposed

Effective May 13, 2024

If a client would like help from the ministry in obtaining a maintenance order or written agreement, the client may assign their maintenance rights to the ministry in order to receive help, if they meet the criteria [see Policy – Referral Eligibility Criteria]. 

When maintenance rights are assigned, the government has the right to act on the client’s behalf to do any of the following:

• apply for a maintenance order
• enter into a maintenance agreement
• defend an application for variation of a maintenance agreement or order, including orders or written agreements that are registered with the Child Support Recalculation Service
• vary an existing support order to add a new child

The ministry legal representative must explain the content of the Assignment of Maintenance Rights (HR2748) to the client.

The HR2748 outlines the maintenance rights being assigned and the terms of the assignment.  The assignor signs the first section and initials on the front of the form that they have read the Terms of the Assignment.

Notice of Assignment

Before the ministry (represented by the ministry legal representative) may take any steps to act upon its maintenance rights, written notice must be sent to the respondent to advise them of the client’s assigned maintenance rights.

If the respondent has made any application to change, rescind, or suspend a maintenance order, or to reduce or cancel arrears of payments under a maintenance order, the respondent must promptly provide the ministry legal representative with a copy of their application.

Failure to Comply with the Terms of the Assignment

If a client fails to comply with the terms of an assignment, the ministry (represented by the ministry legal representative) may cancel the assignment and stop any maintenance action underway.

End of Assignment

Any assignment of maintenance rights terminates only on delivery of written notice of termination provided by the Ministry to the client or provided by the client to the ministry. Reasons for ending an assignment may include:

• maintenance action has been concluded
• a legal opinion advises against pursuing or advises to cease pursuing
• it is discovered that the client did not meet the criteria for family maintenance services
• safety concerns are identified by the client, the ministry and/or the ministry legal representative
• an interim order has been obtained and the expiry date or the next court date for a review is more than three months away
• the client is non-compliant with the terms of the Assignment, e.g., the client has been unresponsive to communication attempts or demonstrates behavior that incurs cost or delay or is unacceptable

Notice to Respondent when the Assignment is no Longer in Effect

The ministry (represented by the ministry legal representative) will send the respondent written notice of the Assignment when any of the following occur:

• the client has been provided written notice of the termination of the Assignment
• the ministry or the ministry legal representative receives and processes the client's written notice to terminate the assignment

Effective September 1, 2015

Once referred for family maintenance services, clients can expect the ministry legal representative to review the family maintenance criteria and inquire about the applicant’s family status and whether the applicant has any safety concerns before making contact with the respondent to pursue maintenance. Safety concerns are identified as behaviours that may lead to harm or that cause or have caused harm to one or more of the parties. Family maintenance service includes a safety assessment.  When no safety concerns are evident the ministry legal representative proceeds with appropriate maintenance action. When the ministry legal representative does not want to proceed due to high risk, family maintenance services are discontinued, and the assignment is terminated.  

Effective September 1, 2015

When a client requests family maintenance services, the EAW completes the Family Maintenance Questionnaire and Referral form (HR3033A) with the client.

The purpose of the Family Maintenance Questionnaire and Referral form (HR3033A) is to assist Employment and Assistance Workers (EAWs) to:

1. determine whether a client meets the referral criteria for family maintenance services;
2. refer an eligible client to ministry legal representative; and
3. provide an eligible client with this form as verification of eligibility for referral for services to present to the ministry legal representative; or
4. provide the client with written notice why they do not meet the criteria for a referral.

If the client is eligible for a family maintenance services referral, the EAW also provides the client the Assignment of Maintenance Rights (HR2748) form. The client must provide the HR3033A and signed and initialed HR2748 forms to the ministry legal representative at their first appointment.

[For information on supplementary assistance available for expenses related to ministry family maintenance services (including transportation, child care and living costs for court hearings, transportation and living costs for mandatory DNA testing), see Related Links – Moving, Transportation and Living Costs Supplement.]

Effective September 1, 2015

Once an order has been obtained through family maintenance services, the ministry legal representative provides a copy to the client.

The client must submit a copy of the order to the ministry with their next monthly report.  Ministry staff should profile a copy to the Employment and Assistance case.

Effective September 1, 2015

Once an agreement has been obtained through family maintenance services, the ministry legal representative provides a copy to the client.

The client must submit a copy of the agreement to the ministry with their next monthly report.  Ministry staff should profile a copy to the Employment and Assistance case.

Effective April 2024

Locate Services

This service of the Ministry of Attorney General has the authority to access provincial and federal data to find information about a person’s location, employment and assets to assist with a child support or child care matter.  The search must be initiated by an authorized agency (that is, the BC Family Maintenance Agency or Provincial Court (Family) of BC). Results are confidential and will only be released to the authorized agency, not the parties. For more information, see Maintenance Enforcement and Locate Services [see Additional Resources].

Family Justice Counsellors

Family Justice Counsellors (FJCs) are certified family mediators through Family Mediation Canada, appointed by the Minister pursuant to the Family Law Act (FLA ) with authority to assist people to resolve disputes about family law matters including guardianship, parenting arrangements, contact with a child, child and/or spousal support and companion animals. FJCs provide safety and family violence screening, educate about dispute resolution options, provide referrals, can draft legal documents to formalize agreements in most circumstances, and assist clients to be more prepared for the court process.  Free in-person or virtual services ensure province wide access and when clients live outside BC service is provided if the child resides in BC. FJCs do not have a mandate to pursue maintenance for BCEA clients who have assigned their maintenance rights to the government.  For more information, see  Family Justice Counsellors - Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca) [see Additional Resources]

Child Support Recalculation Service

The Child Support Recalculation Service (CSRS) is a free service. Eligible parties who enroll with the administrative service have their child support orders/written agreements reviewed annually.  The recalculation services adjusts the amount of child support if income has gone up or down so parents don't have to return to court to have their child support amounts reviewed.

Comprehensive Child Support Service

Child Support Officers (CSOs) are located in Vancouver, Abbotsford, Kelowna, Surrey, Victoria, and Nanaimo and provide services to other communities across the province. Services are in-person or virtually based on client preference and location. CSOs can assist with court forms and formalizing documents for support matters at provincial and supreme court. CSOs help individuals find out more about child support and obtaining or changing a child support order or agreement. This free service is also offered to payors who have experienced a change in circumstances that prevent them from meeting payment obligations under a court order for family maintenance. For more information, see Child Support - Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca) [see Additional Resources]  

BC Family Maintenance Agency

BC Family Maintenance Agency (BCFMA) provides a free service available to families in British Columbia who are eligible to receive or pay family support. The Agency offers supports that strengthen families so that they may achieve their full potential and secure the best possible future for their children. By putting people first, they ensure clients receive the support payments to which they are entitled, contributing to financial stability and security for B.C. families.  [For more information, please visit www.bcfma.ca]

Interjurisdictional Support Orders

British Columbia has reciprocal arrangements with all the Canadian provinces and territories, and with many foreign countries.  These are “reciprocating jurisdictions”.  This means that BC and each of the reciprocating jurisdictions have agreed to recognize the family support (maintenance) orders made in the other place.  An order made in one place is ‘good’ in the other.

If you live in B.C., you can apply for a support order or apply to change an existing support order in the place where the other party lives without having to go there if the two jurisdictions have reciprocity arrangements regarding support matters. It works the other way too. If you live outside of B.C., you can apply for an order without having to come here. The respondent (the person in the reciprocating jurisdiction) goes to court to respond to the application. For information on applying for a support order in a province, territory or country that has  reciprocity with BC, contact Interjurisdictional Support Services [see Additional Resources] for information or talk to a lawyer to obtain or  change an order. 

Native Courtworker and Counselling Association of BC

The Native Courtworker and Counselling Association of BC (NCCABC) [see Additional Resources] may also be able to help with legal information for persons of aboriginal descent.

Effective September 1, 2015

Employment Assistance Worker (EAW) and Community Integration Specialist (CIS) are responsible for:

• providing information about family maintenance services to potential clients
• administering the Family Maintenance Questionnaire and Referral form (HR3033A) to determine if the client meets the criteria for a referral
• explaining and providing the client with the Voluntary Assignment of Maintenance Rights (HR2748)
• referring eligible clients to the ministry legal representative
• if a client does not meet the criteria for a referral, provide the HR3033A which confirms the reasons why they did not meet the referral criteria

Ministry Legal Representative is responsible for:

• determining eligibility for services (criteria, feasibility of pursuing, safety concerns, etc)
• explaining Voluntary Assignment of Maintenance Rights (HR2748)
• pursuing action to obtain or defend family maintenance support orders
• requesting and receiving instruction from ministry representatives
• providing written rationale for decisions where services are not provided

Answer  The client continues to receive family maintenance services until the assignment ends (see the section on end of assignment).

Answer   Tell the client to contact the police immediately.

Answer   There is no requirement to assign maintenance rights unless the client wishes to receive family maintenance services and meets the referral criteria. Clients who do not assign their rights cannot receive ministry assistance to obtain an order or agreement for child and/or spousal support.

Answer   The client must continue to declare child and/or spousal support regardless of whether it is paid on a regular basis or without a legal order or filed written agreement.

Answer   The ministry cannot provide help obtaining a new order or agreement if one already exists.  If the client has a child who has no order or agreement, the ministry may be able to help.  Likewise, if the client is seeking spousal support and has no order or agreement, the ministry may be able to help.

Answer   They are federal and provincial laws introduced in 1993 that set the amount of child support to be paid, based on the paying parent’s income.