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Going to Court

Last updated on August 1, 2024

Most families never go to court. Even when a court case is started, most family cases do not reach trial. Many families come to an agreement on their own or using consensual dispute resolution.

If a family cannot agree, they can go to court and ask a judge to settle issues including:

The judge will make orders, which are directions that the family must follow.

Sometimes you must go to court. For example, if there are concerns about family violence, the court may need to make a protection order to protect one family member from another family member.

Before you decide to go to court, we recommend you talk to a family justice counsellor or a lawyer, who can give you information about your options.

If court is the best option, you can choose to have a lawyer represent you or choose to represent yourself.

Check out these resources from Legal Aid BC:

Visit a Justice Access Centre:

Talk with a family justice counsellor at a Family Justice Centre.

British Columbia has a central authority that assists left-behind parents whose children have been abducted across international borders. For more information, including contact information, please see International Child Abduction.