Summary

• The Family Law Centre is a provincially funded service that provides free, trauma-informed legal support to people experiencing family violence
• New in-person services in Kamloops and Prince George add to existing clinics in Surrey and Victoria
• Survivors of family violence with parenting arrangement issues are also eligible for help through the clinics

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People experiencing family violence in Prince George and Kamloops will soon be able to access free, in-person family law services, expanding support that was available only virtually.

“People experiencing family violence are often dealing with fear, uncertainty and urgent legal issues,” said Niki Sharma, Attorney General. “Through the Family Law Centre, we are making it easier to access free legal support in person, closer to home, so people can find safety, stability and a path forward.”

Family Law Centres are law clinics, funded by the Province and delivered by Legal Aid BC, that offer free, trauma-informed services to survivors of family violence who cannot afford legal representation.

The Family Law Centre program launched in 2024 with in-person locations in Surrey and Victoria and virtual support provided to people in other communities throughout B.C. The expansion of in-person offices in Kamloops and Prince George, with new staff and increased overall capacity, will bring more equitable access to legal services for survivors in northern B.C. and the Interior. The new locations are expected to open in late summer 2026.

What support is available

Eligible clients receive holistic support, including free legal representation and related services necessary to meaningfully stabilize their legal situation. Clients work with a lawyer and an advocate who support them throughout their family law case.

Common issues people can get help with:

• protection orders
• parenting matters, such as denial of parenting time
• child support
• help with other overlapping issues, such as spousal support, property division and divorce

Staff can connect clients with other services, such as counselling, Indigenous cultural supports, parenting support programs, settlement services and victim services.

Helping more survivors access justice

In addition to opening two new in-person locations, eligibility for services is also being updated so more people throughout B.C. can get help.

• To access Family Law Centre services, clients must be experiencing family violence and have at least one additional eligible legal issue.
• As of June 22, 2026, the list of eligible legal issues also includes parenting arrangements, such as getting an initial parenting order and changing an existing one.
• The clinics will prioritize survivors in the community who have fled an abusive partner within the past six months.

“Family Law Centres provide legal representation and wraparound support to survivors of family violence,” said Ram Sidhu, manager of clinic operations, LegalAid BC. “In addition to legal issues, we also help clients navigate multiple systems and services. Our goal is to help them gain meaningful stability, build confidence and create safety for themselves and their children.”

The changes are part of Legal Aid BC’s ongoing commitment to evaluating and improving services, based on engagement with the Centre for Family Equity and with Family Law Centre clients and staff.

Who can access the service

People wanting to access Family Law Centre services may contact Legal Aid BC to find out if they are eligible for a free lawyer and an advocate. The Legal Aid BC call centre can be contacted from anywhere in B.C. at 604-408-2172 for the Greater Vancouver area, and 1-866-577-2525 from elsewhere in the province.

Intake staff will help assess legal issues and determine whether someone is eligible for the program or other Legal Aid BC services.

“Expanding in-person Family Law Centres to Kamloops and Prince George, and broadening eligibility for services for people throughout BC will help more survivors of family violence access the legal representation and wraparound supports they need to protect themselves and their children,” said Jennifer Blatherwick, parliamentary secretary for gender equity. “These services improve access to justice and help ensure more people across British Columbia get the legal services and supports they need, when and where they need them.”

The Family Law Centre program is part of government’s commitment to support victims of gender-based violence and expand access to justice. It complements other initiatives, such as the Early Resolution Process, Family Law Act Modernization Project and the Intimate Images Protection Act.

Quick Facts:

• The Family Law Centre is funded through a three-year, $29-million provincial contribution to Legal Aid BC announced in 2024.
• Since its launch in 2024, the program has helped more than 350 clients, and has generated positive feedback.
• Virtual services continue to be available for people with cases in Surrey, Abbotsford, New Westminster, Victoria, Colwood, Duncan, Kelowna, Kamloops, Prince George, Vanderhoof and Mackenzie court registries.

Learn More:

• To learn more about how Family Law Centres are supporting people, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2026AG0025-000532
• For more information about how to get help through the Family Law Centre, visit: https://youtube.com/watch?v=M5TEph7oB-Y
• To learn more about the Family Law Centre, visit: https://legalaid.bc.ca/services/family-law-centre
• To learn more about Legal Aid BC, visit: https://legalaid.bc.ca/