CMEDIA: Free, in-person family law services are reportedly being accessible to people experiencing family violence in Prince George and Kamloops, thereby 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.”
Funded by the Province of BC and delivered by Legal Aid BC, Family Law Centres are law clinics that offer free, trauma-informed services to survivors of family violence who cannot afford legal representation.
Launched in 2024, The Family Law Centre program has in-person locations in Surrey and Victoria and virtual support provided to people in other communities throughout BC.
The expansion of in-person offices in Kamloops and Prince George, with new staff and increased overall capacity would facilitate equitable access to legal services for survivors in northern BC and the Interior.
The new locations are expected to open in late summer 2026.
What support is available
Holistic support would be received by the eligible clients 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 include 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
Other services, such as counselling, Indigenous cultural supports, parenting support programs, settlement services and victim services can also be connected with the clients by Staff.
Helping more survivors access justice
Besides opening two new in-person locations, eligibility for services is also being updated as follows so more people throughout BC 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.”
As part of Legal Aid BC’s ongoing commitment to evaluating and improving services, the changes are based on engagement with the Centre for Family Equity and with Family Law Centre clients and staff.
Who can access the service
Legal Aid BC can be contacted by people wanting to access Family Law Centre services 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.
The determination of the eligibility for the program can be done with the help of Intake staff by assessing legal issues 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 support they need, when and where they need them.”
Being part of the government’s commitment to support victims of gender-based violence,the Family Law Centre program serves to expand access to justice, complementing other initiatives, such as the Early Resolution Process, Family Law Act Modernization Project and the Intimate Images Protection Act.
Funded through a three-year, $29-million provincial contribution to Legal Aid BC announced in 2024, The Family Law Centre’s program has helped more than 350 clients, and has generated positive feedback.
Virtual services are also accessible to People with cases in Surrey, Abbotsford, New Westminster, Victoria, Colwood, Duncan, Kelowna, Kamloops, Prince George, Vanderhoof and Mackenzie court registries.
