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British Columbia Family Practice Manual

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Your A to Z guide family law practice and procedure

This publication is essential for: lawyers who need to understand family law practice and procedure.

There are many decisions to make about how to proceed in a family law file—which Act applies, should you mediate or start an action, and which court should you proceed in practice and procedure along the way. Let the British Columbia Family Practice Manual be your guide to the choices to make, the steps to follow in a process, the time limits that govern, and the forms you need to complete.

With analysis of case law on procedural issues as well as specialized chapters on indigenous family law issues, adoption, and child protection, this manual provides you with the direction you need to confidently advise and manage your family law clients’ issues.

With this resource, you will be able to:

  • smoothly navigate family law processes such as settlement, obtaining interim relief, trial and trial alternatives, obtaining costs, drafting and enforcing orders, and appeals
  • save time drafting court documents by accessing over 200 family law forms and precedents
  • effectively maintain your family law files by using file management checklists

Buy today and have the support you need to run your family law practice!

Read a sample from the book

Features and Highlights

Highlights of the 2026 Update:

  • updated guidance and case law on settlement processes
  • analysis of new appeal procedure for Provincial Court family orders, including new forms
  • discussion on contempt in family law matters revised throughout for clarity and organization
  • updated guidance on trial briefs where a trial management conference is scheduled, reflecting amended Supreme Court Family Rule 14-2.1
  • new costs decisions and information on new s. 2.1(1) of Appendix B and Form F99.1 of the Supreme Court Family Rules respecting offers to settle in an assessment of costs or expenses
  • guidance on new Supreme Court Family Rule 15-4.1 and the process for arrest, imprisonment, and release of a person pursuant to an order under s. 231 of the Family Law Act and updated case law on enforcement generally
  • new case law on appeal processes, including Court of Appeal for British Columbia decisions T.F.R. v. Y.T. on stays, R.G.B. v. J.G.S. on security for costs, and Pereira v. British Columbia Labour Relations on pre-hearing discovery
  • discussion of new cases relating to fertility law and multi-parent families
  • updated forms for the Supreme Court Family Rules and Provincial Court Family Rules

Contributors

Editorial Board 

Todd R. Bell — Farris LLP, Vancouver
The Honourable Judge Mylene de Guzman — Provincial Court of BC, Vancouver
Associate Judge Susanna Hughes — Supreme Court of BC, New Westminster
Jane M. Reid — Jenkins Marzban Logan LLP, Vancouver
Amanda Winters — Scion Law, Vancouver

Authors

Jeannette Aucoin — Cozen O’Connor LLP, Vancouver
Lynda Cassels — Cassels Murray, Victoria
Alex R.H. Chan — Henderson Heinrichs LLP, Vancouver
Alison Colpitts — Clark Wilson LLP, Vancouver
James M.W. Cudmore — Clark Wilson LLP, Vancouver
David C. Halkett — McQuarrie Hunter LLP, Surrey
Trudy H. Hopman — YLaw, Vancouver
Kiran Kang — YLaw, Vancouver
Michelle Kinney — Michelle Kinney Law, Victoria
Shelagh M. Kinney — Lindsay Kenney LLP, Vancouver
Mandy Lai — YLaw, Vancouver
Delia Jane Ramsbotham — Sunrise Family Services Society, North Vancouver
Lauren Read — BTM Lawyers LLP, Port Moody
Crystal Reeves — Mandell Pinder LLP, Vancouver
Angie Riaño — Henderson Heinrichs LLP, Vancouver
Samantha Simpson — Jenkins Marzban LLP, Vancouver
Anthony Saric — Ministry of Attorney General-Legal Services Branch, Victoria
Brandon St. Pierre — Aaron Gordon Daykin Nordlinger LLP, Vancouver
Johanna M. Stein — Clear Legal, Surrey
Zoe Suche — Pryke Lambert Leathley Russell LLP, Richmond
Ari Wormeli — YLaw, Vancouver
Sherry Xu — Watson Goepel LLP, Vancouver

Table of Contents

Volume 1

1. Conducting a Family Law Practice

2. Building Effective Relationships

3. Assessing the Legal Issues

4. Indigenous Family Law Issues

5. Gathering Information

6. Working Toward Settlement

7. Recording a Settlement

8. Commencing Proceedings

9. Practising in Provincial Court

10. Using Conferences Effectively

11. Obtaining Court-ordered Interim Relief

12. Obtaining Discovery

13. Using Alternatives to Trial

14. Conducting a Family Law Trial in Supreme Court

15. Drafting Supreme Court Orders

Volume 2

16. Varying Orders and Challenging Family Agreements in Supreme Court

17. Obtaining Court-ordered Costs in Supreme Court

18. Enforcing Orders and Agreements

19. Conducting Appeals of Supreme Court Orders

20. Fertility Law and Assisted Reproduction

21. Adoption Procedure

22. Naming

23. Child Protection Practice and Procedure

Checklists

Forms and Precedents

Limitation Periods

Tables
Case Table
Statutes and Related Material Table
Index

Buy Now

“It happens to all of us. You wake up in a cold sweat in the middle of the night with an issue running through your head. Who you gonna call? Don’t worry. Ease your mind. It will be okay. First thing in the morning, pull out CLEBC’s British Columbia Family Practice Manual. There you will find the answer.

Organized, in a practical format, is the latest information with respect to all of the elements of a family law case. Still feeling a bit uneasy? Look at the list of editorial board members and contributing authors. It is a “who’s who” of dispute resolution professionals in British Columbia. They have taken the time and applied their considerable expertise in ensuring the manual is up to date with references to the most current case authorities. The manual is a must have reference tool. Don’t delay! Get it now!”

~ Colin A. Millar, Q.Arb,  Partner, Richards Buell Sutton LLP