Starting May 1, 2026, early resolution steps for family court cases will apply in the Interior, OCJ and Vancouver Island Regions. 

Early resolution already applies in Victoria, the Vancouver Region and the Fraser Region.

The early resolution approach

Since 2019 early resolution has gradually been expanded to court registries across BC.

The early resolution approach provides people involved in family disputes with a needs assessment and referrals to address both legal and non-legal needs. 

Most families participating in early resolution services do not proceed to court with unresolved issues. By helping families sooner, early resolution makes them healthier, reduces future conflict, reduces the Adverse Child Experiences related to parental separation and decreases costs for our health and justice systems. 

Early resolution also provides at least one consensual dispute resolution session before filing some Family Law Act applications, including: 

• parenting arrangements
• child support
• contact with a child
• guardianship of a child
• spousal support
• ownership or possession of a companion animal

Getting ready for family court