British Columbia Family Practice Manual - Print

Your A to Z guide to family law practice and procedure

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

Current to: February 1, 2026

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? 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! View a sample from this book!

Highlights of the 2026 Update include:

• 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

Discover all of our Family Law resources here

CLEBC Legal Editor
Edie Ryan
eryan@cle.bc.ca

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