New family law centre much welcome

“And this is for those people experiencing family violence. And at that point, they’re experiencing some of the worst trauma of their life and going through some very difficult times,” Sharma said.

The Family Law Centre program is funded by the Province and delivered through Legal Aid BC. It is designed to assist survivors of family violence who cannot afford legal representation and need help navigating family law issues.

Those issues can include obtaining protection orders, parenting disputes, child support matters and other complex legal concerns such as spousal support, property division and divorce proceedings.

Sharma said the centres provide much more than legal advice.

“It’s free legal representation and any related services that are necessary to stabilize their legal situation,” she said. “They work with lawyers and advocates who support them through their case and get them not only the legal help they need, but any other help as well. They’re very well connected with other services that might be available.”

The Prince George office is one of two new in-person locations being added to the Family Law Centre network, alongside a second office in Kamloops. The expansion builds on the program’s initial launch in 2024, when centres opened in Surrey and Victoria while virtual services were offered to people elsewhere in British Columbia.

Provincial officials say the addition of northern and Interior locations will create more equitable access to legal services for survivors living outside the Lower Mainland and southern Vancouver Island.

People experiencing family violence often face urgent legal challenges while simultaneously dealing with fear, instability and uncertainty. Sharma said having local, in-person services available can make a significant difference during a crisis.

“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,” she said.

Under the program, survivors can receive assistance from lawyers and advocates trained to work with people experiencing trauma. The services are intended to reduce the barriers that often prevent victims from pursuing legal remedies or accessing the support they need.

Eligibility for the program requires an individual to be experiencing family violence and dealing with at least one qualifying family law issue. Those issues include parenting arrangements, obtaining a parenting order or seeking changes to an existing order.

The clinics will also prioritize survivors who have left an abusive partner within the previous six months, recognizing the heightened risks and challenges often present immediately after leaving a violent relationship.

For advocates working directly with women in Prince George, the arrival of a dedicated Family Law Centre has been a long-awaited development.

Tanvi Guhagarkar of the University of Northern British Columbia’s Women’s Resource Centre said the new location will provide a much-needed space for people seeking legal guidance.

“The community now has a space, a dedicated resource, people to go with their problems, and then that means hopefully, faster legal assistance, faster legal consultations,” she said.

Guhagarkar noted that while the Women’s Resource Centre is located on the UNBC campus, its services are available to women throughout the broader community. She believes access to face-to-face support can be invaluable for people experiencing trauma.

In many cases, survivors are navigating legal systems while also coping with emotional distress, housing concerns, financial pressures and concerns for their children’s safety. Having someone physically present to help guide them through the process can ease some of that burden.

“It makes such a difference,” Guhagarkar said of the opportunity for in-person interaction and support.

The Family Law Centre expansion is part of a broader provincial investment in legal aid services. In 2024, the Province announced a three-year, $29-million contribution to Legal Aid BC to fund the program and expand support for survivors of family violence.

Since launching in 2024, the Family Law Centre program has assisted more than 350 clients across British Columbia and has generated positive feedback from users, according to provincial officials.

Even with the expansion of physical offices, virtual services will continue to be available. Those services support people with cases in court registries including Surrey, Abbotsford, New Westminster, Victoria, Colwood, Duncan, Kelowna, Kamloops, Prince George, Vanderhoof and Mackenzie.

Advocates say maintaining both in-person and virtual options is important, particularly in a province where geography can create significant barriers to accessing services. While some people benefit from remote appointments, others require face-to-face interactions, particularly when dealing with crisis situations.

For northern residents, the opening of a Prince George office means legal help will no longer be limited to a computer screen or telephone call. Instead, survivors will have access to a dedicated local space staffed by professionals trained to assist them through difficult legal and personal circumstances.

As the new Prince George Family Law Centre prepares to open its doors, officials hope the service will provide more than legal guidance. They hope it will offer survivors a greater sense of safety, stability and support as they rebuild their lives following family violence.

People seeking assistance can begin the process by contacting Legal Aid BC’s Family Law Centre program at 1-866-577-2525.

by Cheryl Jahn

New family law centre much welcome

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