Anyone who has a pet knows that these adorable creatures are part of the family, too. For many years, animal law and family law professionals alike have been advocating for amendments to the Family Law Act that will better reflect the way in which pets form an integral part of diverse, modern families.

As of January 15, 2024, these long-awaited amendments have finally arrived. In a landmark legislative measure, the British Columbia Family Law Act has been amended to provide structure and criteria to determine disputes over pet ownership and possession following a marriage breakdown.

This legislative change, following, is the first of its kind in Canada.

If you have experienced family violence or believe there is a risk of family violence, you can apply for a family law protection order. The protection order can be put in place to protect you or any other family member who is at risk. The following article discusses in more detail who can get a family law protection order, in what circumstances the family law protection order will be granted, and how the family law protection order will function to protect you from family violence.

Property division rules apply not only to married couples who decide to separate, but also to unmarried couples who have lived together in a “marriage-like” relationship for at least 2 years.

Whether you are considering separation, working towards a mutual agreement with your former spouse, or preparing for an upcoming hearing, it is important to understand the basics of property division. The British Columbia Family Law Act sets out a number of rules that specify how family property and debt are to be divided upon separation. The following article sets out the basics of this framework.