Divorce & Separation
Articles on divorce and separation in BC: grounds and timelines, uncontested divorce, separation agreements and what the process actually involves.
Divorce When Your Spouse Won't Respond or Can't Be Found
You can divorce in BC even if your spouse ignores the papers or has vanished. Learn how substituted service works and how an undefended desk order proceeds.
Oct 13, 2026 · 5 min read
Religious Divorce vs Legal Divorce in BC: Do You Need Both?
Only a civil divorce under the Divorce Act ends a marriage in Canadian law. Learn how religious divorce differs and what section 21.1 could mean for you.
Oct 13, 2026 · 5 min read
Do You Need a Divorce, or Just a Separation Agreement?
A divorce order ends your marriage; a separation agreement settles parenting, support and property. Compare what each does and the BC time limits that apply.
Oct 8, 2026 · 5 min read
Served With Divorce Papers in BC: What to Do in the First 30 Days
Served with a notice of family claim in BC? You have 30 days to file a Response in Form F4. Learn your options, counterclaims, and the risk of doing nothing.
Oct 8, 2026 · 5 min read
What Happens to the House in a BC Divorce?
What happens to the house in a BC divorce: family property rules, excluded property, who can stay in the home after separation, and buyout vs sale in practice.
Sep 27, 2026 · 6 min read
Where Do You File for Divorce in Surrey? (It's Not the Surrey Courthouse)
Divorce for Surrey residents is filed in the BC Supreme Court, usually at the New Westminster Law Courts. Learn why, what filing costs, and how to e-file.
Sep 27, 2026 · 5 min read
Form F38: The Desk Order Divorce Affidavit in BC
What the Form F38 Affidavit - Desk Order Divorce proves, every document in the BC Rule 10-10 desk order package, and how a judge grants it with no hearing.
Sep 21, 2026 · 6 min read
Certificate of Divorce in BC: When You Can Remarry
Your BC divorce takes effect on the 31st day after the order. Learn why the wait exists, how to request a Certificate of Divorce, and when you can remarry.
Sep 21, 2026 · 6 min read
Do You Need a Lawyer for an Uncontested Divorce in BC?
No law requires a lawyer for an uncontested divorce in BC. An honest look at when DIY works, when legal help pays off, and what a flat fee actually covers.
Sep 21, 2026 · 5 min read
How Long Does an Uncontested Divorce Take in BC?
Wondering how long an uncontested divorce takes in BC? See which steps have fixed legal timelines (1 year, 30 days, 31 days) and which vary by registry.
Sep 21, 2026 · 6 min read
Joint vs Sole Divorce Application in BC: Which to File
Not sure whether to file a joint or sole divorce application in BC? Both end in the same desk order divorce. Compare service, response periods, and safety.
Sep 21, 2026 · 6 min read
Uncontested vs Contested Divorce Cost in BC
What a divorce costs in BC: our $2,200 flat fee for an uncontested desk order divorce, separation agreement pricing, and why contested totals cannot be quoted.
Sep 21, 2026 · 5 min read
When an Uncontested Divorce Turns Contested in BC
What turns an uncontested BC divorce contested, the common triggers, what changes once a response is filed, and how mediation can restore the agreement.
Sep 21, 2026 · 5 min read
Reconciliation, Second Separations and Back Child Support
Reconciled with your spouse, then separated again? Learn how BC courts treat child support during reconciliation and claims for retroactive support after.
Aug 10, 2026 · 4 min read
Schrader v. Schrader: When a Separation Agreement Fails
A BC Court of Appeal decision, Schrader v. Schrader, 2025 BCCA 50, shows how a signed separation agreement can be set aside when a home's value is wrong.
Aug 10, 2026 · 4 min read
Divorce Legal Help in Vancouver: Costs & Options
Facing divorce in Vancouver or Surrey? See what legal help costs in BC: free consultation, flat-fee desk-order divorce at $2,200 + tax, and Legal Aid options.
May 6, 2026 · 4 min read
Grounds for Divorce in BC: The 3 Legal Grounds
BC recognizes three grounds for divorce under the Divorce Act: one year of separation, adultery, and cruelty. Learn how each works and the steps to file.
Nov 22, 2025 · 6 min read
Desk Order Divorce in BC: Step-by-Step DIY Guide
Step-by-step guide to filing an uncontested desk order divorce in BC without a lawyer: eligibility, Supreme Court forms F3 to F52, timelines and fees.
Sep 23, 2025 · 4 min read
Maher (Mahr) in a BC Divorce: When Courts Enforce It
Divorcing in BC with an Islamic marriage contract? When BC courts enforce a Maher (mahr), the signing and witnessing rules, and what Nathoo v. Nathoo held.
Apr 5, 2023 · 6 min read
Tax Issues in Separation & Divorce in BC
How separation and divorce affect your taxes in BC: spousal support deductions, child support rules, RRSP transfers and the CRA forms you need to file.
Mar 30, 2023 · 1 min read
Benefits of a Separation Agreement in BC
Learn how a separation agreement protects both parties in BC with certainty, privacy and lower cost, plus the steps to make yours legally binding.
Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read
Divorce Lawyer in Surrey: What to Look For
Choosing a divorce lawyer in Surrey, BC? Six things to check first: experience, fees, communication and the Law Society of BC discipline record.
Mar 10, 2023 · 3 min read
7 Mistakes to Avoid After Separation in BC
Recently separated in BC without a lawyer? Avoid 7 costly mistakes, from missed disclosure to the two-year limit on property claims after separation.
Dec 27, 2022 · 3 min read
Top 10 Books to Read After a Separation
Ten books our Surrey family lawyers recommend after separation, from Bill Eddy's BIFF to The Grief Recovery Handbook, with why each one helps.
Dec 27, 2022 · 3 min read
Bill C-78: How the Divorce Act Changed in 2021
Bill C-78 rewrote Canada's Divorce Act on March 1, 2021: parenting orders, relocation notice and family-violence rules explained by BC family lawyers.
Sep 30, 2019 · 3 min read
25 articles in Divorce & Separation. Browse all articles.