In brief
If you or your children are in immediate danger, call 911. Under BC's Family Law Act a court can make a protection order restricting one family member from contacting or coming near another where there is a risk of family violence, which includes threats, harassment and emotional or financial abuse, not only physical harm. Breaching an order can carry criminal consequences. SiLaw Group handles these matters with urgency and discretion, for applicants and for people responding to an application, in English and Punjabi.
- A risk of family violenceBroader than physical harm: threats, harassment, emotional or financial abuse
- Apply to the courtUrgent applications go straight to a judge; no one needs to show physical injuries
- The orderRestricts one family member from contacting or coming near another
- If it is brokenPolice can become involved and a breach can carry criminal consequences. In danger, call 911.
Your safety comes first
If you or your children are in immediate danger, call 911 now. Everything else on this page can wait.
If you are safe for the moment but need support, VictimLinkBC is a confidential provincial service that can connect you with victim support and referrals. You do not need to have made any decisions before you reach out.
When you are ready to look at your legal options, we can help you understand them. This page is general legal information, not legal advice about your situation.
What a protection order does
Under BC's Family Law Act, a court can make a protection order when there is a risk of family violence. In plain language, a protection order can restrict one family member from contacting or coming near another. Its purpose is to put legal distance between you and a person who poses a risk.
Family violence in BC law is broader than physical harm. It can include threats, harassment, and emotional or financial abuse. You do not have to show physical injuries for a court to take your situation seriously, and you do not have to fit anyone's picture of what a victim looks like. Family violence, and the people affected by it, has no single profile.
Breaching a protection order is a serious matter. Police can become involved, and a breach can carry criminal consequences. If an order protects you and the other person breaks it, call 911 if you are in danger, and keep a record of what happened.
Family violence and parenting decisions
If you have children, you are probably worried about what all of this means for them. Family violence is a factor courts consider when making decisions about parenting arrangements. The court looks at what happened and what it means for your children's safety and well-being. Whether you are leaving a violent situation or responding to allegations, how family violence is presented and understood in your parenting case matters, so early and careful legal advice is important.
How we handle these cases
SiLaw Group Family Lawyers practises family law only, and we work with people affected by family violence with urgency and discretion. We also plan for safety in how we meet and communicate:
- Meetings on your terms. Phone, video, or in person at our South Surrey office, whichever is safest for you.
- Careful contact. We ask how and when it is safe to reach you, and we follow that.
- Urgency. When your situation calls for a fast court application, we treat it that way.
- Your language. We work in English and Punjabi.
Family violence also shapes which legal process fits. Sandy Sihota is an accredited family law mediator, arbitrator and parenting coordinator, so we can give you a realistic view of when out-of-court options are workable, and when they are not. Where there is violence or a serious power imbalance, mediation may not be safe or fair, and court may be the right path. Family violence rarely arises on its own; it often overlaps with separation, parenting, and support. You can see how these issues connect across our family law services.
If a protection order application names you
Some people reading this page are not applying for an order; they are responding to one. If that is you, you need legal advice too, and you are entitled to it without judgment. An application is a claim, not a finding. Take it seriously: follow any order that is already in place, even if you believe it is unfair, because a breach is treated seriously no matter how the order came about. Speak with a lawyer before you respond, and be open with them about everything. How you respond can affect your parenting case and the rest of your family law matter.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to have been physically hurt to ask for a protection order?
No. Family violence under BC law is broader than physical harm. Threats, harassment, and emotional or financial abuse can all count. If you are not sure whether what you are experiencing qualifies, that question alone is a good reason to talk to a lawyer.
What should I do if the other person breaks a protection order?
If you are in danger, call 911. When you are safe, write down what happened: dates, times, messages, and any witnesses. Then talk to your lawyer about next steps. Breaches are serious, and a clear record supports enforcement.
Will family violence affect who my children live with?
It can. Family violence is one of the factors courts consider in parenting decisions, because the court's focus is on your children's safety and well-being. If family violence is part of your situation, on either side, get advice early about how it fits into your case.
Talk to us: free 30-minute consultation
You do not have to sort this out alone, or even come into an office to start. We offer a free 30-minute consultation by phone, video, or in person at 3108 Croydon Drive, Suite 201, South Surrey. If coming in is not safe or practical, phone or video works just as well. Consultations are available in English and Punjabi.
Book a free consultation or call (778) 381-9977.
