Early resolution process for family disputes expands in B.C.

A person walks past the Provincial Court of British Columbia in Vancouver, B.C., on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. (Ethan Cairns / The Canadian Press)

VICTORIA — British Columbia is expanding its early resolution process for family disputes to all provincial court locations along the central coast, B.C.’s Interior and Vancouver Island starting Friday.

The process was initially launched in Victoria in 2019 as a pilot aimed at reducing the number of cases brought to court.

The provincial court of B.C. says in a news release that the process has since “been evaluated, fine-tuned and gradually expanded to additional court locations around the province.”

It is currently being used in Victoria, Vancouver, North Vancouver, Pemberton, Richmond, Sechelt, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, New Westminster, Port Coquitlam and Surrey.

The process will be implemented in the Interior, on Vancouver Island and to Bella Bella, Bella Coola and Klemtu as of May 1.

The release says the early resolution process provides information, screening for family violence, referrals to address both legal and non-legal needs, a parenting education program and, when appropriate, at least one consensual dispute resolution session before people file a family court application.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 28, 2026.