Information and education services about divorce and separation

Family violence

If you or your children are experiencing abuse, you might need additional services to help with your situation.

Many provinces and territories offer family justice services that are specifically intended for families experiencing family violence.

On this page

Note that not all provinces and territories offer the same services.

Learn about divorce and separation

Family law issues can be complex. As you move through the process of separation or divorce, you may need additional information. For example, you may need information about ways to change or enforce the original decisions regarding parenting arrangements and child support.

Definition:
A parenting arrangement is a plan that you or a court make for the care of your children after you separate or divorce. Parenting arrangements include “parenting time” and “decision-making responsibility.”

Getting information at the start of the separation and divorce process can help you clarify your issues, identify priorities, and understand your options when considering your next steps.

Provinces and territories offer services that can provide helpful information. These services include parenting education and information programs, publications, websites and telephone inquiry lines.  

Types of services

Family law information and resource centres

Information and resource centres offer free information on family law issues such as separation and divorce and court procedures in your province or territory. Generally, employees do not provide legal advice. However, they can give you forms and guide you through the steps of family justice services and legal proceedings. They can also refer you to legal and community resources that meet your needs or provide education sessions.

Family justice centres

Family justice centres can help you resolve parenting arrangements, parenting time, and/or family support obligations (child and spousal support) issues. These centres can provide referrals to parent education and information sessions or family dispute resolution services (like mediation), and information about court processes.

Definition:
Family dispute resolution services are out-of-court processes that parties can use in a family law dispute to attempt to resolve any issues upon which they cannot agree. There are many types of family dispute resolution processes, such as negotiation, mediation, collaborative law, and arbitration.

Definition:
Mediation is a process in which a neutral third party helps parents come to an agreement about issues related to separation and divorce, such as their parenting arrangement. In “shuttle mediation,” the two parents do not need to be in the same room. The mediator speaks to one parent and then to the other parent separately. The two parents negotiate with the help of the mediator, without being face to face.

Parent education and information programs

Parent education and parenting information courses provide general information on separation and divorce. They may be run by lawyers, social workers or facilitators. These programs are designed to help you:

  • cope with the emotional effects of separation and divorce on you and your children
  • deal with some of the challenges of parenting after divorce or separation
  • learn techniques for communicating better with each other, resolving disputes and co-parenting

In some provinces and territories, it is mandatory for parents to take part in a parent education and information program in certain situations.

Services to help your children

Some family justice services are designed to help children, as well as their parents cope with a separation or divorce. For example, some provinces and territories have specific services for children including education programs on separation and divorce, and counselling.

Family law can be complex. You may want to get advice regarding your situation from a family law legal adviser.

For more information on provincial and territorial services that provide legal advice, please see the “Services that assist with the court process” section

Definition:
A Legal adviser is a person who is qualified in a province to give legal advice to another person or represent them in court. This can be a lawyer, and in some provinces, may include other professionals.

Related Justice Canada resources

Find the publicly funded family justice services available in your province or territory

Alberta

Resolution Support Centres

Edmonton

Resolution Support Centre
8124, 8th floor 10365 97 Street, John E. Brownlee Building
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3W7
Telephone: 780-415-0404
Fax: 780-415-0403

Calgary

Resolution Support Centre
#706-S, Calgary Courts Centre
601-5th Street S.W.
Calgary, AB T2P 5P7
Telephone: 403-476-4744
Fax: 403-297-6605
Email: CalgaryResolutionSupportCentre@just.gov.ab.ca

Lethbridge

Resolution Support Centre
320 - 4 Street South
Lethbridge, AB T1J 1Z8
Telephone: 403-388-3102
Fax: 403- 388-3104

Red Deer

Resolution Support Centre
4909 - 48 Avenue
Red Deer, AB, T4N 3T5
Telephone: 403-340-7187
Fax: 403-341-8635

Grande Prairie

Resolution Support Centre
10260 - 99 Street
Grande Prairie, AB T8V 2H4
Telephone: 780-833-4324
Fax: 780-833-4325

Medicine Hat

Resolution Support Centre
460 – 1 Street S.E.
Medicine Hat, AB T1A 0A8
Telephone: 403-340-7187
Fax: 403-529-3148
Toll free: Dial 310-0000 first for toll free access in Alberta.

Parenting After Separation For Families in High Conflict (PASHC) French

General information about the course:

Email: plei.rcas@gov.ab.ca

Course Registration

Take the course online

Register at Resolution Services Learning Centre to access the Parenting After Separation High Conflict (PASHC) eCourse.

Parenting After Separation For Families in High Conflict (PASHC) French

General information about the course:

Email: plei.rcas@gov.ab.ca

Course Registration

Take the course online

Register at Resolution Services Learning Centre to access the Parenting After Separation High Conflict (PASHC) eCourse in French

Parenting After Separation Course (PAS)

General information about the course:

Email: plei.rcas@gov.ab.ca

Course registration

Take the course online

Register at Resolution Services Learning Centre to access the Parenting after Separation eCourse.

Parenting After Separation Course (PAS) French

General information about the course:

Email: plei.rcas@gov.ab.ca

Course registration

Take the course online

Register at Resolution Services Learning Centre to access the Parenting after Separation eCourse  in French.

British Columbia

Family Justice Centres

For an up-to-date list of Family Justice Centre locations and their telephone numbers:
Website: https://www.clicklaw.bc.ca/helpmap/service/1019

Justice Access Centres

Justice Access Centres

Website: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/about-bcs-justice-system/justice-access-centres

Abbotsford Justice Access Centre

2nd floor – 32375 Veterans Way,
Abbotsford, BC
Website: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/about-bcs-justice-system/jac/how-to-find-us/abbotsford

Nanaimo Justice Access Centre

302- 65 Front St.,
Nanaimo, B.C
Website: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/about-bcs-justice-system/justice-access-centres/how-to-find-us/nanaimo

Surrey Justice Access Centre

3rd floor – 14340 57th Ave.,
Surrey, BC
Website: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/about-bcs-justice-system/jac/how-to-find-us/surrey

Vancouver Justice Access Centre

290 - 800 Hornby St.,
Vancouver Law Courts
Robson Square
Vancouver, BC
Website: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/about-bcs-justice-system/justice-access-centres/how-to-find-us/vancouver

Victoria Justice Access Centre

225-850 Burdett Ave.,
Victoria, BC
Website: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/about-bcs-justice-system/jac/how-to-find-us/victoria

Parenting After Separation

The online courses Parenting After Separation for Indigenous Families and Parenting After Separation are available by link through the government
website: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/life-events/divorce/family-justice/who-can-help/pas

To register to the online courses:

Parenting After Separation for Indigenous Families

Website: https://parenting-after-separation-indigenous.jibc.ca/

Parenting After Separation

Website: https://parenting-after-separation.jibc.ca/

Manitoba

New Brunswick

Family Law Information Centres (FLIC)

Family Law Information Centre (FLIC) - Moncton Law Courts

Located at the Moncton Law Courts
145 Assomption Blvd, First Floor
Moncton, NB E1C 0R2
Telephone: 856-2307 Option 2
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Family Law Information Centre (FLIC) – Saint John Law Courts

Located at the Saint John Law Courts
10 Peel Plaza, Level 2 Floor
Saint John, NB E2L 3G6
Telephone: 658-6361
Hours of operation: Open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

Public Legal Education and Information Service of New Brunswick

P.O. Box 6000
Fredericton, NB E3B 5H1
Telephone: (506) 453-5369
Fax: (506) 462-5193
Email: info@familylawnb.ca
Website: http://www.familylawnb.ca/english/index.php

Family Law Toll-Free Line

Toll free: 1-888-236-2444

Newfoundland and Labrador

Parent Information Sessions- Family Justice Services

Website: http://www.justice.gov.nl.ca/just/department/contact.html#family.

Family Law Information Sessions

Telephone: 709-729-1381
Email: FLinfosession@supreme.court.nl.ca
Website: https://www.justice.gov.nl.ca/just/department/branches/division/division_family_justice_services_1.html

The Public Legal Information Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (PLIAN)

St. John’s Office
Suite 301, 140 Water Street (TD Building)
St. John’s, NL A1C 6H6
Telephone: 709-722-2643

Labrador Office

45 Grenfell Street
Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL, Canada A0P 1E0
Telephone: 709-895-5235

Telephone: 1-888-660-7788
Email: info@publiclegalinfo.com
Website: https://publiclegalinfo.com/

Northwest Territories

Parenting After Separation and Divorce

Yellowknife

Telephone: 1-867-873-2473

Outside Yellowknife:

Toll free: 1-877-776-2838
Email: nwtpas@northwestel.net

Specialized Courts and Alternative Resolution Program Advisor

Court Services
Telephone: 867-767-9285 ext. 82338
Toll free: 1-866-217-8923
Email: pas@gov.nt.ca

Nova Scotia

Family Law Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia Supreme Court (Family Division) Halifax FLIP Centre

Telephone: 902-424-5232
Email: questions@nsfamilylaw.ca
Twitter: @nsfamilylaw
Website: https://www.nsfamilylaw.ca/

Nova Scotia Supreme Court (Family Division) Sydney FLIP Centre

Telephone: 902-563-5761
Email: questions@nsfamilylaw.ca
Twitter: @nsfamilylaw
Website: https://www.nsfamilylaw.ca/

Divorce Workshop

Telephone: 902-424-7509
Email: divorceworkshop@novascotia.ca
Website: https://www.nsfamilylaw.ca/separation-divorce/divorce

Family Law Information Program (FLIP)

FLIP Centre Halifax

Supreme Court (Family Division)
3380 Devonshire Avenue, Lower Level
Halifax, NS
Telephone: 902-424-5232

FLIP Centre Sydney

Supreme Court (Family Division)
Harbour Place, Main Level
136 Charlotte Street
Sydney, NS
Telephone: 902-563-5761

Parent Information Program

Website: https://www.nsfamilylaw.ca/programs-services/parenting-information-program-pip

Nunavut

Family Law Information Centres

Law Library

Box 297
Iqaluit NU X0A 0H0
Telephone: 867-975-6134
Email: courtlibrary@gov.nu.ca
Fax: 867-975-6148

Legal Services Board:

Website: http://nulas.ca/en/public-legal-education/

The Legal Services Board Kitikmeot Law Centre

25 Mitik St, Cambridge Bay
Telephone: 1-866-240-4006

Kivalliq Legal Services

18-4 Avinngaq Street, Rankin Inlet
Telephone: 1-800-606-9400

Maliiganik Tukisiiniakvik Legal Services

Building 1104-B, Iqaluit,
Telephone: 1-866-202-5593

Ontario

Family Law Information Centres

Program Management Branch
Court Services Division
Ministry on the Attorney General
720 Bay Street, 2nd Floor
Toronto, ON M7A 2S9
Telephone: 416-327-1348

Mandatory Information Program

Program Management Branch
Ministry of the Attorney General
720 Bay Street, 2nd Floor
Toronto, ON M7A 2S9
Telephone: 416-327-1348

Prince Edward Island

Community Legal Information

53 Grafton St. Suite 202
Charlottetown, PE
C1A 1K8
Telephone: 902-892-0853
Telephone: 1-800-240-9798 (Atlantic region only)
Fax: 902-368-4096
Email: info@legalinfopei.ca

Parent Education Program

Honourable C.R. McQuaid Family Law Centre
1 Harbourside Access Road, P.O. Box 2000
Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N8
Telephone: 902-368-4333
Toll free: 1-877-203-8828
Fax: 902-368-6934
Email: jamacswain@gov.pe.ca

Positive Parenting from two homes for kids

Honourable C.R. McQuaid Family Law Centre
1 Harbourside Access Road, P.O. Box 2000
Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N8
Telephone: 902-368-4333
Toll free: 1-877-203-8828
Fax: 902-368-6934
Email: jamacswain@gov.pe.ca

Quebec

For information on family justice services in Quebec

Website: https://www.quebec.ca/en/family-and-support-for-individuals/separation-divorce

Saskatchewan

Children’s Education Program

Telephone: 1-888-218-2822  Ext. 1

Parenting After Separation/Divorce

Toll free north: 1-877-964-5501
Toll free south: 1-888-218-2822  Ext. 1

The Family Law Information Centre

Telephone: 306-787-5837
Toll free: 1-888-218-2822  Ext.2
Email: familylaw@gov.sk.ca

Yukon

Parent Education Workshop after separation or divorce

Family Law Information Centre

Family Law Information Centre (FLIC) Administrator
Department of Justice, Government of Yukon
1st Floor, Andrew A. Philipsen Law Centre
2134 Second Ave., Whitehorse, Yukon, Y1A 5H6
Telephone: (867) 456-6721
Toll-free in Yukon: 1-800-661-0408,ext. 6721
Fax: (867) 456-6105
E-mail: flic@yukon.ca
Website: http://www.yukonflic.ca or http://www.yukonflic.ca/fr

Yukon Family Law Information Centre (FLIC)

FLIC Administrator
Department of Justice, Government of Yukon
1st Floor, Andrew A. Philipsen Law Centre
2134 Second Ave.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Y1A 5H6
Telephone: 867-456-6721
Toll-free in Yukon: 1-800-661-0408, ext. 6721
Fax: 867-456-6105
Email: flic@yukon.ca
Website: http://www.yukonflic.ca or http://www.yukonflic.ca/fr