How to Hire a Family Lawyer in Vancouver
In Vancouver you don't need a wedding, or even a house, to have a property fight. BC's 2-year common-law rule, which court to use, and how to hire a lawyer.
Most people in Vancouver don't realize this until they separate: you don't need a wedding, or even a house, to have a property fight. British Columbia gives long-term common-law couples the same property rights as married ones, and this is a city where a lot of couples live together without marrying and a majority rent rather than own. So the questions that decide a Vancouver case are often "are we legally spouses" and "what's there to divide," not just "who keeps the house." This guide walks through both, and how to hire a lawyer for your situation.
If there's family violence in your relationship, tell a lawyer or a Family Justice Counsellor right away. The process is different and moves faster, and safety comes first.
First question: are you legally "spouses"?
Under BC's Family Law Act, you're a spouse for property purposes if you were married, or if you lived together in a marriage-like relationship for at least two continuous years. Meet that two-year test and you generally have the same right to split family property and debt as a married couple, an even division of what was built during the relationship, with pre-relationship property, gifts, and inheritances kept out. This is very different from Ontario, where living together, however long, gives no automatic right to divide property. One distinction to keep straight: the two-year rule is for property. A couple with a child together but less than two years of living together can be spouses for support only, not property.
In a renter city, the "property" may not be a home
Vancouver is a majority-renter city. Only about 45% of households own their home. So a separation here often isn't a fight over a house at all. When there's no owned home, what gets divided is everything else you built together: savings, pensions and RRSPs, a business, vehicles, and debt, along with the growth in value of anything one of you brought in. And when there's an owned home, it's usually a very expensive one, which raises the stakes on getting it valued properly. Either way, ask a prospective lawyer how they handle your specific situation, a high-value home or a case with no owned home.
Which court, and why it matters
Two courts share family law in BC. Only the Supreme Court of British Columbia can grant a divorce or divide family property and debt; in Vancouver it sits at the Vancouver Law Courts, 800 Smithe Street. The Provincial Court of BC, at Robson Square, 800 Hornby Street, handles parenting, guardianship, and support, but can't grant a divorce or divide property. Many couples resolve parenting and support in Provincial Court and use the Supreme Court for the divorce and the property split. When you hire, ask whether your matter belongs in Supreme or Provincial Court, and whether the lawyer handles both.
How to choose a Vancouver family lawyer
Start by figuring out which fork you're on: married with property, a common-law couple who meet the two-year test, a case with no owned home, or a parenting-and-support matter. Then match the lawyer to it. Good questions for a first call: do we meet the two-year spouse test, is our matter Supreme or Provincial Court, how do you value a home in this market or handle a case with no owned home, and how do you bill. Median incomes here don't stretch far against Vancouver costs, so ask about mediation and limited-scope help too. You can browse the 438 family-law firms in our Metro Vancouver directory as of September 2026 and shortlist a few. If you're new to the process, see how to get a divorce in BC.
Family Law firms in Metro Vancouver
Aaron Meng Law Professional Corporation is a Toronto-based litigation firm established in 2018, with a foundation in corporate, commercial, and real estate law. It represents individuals and businesses across the Grea…
Civil Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Real Estate Law
Family Law
Criminal Defence
Abhari Law Corporation is a Vancouver law firm offering services in English and Farsi. It practises in real estate, immigration law, contract disputes, personal injury, family law, and labour and employment matters.
Real Estate Law
Immigration LawCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFamily Law
Abisoye Law Corporation is a Vancouver law firm serving individuals, families, executives, and growing businesses throughout British Columbia. It practises across five core areas: immigration, business law, real estat…
Immigration Law
Business & Corporate LawReal Estate LawFamily Law
Adam Soliman Law Corporation is a law firm in North Vancouver, British Columbia, that practices family law, business law, civil litigation, employment law, and real estate and lending. The firm relocated to West Espla…
Family LawBusiness & Corporate LawCivil Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Employment & Labour Law
Alder Law is a law firm based in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, that has served the Tri-Cities and wider Fraser Valley for over two decades. The firm practices employment law, family law, personal injury and insura…
Employment & Labour LawFamily Law
Personal Injury
Insurance Law
Alexander Holburn Beaudin + Lang LLP is a full-service law firm based in Vancouver, with additional offices in Toronto and Kelowna. Founded in 1973, the firm has more than 100 lawyers who handle litigation, dispute re…
Administrative & Regulatory LawEmployment & Labour LawFamily LawReal Estate LawFrequently asked questions
We never married. Can my partner claim half of what I own?
Possibly. In BC, if you lived together in a marriage-like relationship for at least two years, you generally have the same family-property rights as a married couple, so property and debt built during the relationship are shared. Property you brought in, and gifts and inheritances, are normally excluded. It's fact-specific, so get advice.
Which Vancouver court grants my divorce?
The Supreme Court of British Columbia, at the Vancouver Law Courts on Smithe Street. It's the only court that can grant a divorce or divide property. The Provincial Court at Robson Square handles parenting and support but cannot.
There's no house to fight over. Is there still a property case?
Often yes. If there's no owned home, the division is about savings, pensions and RRSPs, a business, vehicles, and debt, and about the growth in value of anything one of you owned before. A lawyer can tell you what's actually in play.
