This course introduces the student to the role and responsibilities of a legal administrative assistant employed in the field of family law in British Columbia. Students will gain knowledge and practical experience in topics such as statutes and rules, divorce and family courts, marriage in B.C., pre-nuptual and separation agreements, undefended and defended divorce actions, chambers applications, annulment, and applications to Provincial Court. This is a "hands-on" course in which the students integrate keyboard, computer, and document formatting, with a knowledge of family law.
Prerequisites
Missing prerequisites?
Learn more about VCC's academic upgrading or English as a Second Language (ESL) courses, or discover which university transfer options are right for you.
What you will learn
- Historical Overview: historical developments in family law
- Overview: why the family law client is unique
- Opening the family law file: sample lawyer's initial interview notes
- The Divorce Act: grounds for divorce, bars to divorce, forms of divorce (undefended, joint, defended), jurisdiction
- The Family Law Act: relief available, importance of provisions concerning division of family property, jurisdiction
- Application of the Supreme Court Family Rules
- Financial disclosure: Forms F8 and F9
- Child support: preparation of the Child Support Affidavit and application of the Child Support Guidelines
- Simple calculations of child support amounts
- Preparation of the Notice of Joint Family Claim in support of a joint divorce
- Preparation of the Notice of Family Claim and related documents in support of an undefended divorce
- Preparation of the Response to Family Claim and related documents in support of a defended divorce
- The divorce order: preparation, approval by counsel
How to register
This course is offered as part of a VCC program only.
Course schedules
Select your program to see the available course schedules.
Contact us
If you have any question, please email at advising@vcc.ca.
† This information is intended as a guideline only. Program and course details are subject to change with the approval of VCC's Board of Governors.