In response to COVID-19 and the financial stresses families are facing because of the pandemic, Legal Aid BC has introduced a service connecting families who are having child support issues with a free professional mediator. The intention of the service is to support parents who do not qualify for legal aid yet are low income and have been impacted by COVID-19. To be eligible for this service, at least one parent must reside in British Columbia.
This free mediation resource is available to:
- Parents who have been financially impacted by COVID-19 and need to alter an existing child support agreement or order,
- Parents who have recently separated and need assistance in making a child support order or agreement,
- Parents who require assistance in raising the topic of changing a child support order or agreement with their co-parent.
Parents can apply for this service by filling out an online form, located here: https://mylawbc.com/remote-mediation/start.php. If eligible, parents will have access to five free hours of mediation. The mediation will occur remotely using a method of the parties choosing, such as a teleconference or videoconference. When the mediation is completed, if the parents have not reached an agreement, the mediator will provide referrals to resources that can continue to assist the parents in coming to an agreement.
To learn more about this service and to find out if you’re eligible, please visit: https://mylawbc.com/remote-mediation/.