What is a separation date?
The date of separation is important in family law. There are limitation periods that can be affected by the date of separation. For example, a criteria for divorce is that you have been living separate and apart for at least one year. Under the Family Law Act, you have two years from the date of separation to make a claim for spousal support or property division.
Your date of separation is the date you began living separate and apart from your partner. You can still live in the same house and be living separate and apart. If you do continue to live in the same house, you should establish a specific separation date.
If you are unsure about your date of separation, you should speak to a lawyer. You can have a free 15-minute consultation with a lawyer through the BC Lawyer Referral Service. (opens in a new tab) Also see "Is there free help to separate or divorce in BC?".
For more information about issues related to separation and divorce, see the Family Law in BC (opens in a new tab) website. To help your family deal with separation and divorce visit FamiliesChange.ca (opens in a new tab).
Each year, LegalHelpBC responds to thousands of family law questions. If you have legal questions about your situation Ask a Human or Ask AI.
Others found these helpful...
- Family Law in BC (opens in a new tab)
BC’s most comprehensive family law website covers separation, divorce, adoption, protection and more.
- HowToSeparate.ca (opens in a new tab)
Provides help for separating couples on: Working it out, Separating the Finances and Going to Court.
- BC Family Justice Services (opens in a new tab)
The BC government provides a range of information and services to support people with separation, divorce, and other family law issues.
- FamiliesChange.ca (opens in a new tab)
Age-appropriate information for parents, teens and kids on how to deal with family changes due to separation.
- Legal Aid BC (opens in a new tab)
Provides a range of services to support British Columbians get legal advice on family law and other issues.
- Rise Women’s Legal Centre (opens in a new tab)
Provides legal services to women, especially regarding family law and intimate partner violence.
- BC Provincial Court (opens in a new tab)
This court applies BC’s Family Law Act and the Divorce Act to deal with a range of family law issues related to parenting arrangements, support, child protection, etc.
- Supreme Court BC (opens in a new tab)
This JES website provides a series of guidebooks to help people understand and move through family law processes in BC Supreme Court.