Family Law Information Centre Saskatchewan: What FLIC Offers Kinship Caregivers

When a grandparent or relative needs to get a parenting order in Saskatchewan but cannot afford a lawyer, the Family Law Information Centre (FLIC) is the starting point. FLIC provides free court forms, self-help kits, and procedural guidance for people navigating the Court of King's Bench on their own. It does not replace a lawyer, but for many kinship caregivers, it is the only practical way to begin.

What FLIC Provides

FLIC operates out of the Court of King's Bench (Family Law Division) locations in Regina, Saskatoon, and Prince Albert. Staff are available to:

• Hand out the correct court forms for your situation
• Explain the filing procedure and deadlines
• Walk you through the self-help kit for your type of application
• Direct you to the correct registry counter

FLIC staff cannot give legal advice — they cannot tell you what to write on the forms or predict how a judge will rule. But they can make sure you are using the right forms and following the right steps.

The Self-Help Kits

FLIC publishes self-help kits that package the court forms with written instructions. For kinship caregivers, the relevant kits cover:

• Petition for a parenting order (Form 15-1B): used when you are applying for decision-making responsibility for a child under The Children's Law Act, 2020
• Notice of Application for Decision-Making Responsibility (Form 15-2A): a shorter application when the matter is less complex
• Fee Waiver Application (Form 15-11A): allows low-income applicants to waive the $300 court filing fee

The kits explain each form field and tell you what supporting documents to attach — affidavits, financial statements, proof-of-care documentation. They are written in plain language, though the forms themselves use legal terminology.

The Family Matters Program

Alongside FLIC, the Family Matters Program (1-844-863-3408) offers free intake and information sessions to families navigating separation and divorce. Contact the program to confirm whether your kinship-care situation fits its services.

The free "Parenting After Separation?" information session is a required step for parties before court hearings proceed. Ask the court whether it applies to your case.

For a relative who has just taken in a child and does not know where to start, Family Matters may be a useful place to ask about available information sessions.

FLIC Versus Legal Representation

FLIC helps you self-represent. If the biological parent is cooperative and the matter is uncontested, the self-help kit may be all you need to file for a parenting order. The process involves preparing a petition, serving the other party, and attending a hearing where the judge considers the child's best interests under Section 10 of The Children's Law Act, 2020.

If the matter is contested — the parent opposes your application, or there are allegations of abuse or neglect — self-representation becomes significantly harder. In those cases, FLIC can point you to Legal Aid Saskatchewan (income-eligible) or Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan (volunteer lawyers for qualifying cases).

What FLIC Does Not Cover

FLIC deals with court processes, not financial benefits. It will not help you apply for Saskatchewan Income Support, transfer the Canada Child Benefit, or understand how a PSI order versus a parenting order changes your eligibility for provincial maintenance payments.

That financial side — which office pays what, which forms you need for CRA, and how your care arrangement determines your benefit eligibility — is what the Saskatchewan Kinship Financial Help Guide covers.

See more Saskatchewan guides →