The Family Maintenance Enforcement Program is a free BC government program that collects support payments owed under a court order or filed agreement. Once enrolled, FMEP tracks payments, chases arrears, and takes enforcement action if the payor falls behind.

Any recipient of child or spousal support under a BC court order or a written agreement filed under s. 44 or 148 of the Family Law Act. Enrolment is free. FMEP can also enforce out-of-province orders registered in BC.

What can FMEP do to a payor in arrears?

Garnish wages and bank accounts, register liens on real property, seize tax refunds, suspend the payor's BC driver's licence and federal passport, and report the debt to credit bureaus. Enforcement escalates as arrears grow.

Can arrears be cancelled?

Only by court order under s. 174 of the Family Law Act. The payor must prove it would be grossly unfair not to cancel — usually a material, involuntary drop in income (job loss, disability) that the payor did not act on quickly enough. FMEP itself cannot forgive arrears.

Either party can withdraw from FMEP at any time by written notice. Withdrawal stops enforcement but leaves the underlying order in place — arrears can still be collected if the recipient re-enrolls later.

Guide · Enforcement · British Columbia

FMEP — the BC Family Maintenance Enforcement Program.

How FMEP collects support in British Columbia, what it can and can't do, and the realistic path out of arrears.

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What FMEP is

The Family Maintenance Enforcement Program is a free service of the BC Ministry of the Attorney General. It monitors and enforces support payments owed under BC court orders and filed written agreements. Enrolment is voluntary for the recipient; once enrolled, all payments must flow through FMEP.

How enrolment works

The recipient files the order or the s. 44 / s. 148 written agreement with FMEP. The payor is notified and directed to pay FMEP directly. FMEP then remits to the recipient. Missed payments trigger automatic follow-up.

Enforcement tools, in escalating order

Reminder letters and payment negotiation.
Garnishment of wages, EI, and bank accounts.
Registration of liens on real property under the Land Title Act.
Redirection of federal tax refunds and GST credits.
Suspension of BC driver's licence and vehicle registration.
Denial of federal passport and select federal licences.
Credit bureau reporting.
Contempt proceedings in Provincial or Supreme Court.

Cancelling or reducing arrears

Only the court can cancel arrears, under s. 174 of the Family Law Act. The payor has to prove that requiring payment would be grossly unfair — typically due to a material, involuntary income drop the payor did not respond to quickly enough by seeking a variation. Bring a variation application at the time income changes; the older the arrears, the harder it becomes to reduce them.

When to get a lawyer involved

Get advice quickly if you're the payor and enforcement has escalated to licence suspension or passport denial — those steps end careers that depend on driving or travel. Get advice as recipient if payments have stopped and FMEP's usual tools have not restored the flow within a few months.

Common questions

Frequently asked.

What is FMEP?: The Family Maintenance Enforcement Program is a free BC government program that collects support payments owed under a court order or filed agreement. Once enrolled, FMEP tracks payments, chases arrears, and takes enforcement action if the payor falls behind.
Who can enrol?: Any recipient of child or spousal support under a BC court order or a written agreement filed under s. 44 or 148 of the Family Law Act. Enrolment is free. FMEP can also enforce out-of-province orders registered in BC.
What can FMEP do to a payor in arrears?: Garnish wages and bank accounts, register liens on real property, seize tax refunds, suspend the payor's BC driver's licence and federal passport, and report the debt to credit bureaus. Enforcement escalates as arrears grow.
Can arrears be cancelled?: Only by court order under s. 174 of the Family Law Act. The payor must prove it would be grossly unfair not to cancel — usually a material, involuntary drop in income (job loss, disability) that the payor did not act on quickly enough. FMEP itself cannot forgive arrears.
How do I opt out?: Either party can withdraw from FMEP at any time by written notice. Withdrawal stops enforcement but leaves the underlying order in place — arrears can still be collected if the recipient re-enrolls later.

Ready to talk?

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Book a Strategy Session Call 604 695 8486