Helvis was one of four siblings: although their order of birth is uncertain, the manuscripts of the Lignages d'Outremer suggest she was the elder daughter, and possibly the eldest child.
Her father Balian remained in Jerusalem and negotiated its surrender to Saladin, but joined his family in Tripoli afterward.
They then went to Tyre, where they formed the strongest support for Conrad of Montferrat, who married Helvis's half-sister Queen Isabella in November 1190.
Helvis firstly married Reginald of Sidon, a widower over forty years her senior.
When Guy de Montfort arrived at Jaffa, he took part in King Amalric II of Jerusalem's expedition into Galilee.