Provincial (Family) Court

This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by Samantha Rapoport, Brown Henderson Melbye in March 2020.

If you’re dealing with a family law issue, you may end up in Provincial Court (often called Family Court). There are advantages to using this court instead of BC Supreme Court. Learn what’s involved at each stage.

Alert! This information has been updated to reflect new Provincial Court Family Rules that took effect on May 17, 2021.

What you should know

Family Court can deal with many family law issues

Family Court is a division of the British Columbia Provincial Court. (Other divisions of the Provincial Court deal with criminal, traffic, and small claims cases.)

Family Court deals with many, but not all, of the legal issues that affect families. It handles the following issues under the BC Family Law Act:

• guardianship of a child and parental responsibilities
• parenting time and contact with a child
• child support and spousal support
• protection orders

Family Court also deals with child protection cases.

Family Court cannot make orders under the federal Divorce Act. It can’t:

• grant a divorce
• divide property or debts, or make orders about family property
• change an order that was made under the Divorce Act
• make adoption orders

For these issues, you have to go to the British Columbia Supreme Court. This is the other court in BC that also deals with family law issues.

Advantages of Family Court

The BC Supreme Court can deal with all family law issues, including all of the issues Family Court deals with. So why would you want to go to Family Court?

Family Court has some advantages over Supreme Court:

• The Family Court forms are easier to fill out than Supreme Court forms.
• No court fees are charged in Family Court.
• The rules of court are simpler than the rules of the Supreme Court. Plus, the Family Court rules encourage people to try to resolve their issues by agreement earlier on in the court process.
• Family Courts have family justice counsellors available. These are specially trained government workers who can help people resolve certain types of family law issues, including through mediation. Their services are free and confidential.
• The atmosphere of Family Court is more informal.
• Many Family Courts have family duty counsel available. These are lawyers who provide free legal advice to help people with low incomes deal with their family law problems.

The court process varies depending on the registry and order involved

There are registries at various Provincial Courts throughout BC. How the Family Court process works depends on the registry location and the type of court order you need. Many Family Court registries have certain requirements you have to meet before you can get a date to appear in front of a judge. We explain these below, under stages in a Family Court matter.

But there are exceptions. In certain circumstances, you can fast forward the process. For example:

• If you’re experiencing family violence, you can apply for a protection order. This a court order to protect one person from another.
• If the other parent wants to move with the children or is refusing to agree to you taking them abroad on a planned holiday, you can apply for an order in a priority parenting matter.

Self-help guides The Family Law in BC website from Legal Aid BC has step-by-step guides on applying for a protection order and applying for a priority parenting matter order.

Options to resolve a case outside the courtroom

Even after a family law case has been started, you can still try to resolve your issues without going to a hearing before a judge.

You might try negotiating with each other to try to reach an agreement. You could do this with or without the help of lawyers. You could also get help from other family members, elders, or other community members.

You could try mediation. This involves meeting with a neutral person (a mediator) who helps find a solution everyone can agree on. The mediator doesn’t make decisions, but instead helps the parties make decisions for themselves.

You can use a family justice counsellor as a mediator. Their services are free. (At some Provincial Court locations, parties are required to meet with a family justice counsellor as one of the first steps in the court process.) Or you can hire a private mediator.

Or you could try collaborative negotiation. This is also known as “collaborative family law.” It’s a kind of negotiation where each party has their own lawyer and agrees to do everything possible to reach a settlement without going to court. The approach emphasizes full disclosure, communication, and a safe and respectful environment to help the parties negotiate a settlement collaboratively.

For more on these approaches, see our information on mediation, collaborative negotiation, and arbitration.

If you can agree on the issues

If you can work out your issues, you and the other people involved can put your agreement into writing. Or you might want a judge to make a court order that reflects your agreement. This is called a consent order. Most family law cases are settled by an agreement or consent order.

Both parties must sign the written agreement or consent order.

Each party should get independent legal advice from a lawyer before they sign the document. This involves each party meeting with their own lawyer to get legal advice. A lawyer can explain:

• what the agreement means
• what rights and obligations the agreement gives to each party
• how the agreement affects other legal options that might otherwise be available

See who can help, below, for options to get legal advice.

Stages in the court process

Starting a matter in Family Court

How you start a matter in Family Court depends on the court registry location and the type of court order you seek.

In the Victoria and Surrey registries, you have to file a notice with the court, meet with a family justice counsellor, and satisfy certain requirements before you can start a court matter. In other court registries in the province, you can start a court matter and then (depending on the registry location) you may have to meet with a family justice counsellor or complete a parenting education program, or do both before getting a court date.

In any court registry, if there’s been family violence or you have an urgent parenting issue, you can apply to get into court right away.

Early resolution registries In early resolution registries in Surrey and Victoria, you have to meet with a family justice counsellor, take a parenting course, and complete a session of consensual dispute resolution (if appropriate) before you can start a matter in Family Court.

The paperwork

To start a Family Court matter, you fill out an application about a family law matter. You make three copies of the application, and file it with the court registry. There is no fee involved. Depending on what kind of orders you’re asking for, other forms and documents may also be required.

You then arrange to have a copy of the filed documents served on the other party in the case. There are strict rules about how to give court documents to the other party.

To complete the forms Legal Aid BC’s Family Law in BC website has a free step-by-step guide for applying for a family order in Provincial Court. For blank court forms, see the BC government website or go to your local Family Court registry.

Next steps

Depending on the court registry you start your matter in, you may have to complete certain steps before you can get a date to go before a judge.

In these 12 registries, if you’re a parent, you have to complete a parenting education program.

In family justice registries in Kelowna, Nanaimo and Vancouver, you have to meet with a family justice counsellor and take a parenting education program (if you’re a parent).

In the other BC Family Court registries, you don’t have to meet any special requirements before getting a date to go in front of a judge. But steps like talking to a family justice counsellor and taking a parenting program are always a good idea.

Your first court appearance

Unless you have an urgent family matter, the first time you go before a judge will usually be at a family management conference. This is a 20- to 60-minute meeting with the other party and a judge. The judge will try to help you and the other party reach an agreement. If that’s not possible, the judge will help you get organized for a hearing or a trial.

At a family management conference, a judge can make court orders. If you and the other party agree about your family law issues, the judge will make a consent order. If you can’t agree, the judge may still make important interim (temporary) orders that can last at least until you have a hearing. Because of this, you must be prepared to tell the judge what orders you want and why. You can provide spoken and affidavit evidence to support your position.

If issues aren’t resolved at the family management conference, the judge can decide on the next steps in your case. This can include participating in mediation, attending a family settlement conference (an informal meeting with a judge to try to resolve the dispute), or setting a hearing date.

If a hearing is needed, the judge can make case management orders about timing, witnesses, documents, and other evidence to make sure the trial is conducted efficiently.

Preparing for a family management conference The Provincial Court explains what to expect at a family management conference, and Legal Aid BC has more on how to prepare for one.

If the case goes to trial

If you can’t settle your issues and have to go to a trial, you’ll have a hearing before a judge.

In your community, the Provincial Court might have a separate courtroom for family law cases. Or family law cases might be heard in one of the regular courtrooms on a particular day of the week. Usually there’s one day each week or every other week when the court will hear family law cases.

At the hearing, witnesses give oral testimony (they tell the court their side of the case) and present documents or other evidence. Often, the parties themselves are the only witnesses.

After all of the evidence has been given to the judge, each side will make arguments to the judge. They’ll explain why they think the judge should decide in their favor. The judge will then make an order resolving the issues.

Common questions

Do I need a lawyer to appear in Family Court?

You don’t have to have a lawyer when you go to court. Over a third of people bringing a case in Family Court represent themselves. The rules and forms in Family Court are simpler than in Supreme Court and the atmosphere is more informal.

Consider getting legal advice or unbundling If you’re planning to represent yourself in Family Court, consider getting legal advice about your case beforehand. Or you could explore hiring an “unbundled lawyer” to help coach you or help with part of your case. To find a lawyer who offers unbundled services, see unbundlinglaw.ca.

What if my case started before the new court rules came into effect?

New Provincial Court Family Rules came into effect on May 17, 2021. If a family law case you’re involved in started before that, the new rules apply and the new court forms (with a couple of short-term exceptions) must be used.

Who can help

With your case

To make an appointment with a family justice counsellor, contact the nearest Family Justice Centre by calling Service BC.

• Call 1-800-663-7867 (toll-free)
• Visit website

Unbundling allows you to hire a lawyer for specific parts of your case or to coach you through the court process. Unbundled Legal Services lists family lawyers who offer these services.

• Visit website

For options for legal advice, see our information on free and low-cost legal help. It explains options such as legal aid, pro bono services, legal clinics, and advocates.

With more information

The BC Provincial Court website provides information about family law, rules, and court processes as well as links to resources.

• Visit website

Legal Aid BC’s Family Law in BC website has self-help guides that include step-by-step instructions and blank forms you’ll need for going to Provincial (Family) Court.

• Visit website