How Do I Find Out About Court Procedures?

This page from JP Boyd on Family Law—and other pages from this Wikibook that discuss BC family law litigation topics—are under editorial review to provide more thorough, current, and practical guidance. Since 2020, procedures, forms, and laws have changed significantly. While gross inaccuracies have been corrected, some details may still be outdated. These pages were not included in the 2024 print edition, and have been highlighted in orange where they appear in the navigation menu on this website.

There are many self help guides to help people represent themselves in court. They range from general guides to guides specific to different courts.

General Guides

Coping With the Courtroom: Essential Information and Tips for Self Represented Litigants includes opening and closing statements, tips for questioning witnesses, and tips for organizing documents
Settlement Smarts for Self Represented Litigants includes Judge-led settlement conferences, mediation and negotiation.
The Rights and Responsibilities of the Self-Represented Litigant includes dealing with lawyers, judges, court staff and court rules.

BC Provincial Court

Going To Court includes information on traffic and bylaw matters, judgments, complaints, appeals, criminal, youth, family, preparing for court, and problem solving courts.

Criminal Court, Provincial

Representing Yourself in a Criminal Trial is a booklet that explains what happens when an accused person wants to plead guilty to a summary defense.

Small Claims Court

The Clicklaw common question, I need to take someone to small claims court describes a number of resources including small claims guidebooks, and instructions on how to fill out a notice of claim, with examples.

Family Law in Provincial and Supreme Courts

BC Human Rights Tribunal

BC Human Rights Tribunal Guide for Self-Represented People

Civil Litigation in Supreme Court of BC

Supreme Court of BC online help guide includes videos, online chat and court tips.
Guidebooks for Representing Yourself for civil matters. Also see the Clicklaw common question I’m trying to prepare a Supreme Court case which describes a series of guides that explain how to get started, next steps, and other actions concerning a Supreme Court case.
Civil Case Tips Sheets includes How to Take Notes During Trial; How to Prepare Your Case; and How to Act in Court
Guide to Civil Litigation in the Supreme Court of BC for Self-Represented Litigants an extensive guide which includes how to do pleadings, and what to know about trials.
Bring A Friend to Court: A Guide (McKenzie Friend and BC Supreme Court Chambers)
BC Supreme Court Information Packages includes topics such as Adoption, Garnishment, Costs, Orders, Name Change, Writ of Seizure and Sale.
Representing Yourself in a Judicial Review - Guide and Forms The guide gives an overview of the judicial review process generally, from preparing and filing your petition and affidavit to representing yourself in court.
Representing Yourself in a Judicial Review - If You’re Being Evicted This guide explains the judicial review process, and includes an appendix that specifically deals with what to do if you are being evicted from your home.

Criminal Law, Supreme Court

How a Criminal Trial Works Provides an overview of the steps involved in a criminal trial.

BC Court of Appeal

Court of Appeal Civil & Family Guidebooks to represent yourself for both appellants and respondents.
Court of Appeal Criminal Includes guidebooks on how to appeal your conviction and how to appeal your sentence.

Supreme Court of Canada

Supreme Court of Canada Resources for Self-Represented Litigants Explains what is expected of you, if you are applying for a leave to appeal or if you have been named as a respondent.

Beginner's Guide to Finding Legal Information © Courthouse Libraries BC 2015 is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 Canada Licence.