Difference between revisions of "The Court System for Family Matters"

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From staging Sep 2022 (follow up changes)
(From staging Sep 2022 (follow up changes))
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The person who starts a proceeding in the Provincial Court is the ''applicant''. The person against whom the court proceeding is brought is the ''respondent''.
The person who starts a proceeding in the Provincial Court is the ''applicant''. The person against whom the court proceeding is brought is the ''respondent''.


An applicant starts by filing a form, although a different form is needed for ''[[Early Resolution Registries of BC Provincial Court]]'' than in other Provincial Court registry locations. To read more about the Early Resolution process in Victoria and Surrey see the [https://www.clicklaw.bc.ca/resource/4843 BC Ministry of Attorney General's website], which also makes available a brochure with a simplified process map. The procedures explained below do not apply to the Early Resolution Registries.
An applicant starts by filing a form, although a different form is needed for ''Early Resolution Registries'' than in other Provincial Court registry locations. To read more about the Early Resolution process in Victoria and Surrey see the [https://www.clicklaw.bc.ca/resource/4843 BC Ministry of Attorney General's website], which also makes available a brochure with a simplified process map. The procedures explained below do not apply to the Early Resolution Registries.


In most Provincial Court registries, however, you start by filing an Application About a Family Law Matter in [[PCFR Form 3 Application About a Family Law Matter|Form 3]] and then serving it on each person named as a respondent. The form must be ''personally served'' on the respondent by an adult other than the applicant — you can't do it yourself. The respondent has 30 days to answer the claim by filing a Reply to an Application About a Family Law Matter in [[PCFR Form 6 Reply to an Application About a Family Law Matter|Form 6]] at the court registry. The court clerk will send a copy of the Reply to the applicant. The Reply can also be used to make a ''counterclaim'', the respondent's own claim against the applicant. A respondent who does not file a Reply to an Application About a Family Law Matter is not entitled to notice of further hearings in the case!
In most Provincial Court registries you start by filing an Application About a Family Law Matter in [[PCFR Form 3 Application About a Family Law Matter|Form 3]] and then serving it on each person named as a respondent. The form must be ''personally served'' on the respondent by an adult other than the applicant — you can't do it yourself. The respondent has 30 days to answer the claim by filing a Reply to an Application About a Family Law Matter in [[PCFR Form 6 Reply to an Application About a Family Law Matter|Form 6]] at the court registry. The court clerk will send a copy of the Reply to the applicant. The Reply can also be used to make a ''counterclaim'', the respondent's own claim against the applicant. A respondent who does not file a Reply to an Application About a Family Law Matter is not entitled to notice of further hearings in the case!


After the proceeding has been started, registry locations usually require the parties (if there is a matter involving children) to attend a ''parenting after separation course'', and the Family Justice Registries further require the parties to meet with a ''family justice counsellor'' for a family needs assessment before they can go to see a judge. Family justice counsellors are government employees trained in mediation who can help with issues about the care of children, child support, and spousal support.
After the proceeding has been started, registry locations usually require the parties (if there is a matter involving children) to attend a ''parenting after separation course'', and the Family Justice Registries further require the parties to meet with a ''family justice counsellor'' for a family needs assessment before they can go to see a judge. Family justice counsellors are government employees trained in mediation who can help with issues about the care of children, child support, and spousal support.

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