BC Form 15 Priority Parenting Explained

Why this guide exists

I went through the BC family-law process myself and found the forms much harder to understand than they needed to be. Once I understood what each form was actually asking for, the process became much easier to manage. These guides explain the forms in plain English.

Based on lived experience and checked against current official BC forms and rules. Not legal advice.

What this form is really for

Use Form 15 only when the issue fits the legal definition of a priority parenting matter — for example certain time-sensitive medical-consent issues, travel/consent issues, specific residence/removal situations, Hague-return issues, or specified child-protection-related circumstances.

Do not use it like this: Do not use Form 15 just because the parenting issue is emotionally urgent or you want an earlier court date. “Priority parenting matter” is a defined term with listed categories. If your request is about ordinary long-term parenting arrangements, Form 3 may also be required.

Parts 1–2 — Parties and children

Identify the adults and the children the priority issue is actually about.

Part 3 — Notice

The normal form starts from at least 7 days’ notice. If you are asking to proceed without notice or with less than 7 days, the form says you also need Form 11 unless you already have a court order allowing that notice arrangement.

Part 5 and schedules — Which priority issue

Pick the priority-parenting category that fits the facts and complete the schedule for it. This is where precision matters most: the court needs to see why the facts fit the defined priority category.

Evidence

Attach the evidence that actually demonstrates the time-sensitive problem — not just a narrative saying the issue is urgent.

Long-term parenting orders

The form warns that if you also need an order about longer-term parenting arrangements or parental responsibilities, you must also use the appropriate Form 3 process.

Common mistakes to watch for

Assuming “urgent” and “priority parenting” mean the same thing.
Skipping Form 11 when asking the court to waive or shorten the notice requirement.
Trying to use Form 15 to obtain long-term parenting arrangements without the Form 3 process where required.
Describing urgency but not connecting the facts to one of the defined priority categories.
Not attaching the supporting evidence that explains why delay matters.

What happens after you fill it out?

1. File Form 15 with the supporting evidence for the priority-parenting issue. If you also want long-term parenting arrangements, the form itself warns that Form 3 may also be required.

2. Give the required notice unless the court changes it. The current Rules generally require the application and supporting documents to be served at least 7 days before the court appearance. If you need shorter notice or no notice, Form 11 is used to ask the court to waive or modify that requirement.

3. Prove service where required. The adult who serves the materials completes Form 7. Some priority-parenting categories also have an additional notice requirement to the director under child-protection legislation.

4. Attend the scheduled hearing and be ready to present the evidence supporting the priority issue. The Rules allow evidence at the hearing orally under oath/affirmation or by affidavit.