BC family law navigator

BC family court: start here

Tell us what you need to do. We’ll help you find a court form or guide in a few steps.

Find my family court form Browse common situations

Not sure which court to use?

Check the court named at the top of papers you already received.

Provincial CourtMany parenting, support, protection and relocation matters Supreme CourtDivorce, family property/pensions, and all Family Law Act matters I’m not sureUse four quick checks before choosing a route

Already have court papers? Use the court named on them. If either Provincial Court or Supreme Court could hear your case, the choice affects the forms, costs and steps. Get help deciding if you are unsure.

Not sure which court? Four quick checks

Need a divorce? Supreme Court →
Need ordinary family property or pension division? Supreme Court →
Only dealing with parenting, child/spousal support, relocation or a protection order? Provincial Court may be available →
Already received court papers? Use the court and form number printed on them →

If both courts can hear the issue, court choice can have important consequences. This navigator identifies available routes; it does not recommend which court is strategically better for your case.

What do you need to do?

Tap one. Only that section opens.

1Start a family caseNo regular family claim has been filed yet

Need divorce or ordinary family property/pension division? Use Supreme Court. For many parenting, support, protection and relocation matters, Provincial Court may also be available.

Provincial Court — Form 3Application About a Family Law Matter Supreme Court — Form F3Notice of Family Claim Uncontested / desk-order divorceHow F35, F36, F37 and F38 fit together

2I was served with court papersFind the response that matches what you received

Provincial Court — Form 6 ReplyIf you received a Form 3 Supreme Court — Form F4If you received an F3 Notice of Family Claim Supreme Court — Form F32If you received an F31 Notice of Application Not sure what you received?Plain-English response guide

3Get an interim, urgent or safety orderApplications, protection orders and without-notice routes

Provincial Court — Form 10Case-management application Provincial Court — Form 11Without notice or attendance in limited circumstances Provincial Court protection orderFamily Law Act route Supreme Court — Rule 10-6Current serve-then-file application process Supreme Court — urgent / short noticeRule 10-9 Supreme Court — without noticeRule 10-8 Supreme Court protection ordersFamily Law Act information

4Money, support or propertyFinancial statements, support, property and arrears

Property and pension division generally require Supreme Court. Support claims may be available in either court depending on the case.

Provincial Court — Form 4Financial Statement Supreme Court — Form F8Financial Statement Child supportApplications and disclosure Spousal supportEntitlement, disclosure and variation Family property and debtSupreme Court property/debt claims Change support / arrearsVariation and arrears issues

5Parenting, guardianship or relocationParenting orders, guardianship, moving and assessments

Provincial Court — Form 5Guardianship affidavit Priority parenting matterProvincial Court time-sensitive route Prohibit relocation — Form 16Provincial Court relocation route Supreme Court parenting & guardianshipOrders and F101 where applicable Supreme Court child relocationBC and federal frameworks Section 211 reportsParenting assessments

6My case is already underwayConferences, disclosure, affidavits, settlement and changing orders

Provincial Court — Family Management Conference Supreme Court — Judicial Case ConferenceJCC / F19 Case Planning Conference Document disclosure — F20 Affidavits — F30 Offers to settle Change a final Supreme Court order

7Prepare for trialTrial readiness, notices, briefs, certificates and experts

Provincial Court — Form 22Trial Readiness Statement Supreme Court — F44 Notice of Trial Supreme Court — F45 Trial Brief Supreme Court — F46 Trial Certificate Expert reportsRule 13-6 reports and deadlines

8We agree / I want an uncontested resultConsent orders and desk-order divorce

Provincial Court — Form 17 consent order Supreme Court — consent ordersForms F29/F33 and Rule 10-7 Supreme Court — desk-order divorceUndefended divorce paperwork

I already know my form numberQuick form lookup

Provincial Form 3 Provincial Form 6 Provincial Form 10 Provincial Form 11 Supreme Form F3 Supreme Form F4 Supreme Form F31 Supreme Form F32

Calculators & cost toolsLegal cost, retainers, special expenses, shared parenting

Family-law legal cost Retainer burn rate Special expenses Shared-parenting offset

Immediate safety issue? If someone is in immediate danger, call 911. Protection-order and without-notice procedures have specific requirements.

Sources & disclaimer

Court-choice Official sources: Family Law Act ss. 192–194, Provincial Court Family Rules rr. 4–6, and official Supreme Court family forms. This is general legal information, not legal advice. Court rules and forms can change; confirm current requirements before filing.

Money tools: BC child support table lookup · spousal support range estimator · legal-cost estimator.

Residential tenancy problem?

For rent, eviction notices and deposits, consult the RTB before choosing a court form.

BC Residential Tenancy section →