BC Supreme Court Form F3: Notice of Family Claim Guide (2026)

F3: understand the main parts before filling the form

These notes help you read the official form; they are not a filled-out example or a substitute for the current form instructions.

Parties and registry

Use the court registry and parties shown in the case you intend to start. Check whether a joint claim or petition is actually required instead.

Claims and schedules

Identify the orders requested and fill the schedules relevant to those requests. Do not assume every schedule applies.

Starting and service

Filing Form F3 starts the usual family claim procedure. A filed claim must then be served as the rules require; the online form finder does not file or serve it.

Use the free BC family court form finder · official Supreme Court family forms. Source: BC Supreme Court Family Rules (Rules 3-1 and 4-1).

Different from an application: Form F3 starts a family law case. It is not the same as Form F31, which is generally used to ask for orders within an existing Supreme Court family case.

What is Form F3?

Form F3 is the Notice of Family Claim under Supreme Court Family Rule 4-1. It identifies the claimant and respondent, describes the family relationship and the relief being claimed, and uses schedules for claims involving children, support, property, debt and related family-law issues.

What happens after it is filed?

After filing, the claimant must serve the filed notice on each person named as a respondent. Rule 4-1 requires personal service unless the court authorizes an alternative method under the service rules. A filed F3 is therefore different from the new October 2026 serve-first process for a usual Form F31 application under Rule 10-6.

The respondent’s 30-day deadline

Rule 4-3 says a person who wants to respond must, within 30 days after being served, file a Response to Family Claim in Form F4 and serve the filed F4 as required. If the respondent wants to make their own claims, a Counterclaim in Form F5 may also be required within the relevant time.

What goes into the claim?

The form should identify the orders actually sought. Its schedules separate different subject areas so the pleading tells the other party and the court what issues are in dispute. A person claiming divorce, parenting orders, support, property division or other relief should make sure the correct schedules and relief sections are completed rather than assuming the court will infer a claim from background facts.

Service and the 12-month life of the notice

Rule 4-2 provides that an original notice of family claim does not remain in force for more than 12 months. If a named respondent has not been served, the claimant may need to apply for renewal. That is one reason to separate “filing the claim” from “successfully starting the case against a particular respondent.”

Common mistakes

Using F31 when the person actually needs to start a family law case with F3.
Leaving out a schedule for a category of relief that is actually being claimed.
Treating ordinary delivery as sufficient when personal service is required.
Assuming filing alone stops every timing problem if the document is never served.
Using old copies of the form instead of the current official version.

Cost and limited-scope help

The cost of starting a case is not just the registry filing fee. Service, document preparation and legal advice can also create expense. A person who cannot keep counsel for the entire case may still consider limited-scope advice to review the claims, schedules and requested orders before filing, particularly where property, support or parenting issues are complicated.

See government sources

Official sources: Supreme Court Family Rules·Official Supreme Court Family forms·Current Form F3 text.·Official Form F3 PDF