What’s the difference between small claims court and the Supreme Court of BC?

Last reviewed May 2024 by the Clicklaw editors

Small claims court and the Supreme Court of BC both handle general civil law matters. There are several differences between these two courts.

Small claims court

Small claims court is for most disputes about debts or damages from $5,001 to $35,000. The process is generally simpler and faster than the Supreme Court of BC, and is designed for people to use without a lawyer. 
 
If your claim is for $5,000 or less, you can use the Civil Resolution Tribunal.

To learn more about small claims court, good starting points include:

  • Small Claims BC (Justice Education Society): This includes information, videos and personalized free legal help through online chat and phone support.
  • What Is Small Claims Court? (Government of BC): This has a basic explanation of the small claims court process.
  • Starting a Lawsuit (People’s Law School): This is an overview of the process and the types of cases that can be heard in small claims court.

Supreme Court of British Columbia

The Supreme Court of BC is for disputes over $35,000, with some exceptions. The court process for the Supreme Court of BC is more complicated than small claims court and often takes longer.

The Supreme Court of BC also hears appeals from the Provincial Court of BC, including small claims court. It also handles judicial reviews of some administrative tribunal decisions.

Some legal issues can only be heard in the Supreme Court. For example, divorce is only handled by the Supreme Court. 

To learn more about the Supreme Court of BC, good starting points include:

  • Supreme Court (Justice Education Society): This is an overview of the court, as well as links to self-help materials.
  • Courts of BC (Justice Education Society): This is an overview of all of the courts of BC. On the home page, click on the link for Supreme Court to learn more about it.

Helpful services

Choosing a court for your case can be complicated, and it’s a good idea to get legal advice:

  • Lawyer Referral Service (Access Pro Bono): The service offers a free, brief initial consultation with a lawyer to determine your legal needs. If you would like further help from your lawyer, you can retain them at a rate you both agree to.
  • Find more services.