Civil matters in BC Supreme Court
Last reviewed March 2024 by the Clicklaw editors
The Supreme Court of BC handles civil claims worth $35,000 or more. It also handles other civil matters that small claims court doesn’t handle, such as bankruptcy, personal injury claims, libel, and class actions, and appeals from lower courts. It’s more formal and expensive than small claims court.
Explore the links below to reliable online guides and tools and to organizations in BC. They have been chosen by librarians at Courthouse Libraries BC.
Selected resources
Click on a topic to see a list of resources.
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Supreme Court Civil Rules Forms
Government of British Columbia
Links to online fillable court forms for BC Supreme Court for civil matters.
Last reviewed March 2024
Court Services Online
Government of British Columbia
Court Services Online is British Columbia’s electronic court registry. This interactive page allows you to e-search civil and criminal court documents, e-file your documents, use the filing assistant to fill out forms, and view daily court lists. You can also view tutorials and demonstrations.
Last reviewed March 2024
Court Documents: File by Fax
Government of British Columbia
Some court documents can be submitted (also referred to as “filing”) by fax. But not all courthouses are set up to accept faxes, and certain documents can’t be sent by fax. See what locations accept fax filings and find information on how to file by fax.
Last reviewed March 2024
Application to Waive Fees (blank forms)
Supreme Court of British Columbia
A package of forms for when you’re applying to waive court fees in Supreme Court, whether it’s for civil or family issues.
Last reviewed March 2024
What You Need to Know about Affidavits
National Self-Represented Litigants Project
This self-help resource provides information and instructions for creating an affidavit. It also contains an example affidavit.
Last reviewed March 2024
Order a Court Transcript
Government of British Columbia
Brief instructions on how to order a transcript of a court hearing or a trial.
Last reviewed March 2024
Memorandum from the Court to Self-Represented Litigants: Trial Procedure in Civil and Family Cases
Supreme Court of British Columbia
A 14-page memo from the court written for SRLs going to trial for a civil or family case. It outlines the court’s sitting schedule, courtroom etiquette, stages of a trial, what goes into an opening statement, how to present evidence, and how to question witnesses.
Last reviewed March 2024
Getting Started: Starting an Action
Supreme Court BC (Justice Education Society)
This guide contains information about the steps required when you’re starting an Action by Notice of Civil Claim, the parties involved in an action, and how to prepare your documents. This applies to the Supreme Court of BC.
Last reviewed March 2024
Getting Started: Responding to an Action
Supreme Court BC (Justice Education Society)
This guidebook will help you defend a lawsuit started against you in BC Supreme Court. Defending a lawsuit is complicated and time consuming, and the consequences of doing things late or incorrectly may be serious. Features sample forms, including a response to civil claim and a counterclaim.
Last reviewed March 2024
Trial: Scheduling a Trial
Supreme Court BC (Justice Education Society)
An introduction on how to schedule a trial, as well as an overview of jury trials, trial management conferences, the trial record and certificate, and trial deadlines.
Last reviewed March 2024
Before Trial: Chambers Basics
Supreme Court BC (Justice Education Society)
Describes the procedure for chambers applications for civil, non-family claims in BC Supreme Court. It explains what chambers applications are, how to prepare for one, what documents are needed, and what happens after the chambers hearing. Includes sample forms with explanations.
Last reviewed March 2024
After Trial: Costs
Supreme Court BC (Justice Education Society)
If you are a party to a Supreme Court action and are successful on a chambers application or at trial, you may request that the other party pay your costs. This guidebook gives an overview of the procedure for assessing costs of civil, non-family claims in BC Supreme Court.
Last reviewed March 2024
Overview: Legal Research
Supreme Court BC (Justice Education Society)
An introduction to legal research, including how to search for cases and where to find help.
Last reviewed March 2024
Reading and Understanding Case Reports: A Guide for Self-Represented Litigants
National Self-Represented Litigants Project
This guide helps self-represented litigants (SRLs) with reading case reports. It gives advice on how to read and use case law in their legal research and is a companion to the CanLll primer. It includes a glossary of important terms and a list of court abbreviations.
Last reviewed March 2024
The CanLII Primer: Legal Research Principles and CanLII Navigation for Self-Represented Litigants
National Self-Represented Litigants Project
This primer is designed to help self-represented litigants (SRLs) navigate CanLII in order to prepare for the presentation of their cases — in court, in chambers, or as part of a negotiation or mediation. CanLII (canlii.org) is a free legal service that can be accessed by anyone on the web.
Last reviewed March 2024
Dial-a-Law: Class Actions in British Columbia
People’s Law School
It’s a familiar story: a business makes a defective product or does something that harms a group of people. Such a “mass wrong” can be met with a class action.
Last reviewed March 2024
Getting Started: Petitions
Supreme Court BC (Justice Education Society)
This guidebook gives an overview of how to start a proceeding by petition in BC Supreme Court and how to respond if you’ve been served with it. Topics include whether to start your proceeding with a petition or a notice of civil claim, and how to prepare, file, and serve your court documents.
Last reviewed March 2024
Before Trial: Requisitions
Supreme Court BC (Justice Education Society)
An introduction to requisitions, which civil rules apply, and how to fill in a requisition using Form 17.
Last reviewed March 2024
Collecting Unclaimed Court Funds
People’s Law School
You may have received a letter from BC Unclaimed saying that you’re entitled to court funds, or you may have found out about it by looking up your court case. To claim the funds, you need a court order proving that you’re entitled to the funds and that gets BC Unclaimed to pay you. This page will walk you through the steps.
Last reviewed October 2024
A Guide for SRLs with Disabilities: Understanding Your Rights and Requesting the Assistance You Need
National Self-Represented Litigants Project
This guide is for self-represented litigants (SRLs) who are also people with disabilities (PWDs). It provides information on disability accommodations and resources in the justice system. It includes a sample letter of accommodation request and what to do if you’re still experiencing barriers.
Last reviewed March 2024
Civil Law Guidebooks (Supreme Court BC)
Supreme Court BC (Justice Education Society)
A series of guidebooks on the Supreme Court of BC for cases involving a civil matter — claims exceeding $35,000, as well as bankruptcy, personal injury, and contract disputes. Explains everything from starting an action and serving documents to how trial works and how to enforce an order after trial.
Last reviewed March 2024
CanLII Manual to British Columbia Civil Litigation
Canadian Legal Information Institute (CanLII)
This manual has three main parts: “Areas of Law Pathfinders,” “The Guide to Civil Procedure at the Supreme Court of British Columbia,” and “Annotations of the BC Supreme Court Civil Rules and Court of Appeal Rules.” The publication is written for a wide audience.
Last reviewed March 2024
Coping with the Courtroom: A Primer to Help You Navigate the Written (and Unwritten) Rules of the Courtroom
National Self-Represented Litigants Project
Provides info on what to expect on your day in court. For example, what does the courtroom look like? When do I stand and sit? How do I address the judge? Includes practical information on how to present your evidence, object, question witnesses, and make opening and closing statements.
Last reviewed March 2024