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If you’re charged with a crime, you have legal rights. The resources below provide a good starting point for understanding what your rights are, what you need to do, and the steps involved in representing yourself or obtaining a lawyer. You can ask a judge to appoint a lawyer for you if you’ve been denied legal aid, can’t afford a lawyer, and face...

You must report the accident to an insurer. In BC, the basic insurer for drivers is the Insurance Corporation of BC (ICBC). If you’re a pedestrian, cyclist, or passenger, you must also contact ICBC. If you have disputes afterward The Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT) can make decisions on the following matters: Entitlement to accident benefits...

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...

You’re convicted when you’re found guilty of committing a crime. You receive a sentence as punishment after being found guilty of or pleading guilty to committing a crime. Sentences may include fines, community supervision, or time in prison. You appeal a case when you ask a higher court to review the decision of a lower court because you believe...

If you’re charged with a crime and you admit that you committed the crime, you may be able to deal with the charges without having to plead guilty or go to trial. You may be eligible for alternative measures, also known as diversion. Diversion is a program of community supervision by a probation office. You have to be recommended for diversion by...

You don’t need a Certificate of Divorce to make your divorce “legal” or “official” in BC. If you have to show legal proof of your divorce, you can use your divorce order. However, you can use the Certificate of Divorce to show legal proof of your divorce to third parties (for example, when you remarry) without giving away all the details in your...

The law says that your landlord can only evict you for certain reasons. In other words, your landlord can only evict you if there is cause. They must give you written notice that gives the reasons for the eviction and how you can challenge the eviction. The amount of notice the landlords must give you depends on the reason they want to evict you...

Foreclosure is a court process where the lender tries to take the property you mortgaged because you haven’t paid your mortgage. When you miss a payment, your lender may send you a reminder letter immediately. If they don’t hear from you or don’t receive the missed payment after that, they will send you a demand letter. In BC, the lender must send...