B.C. Supreme Court application procedures overhauled: serve first, file later, with new timelines

Plain-language summary · AI-assisted

The rules governing how applications are made in B.C. Supreme Court civil and family proceedings have been significantly restructured. The core change is a shift from a "file then serve" model to a "serve then file" model: parties must now serve an unfiled notice of application and supporting evidence on all affected parties before setting the matter down for hearing. New mandatory timelines apply — respondents generally have 5 business days to serve a response (14–21 days for certain family applications), and applicants have 3–5 business days to serve reply affidavits. A new "notice of hearing of application" form must be filed and served at least 4 business days before the hearing (14 days for lengthy applications requiring a registrar to fix a date). Applications estimated to take more than 2 hours must have their hearing date and time set by a registrar. Parties involved in civil or family litigation, and their legal counsel, should review their workflow and calendaring practices to ensure compliance with the new sequence and deadlines.

Who this affects
litigants in B.C. Supreme Court civil proceedings · litigants in B.C. Supreme Court family proceedings · legal counsel and law firms · self-represented litigants · court registrars