Source: http://www.bclaws.ca/Recon/document/ID/freeside/169_2009_03
Timestamp: 2018-05-26 19:32:59
Document Index: 399592972

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 15', 'art 2', 'art 16', 'art 17', 'art 18', 'art 6', 'art 21', 'art 22', 'art 23', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 6', 'art 6']

Part 15 — Court Orders and Their Enforcement
Rule 15-1 — Orders
(1)Unless these Supreme Court Family Rules otherwise provide, an order must be in the following form:
(a) if the order is a final order,
(i) in Form F33 if the order changes, suspends or terminates a final order and is made by consent,
(ii) in Form F51 if the order changes, suspends or terminates a final order and is not made by consent,
(iii) in Form F34 if the order is made under Rule 10-8 without notice and without a hearing, or
(iv) in Form F52 in any other case;
(b) if the order is not a final order and is made without a hearing and by consent, in Form F33;
(c) if the order is not a final order and is made under Rule 10-8 without notice and without a hearing, in Form F34;
(d) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 133/2012, Sch. s. 20 (b).]
(d.1) if the order is a protection order under section 183 of the Family Law Act, in Form F54;
(d.2) if the order is a change of a protection order under section 187 of the Family Law Act, in Form F54.1;
(d.3) if the order is a restraining order under section 46 of the Family Maintenance Enforcement Act, in Form F54.2;
(d.4) if the order is made under Rule 7-1 (15) at a judicial case conference, in Form F51.1;
(e) for any order not referred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c), (d.1), (d.2) or (d.3), in Form F51.
[en. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. B, s. 19; am. B.C. Regs. 133/2012, Sch. s. 20 (a) and (b); 104/2015, s. 1 (a).]
(2)A protection order under section 183 or 187 of the Family Law Act, or a restraining order under section 46 of the Family Maintenance Enforcement Act, must not include any provisions respecting matters that are not directly related to the matters set out in those sections.
[en. B.C. Reg. 133/2012, Sch. s. 20 (c).]
(3)An order of the court
(a) subject to subrules (16) and (16.1), may be drawn up by any party,
(b) subject to subrule (4) and paragraph (c) of this subrule, must, unless the court otherwise orders or the order is one referred to in subrule (1) (d.1), (d.2) or (d.3), be approved in writing by all parties or their lawyers,
[am. B.C. Regs. 121/2014, s. 9; 104/2015, s. 1 (b).]
(4)If an order is signed or initialled by the presiding judge or master, that order need not be approved in writing by a lawyer or by a party.
(5)If an order has been made substantially in the same terms as requested, and if the court endorses the notice of application, petition or other document to show that the order has been made or made with any variations or additional terms shown in the endorsement, it is not necessary to draw up the order, but the endorsed document must be filed.
(6)If an order may be entered on the filing of a document, the party seeking entry of the order must file the document when leaving the draft order with a registrar, and the registrar must examine the document and, if satisfied that it is sufficient, must enter the order accordingly.
(7)If a person who has obtained an order on condition does not comply with the condition, the person is deemed to have abandoned the order so far as it is beneficial to the person and, unless the court otherwise orders, any other person interested in the family law case may take either the steps the order may warrant or the steps that might have been taken if the order had not been made.
(8)An order of a single judge or master is an order of the court.
(9)An order
(10)An order may be approved by any judge.
(11)A consent order must not be entered unless the consent of each party affected by the order is signified as follows:
(12)An order must be settled, when necessary, by a registrar, who may refer the draft to the judge or master who made the order.
(13)A party may file an appointment in Form F55 to settle an order and must serve a copy of the filed appointment and a draft order on all parties whose approval of the order is required under subrule (3) at least one day before the time fixed by the appointment.
(14)If a party fails to attend at the time appointed for the settlement of an order, a registrar may settle the order in the party's absence.
(15)The court may review and vary the order as settled.
(16)The court may direct a registrar to draw up and enter an order.
Order must be drawn up by registrar
(16.1)Unless the court otherwise orders, an order referred to in subrule (1) (d.1) or (d.2) must be drawn up and entered by a registrar.
[en. B.C. Reg. 104/2015, s. 1 (c).]
(17)The court may give special directions respecting the entry or service of an order.
(18)The court may at any time correct a clerical mistake in an order or an error arising in an order from an accidental slip or omission, or may amend an order to provide for any matter that should have been but was not adjudicated on.
(19)The opinion, advice or direction of the court must be entered in the same manner as an order of the court and is to be termed a "judicial opinion", "judicial advice" or "judicial direction", as the case may require.
(20)When making an order under these Supreme Court Family Rules, the court may impose terms and conditions and give directions it considers will further the object of these Supreme Court Family Rules.
Rule 15-2 — Divorce Orders
(0.1)This rule does not apply to a divorce under Part 2 of the Civil Marriage Act (Canada).
[en. B.C. Reg. 4/2016, s. 2.]
Ongoing prior proceedings
(1)A divorce order must not be granted unless the court is satisfied that no earlier divorce proceeding is ongoing anywhere in Canada.
Claim for divorce joined with other claims
(2)If a claim is made for divorce together with one or more other claims, the court may do one or more of the following:
(a) grant a divorce and direct that an order for divorce alone be entered;
(b) adjourn the hearing of the claim for divorce;
(c) grant judgment on the other claims and direct that a separate order dealing with them be entered;
(d) adjourn the hearing of the other claims.
Form of certificate of divorce
(3)The certificate of divorce referred to in section 12 (7) of the Divorce Act must be in Form F56 and may be signed and issued by the registrar.
Service of divorce order
(4)Unless the court otherwise orders, a party who has submitted for entry an order for divorce must, promptly after the order is entered,
(a) serve a copy of the entered order on each of the parties who has an address for service, and
(b) if any of the parties does not have an address for service, mail a copy of the entered order to that party's last known address.
Rule 15-2.1 — Guardianship Orders
(1)When an order is sought appointing a person as the guardian of one or more children, the applicant must
(a) file with the court an affidavit in Form F101 that complies with subrule (4) and serve a copy of that filed affidavit on the other parties and on any other person who may be affected by the orders sought, and
(b) provide to the court any other evidence the court considers necessary.
[A person who is a guardian within the meaning of section 39 of the Family Law Act does not need to apply for guardianship and does not need to file the Form F101 affidavit referred to above.]
[en. B.C. Reg. 41/2013, Sch. s. 8.]
(2)The court may make an interim order for guardianship without an affidavit in Form F101 having been filed if the court is satisfied that it is in the best interests of the child that an interim guardianship order be made before that affidavit is filed.
(3)An interim order under subrule (2) must expire within 90 days after the date of pronouncement unless renewed by the court.
(4)Unless the court otherwise orders,
(a) an affidavit referred to in subrule (1) must be sworn or affirmed
(i) not more than 28 days before the date set for the hearing at which the order referred to in that subrule is sought, or
(ii) if the order is sought without a hearing, not more than 7 days before the date on which the materials in support of the application are filed, and
(b) any records check, criminal records check or protection order records check attached as an exhibit to the affidavit must be dated
(i) not more than 60 days before the date set for the hearing at which the order referred to in subrule (1) is sought, or
(ii) if the order is sought without a hearing, not more than 60 days before the date on which the materials in support of the application are filed.
Materials required if hearing adjourned
(5)Unless the court otherwise orders, if the swearing or affirmation of, and the date of the record checks exhibited to, a Form F101 affidavit referred to in subrule (1) are in compliance with the requirements of subrule (4) (a) (i) and (b) (i), as those requirements relate to the date originally set for the hearing at which the order referred to in subrule (1) is sought, the following apply if that hearing is adjourned:
(a) if the hearing is adjourned to a date that is not more than 14 days after the date originally set for the hearing, the following apply:
(i) if there has been no material change in any of the information contained in the Form F101 affidavit, the applicant may rely on that affidavit whether or not it complies with the requirements of subrule (4) (a) (i) and (b) (i) in relation to the new date set for the hearing;
(ii) if there has been a material change in any of the information contained in the Form F101 affidavit, the applicant must promptly file a new affidavit setting out the material change and serve a copy of that filed new affidavit on each of the parties and on every other person who may be affected by the orders sought;
(b) if the hearing is adjourned to a date that is more than 14 days after but not more than 6 months after the date originally set for the hearing, the applicant must, at least 7 days before the new date set for the hearing,
(i) if there has been no material change in any of the information contained in the Form F101 affidavit, file a new affidavit confirming that fact and serve a copy of that filed new affidavit on each of the parties and on every other person who may be affected by the orders sought, or
(ii) if there has been a material change in any of the information contained in the Form F101 affidavit, file a new affidavit setting out the material change and serve a copy of that filed new affidavit on each of the parties and on every other person who may be affected by the orders sought;
(c) if the hearing is adjourned to a date that is more than 6 months after the date originally set for the hearing, the applicant must, at least 14 days before the new date set for the hearing, file a new affidavit in Form F101 that complies with the requirements of subrule (4) (a) (i) and (b) (i) in relation to the new date set for the hearing and serve a copy of that filed new affidavit on each of the parties and on every other person who may be affected by the orders sought.
Rule 15-3 — Provisional and Extra-Provincial Orders
Provisional orders made in British Columbia
(1)A provisional order made by the court under section 18 (2) of the Divorce Act must show on its face that
(a) it is a provisional order, and
(b) it has no legal effect until it is confirmed in accordance with the applicable statutory provisions.
Provisional orders made in another province
(2)The Attorney General must send all copies of a provisional order and other documents received from the Attorney General of another province under section 18 (4) of the Divorce Act to the registrar of the registry
(a) in which the original order changed by the provisional order was entered, or
(b) if the original order was not made in British Columbia, nearest to the place of residence of the respondent as shown in the documents.
(3)Unless section 19 (3) of the Divorce Act applies, the registrar to whom documents referred to in subrule (2) are sent must
(a) serve on the respondent in the change proceeding
(i) a copy of the documents, and
(ii) notice of the date of the hearing to confirm the provisional order, and
(b) ensure that notice of the date of hearing is sent to the applicant in the change proceeding by ordinary mail addressed to the applicant's last known address.
(4)If an order that has legal effect throughout Canada under section 20 (2) of the Divorce Act is made by a court other than the Supreme Court, the order may be registered without fee by filing a certified copy of the order in the Victoria Registry of the Supreme Court.
Exchange of orders between provinces
(5)The registrar of the court must, on request or if the court is required to do so by section 17 (11) of the Divorce Act, and without a fee, send a certified copy of a custody order, support order or change order made by the court
(a) to the registrar of a court in another province or to any person holding an equivalent position to that of registrar in relation to that court,
(b) to a public welfare organization in another province, or
(c) to any person designated by the Attorney General of another province.
Enforcement in Provincial Court
(6)A support order made by the court or registered under subrule (4) may be filed in and enforced by the Provincial Court as if it were contained in an order of that court made under the Family Law Act.
[am. B.C. Reg. 133/2012, Sch. s.5.]
Rule 15-4 — Enforcement of Orders
(1)An order for the payment of money to a person may be enforced by writ of seizure and sale in Form F57.
(2)An order for the payment of money into court may be enforced by writ of sequestration in Form F58.
(3)An order for the recovery or the delivery of the possession of land may be enforced by writ of possession in Form F59.
(4)An order for the recovery or the delivery of the possession of any property other than land or money may be enforced by writ of delivery in Form F60 or F61or by writ of sequestration in Form F58.
(5)An order may be enforced by the appointment of a receiver under Rule 12-2.
(6)A person not a party to a family law case, who obtains an order or in whose favour an order is made, may enforce the order in the same manner as if the person were a party to the family law case, and an order that may be enforced against a person not a party to a family law case may be enforced against that person as if he or she were a party to the family law case.
(ii) has, before or after being filed in the court, been served in accordance with the enactment or these Supreme Court Family Rules on the person against whom the order is sought to be enforced, and
(15)Subject to these Supreme Court Family Rules or an order of the court, a writ of execution may be issued by a registrar at any time during the lifetime of the order sought to be enforced.
(22)Unless the court otherwise orders, a party who is entitled to enforce an order is entitled to the costs, fees and expenses of enforcement including proceedings under the Court Order Enforcement Act, this rule and Rules 15-6 and 15-7.
(23)Subject to subrule (24) of this rule, if these Supreme Court Family Rules provide or some other enactment provides that enforcement costs may be included in the amount endorsed on any writ of execution, a registrar may fix the amount to be endorsed on the writ of execution.
(a) either the judgment creditor or the judgment debtor may apply to have the costs of enforcement assessed before a registrar, and Rule 16-1 applies, or
(29)A debtor may require, as a condition of paying a money judgment, that the judgment creditor promptly execute, file and serve an acknowledgment of payment in Form F62.
(33)Without limiting subrule (31), a party against whom an order has been made may apply to the court for a stay of execution or other relief on grounds with respect to which the supporting facts arose too late for them to be pleaded, and the court may give relief it considers will further the object of these Supreme Court Family Rules.
(34)A sheriff, judgment creditor or judgment debtor may apply to the court for directions under Rule 15-8 concerning the sale of any property taken in execution.
(35)If a certificate under Rule 16-1 (25), 16-2 (7) or 18-1 (2) has been filed, it may be enforced as if it were an order of the court.
[en. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. B, s. 20; am. B.C. Regs. 133/2012, Sch. s. 21; 67/2013, Sch. s. 1 (e).]
Rule 15-5 — Compelling a Debtor under the Family Maintenance Enforcement Act to Appear in Court
Summons under the Family Maintenance Enforcement Act
(1)A summons under section 19 or 22 of the Family Maintenance Enforcement Act requiring a debtor to appear at a default hearing or a show cause hearing must be in Form F63.
Committal summons under the Family Maintenance Enforcement Act
(2)A summons under section 23 of the Family Maintenance Enforcement Act requiring a debtor to appear at a committal hearing must be in Form F64.
(3)An arrest warrant under the Family Maintenance Enforcement Act must be in Form F65.
Rule 15-6 — Subpoena to Debtor
(1)A creditor who has obtained an order of the court for the recovery or payment of money or costs or both may issue out of the registry a subpoena in Form F66 on filing an affidavit showing that the order is not satisfied and that no writ of execution issued by the creditor is outstanding against the debtor.
(i) in the case of default under paragraph (a), the examiner must make a report in Form F67 and fix a time and place at which the creditor may attend before the court, and at that time and place the court may, at the request of the creditor and without notice to the person subpoenaed, order
(B) apprehension under Rule 21-7 (5), and
(ii) in the case of default under paragraph (b), (c) or (d) of this subrule, the examiner must make a report in Form F67 and fix a time and place for the person subpoenaed to attend before the court, and at that time and place the court may, at the request of the creditor and without further notice to the person subpoenaed,order
(B) apprehension under Rule 21-7 (5), or
(9)If the creditor who issued a subpoena fails to attend at the examination under subrule (4), or if the examiner is of the opinion that the proceedings are unnecessary or vexatious, the examiner may order the creditor to pay to the person subpoenaed a sum of money by way of compensation and may order that sum to be paid promptly or to be set off against the debt.
(12)If a debtor fails to pay in accordance with an order made under subrule (11) by an examiner, the creditor may file a notice of application for committal in Form F68 on filing an affidavit showing that the default has occurred, and subrules (2) and (3) apply.
(15)An order of committal must be in Form F69 and must commit the person named in it to prison for a term not exceeding 40 days.
(25)A creditor who has obtained an order of committal may file in the registry a requisition in Form F17 requesting discharge of the person committed, and a registrar must endorse the requisition and a copy with the words "This is your authority to discharge ...................[name].............................. from custody" above the registrar's signature, and, on being shown the copy of the requisition, a sheriff, peace officer or warden must release the person committed from custody and must endorse the order accordingly and return it to the registry.
(b) if the person committed is in the warden's custody, notify the warden, who must release the person committed,
(27)Imprisonment under these Supreme Court Family Rules does not extinguish the liability imposed by an order.
(28)Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. B, s. 21.]
Rule 15-7 — Examinations in Aid of Execution
(f) the means the judgment debtor has, or has had, or in future may have, of satisfying the order, and
(4)Unless the court otherwise orders, a person examined under subrule (2) or (3) must not be further examined in the same family law case for a year.
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. B, s. 22.]
(6)If a difficulty arises in or about the execution or enforcement of an order, the court may make any order for the attendance and examination of a party or person it considers will further the object of these Supreme Court Family Rules.
(7)Rule 9-2 (4), (5), (10), (11), (12) (a) and (b), (13) and (15) to (24) applies to an examination under this rule.
Rule 15-8 — Sales by the Court
(1)If in a family law case it appears necessary or expedient that property be sold, the court may order the sale and may order a person in possession of the property or in receipt of the rents, profits or income from it to join in the sale and transfer of the property and deliver up the possession or receipt to the purchaser or person designated by the court.
(2)If an order is made directing property to be sold, the court may permit any person having the conduct of the sale to sell the property in the manner the person considers appropriate or as the court directs.
(3)The court may give directions for the purpose of effecting a sale, including directions
(4)A person having conduct of a sale may apply to the court for further directions.
(5)The result of a sale by order of the court must be certified in Form F70 by the person having conduct of the sale and that certificate must be filed promptly after completion of the sale.
(6)The person having conduct of the sale may apply to the court for a vesting order in favour of a purchaser.
Part 16 — Costs
Rule 16-1 — Costs
(1)If costs are payable to a party under these Supreme Court Family Rules or by order, those costs must be assessed in accordance with Appendix B unless any of the following circumstances exist:
(a) the parties consent to the amount of costs and file a certificate of costs or expenses setting out that amount;
(i) the costs of the family law case be assessed as special costs, or
(ii) the costs of an application, a step or any other matter in the family law case be assessed as special costs in which event costs in relation to all other applications, steps and matters in the family law case must be determined and assessed under this rule in accordance with this subrule;
(c) the court awards lump sum costs for the family law case and fixes those costs under subrule (14) in an amount the court considers appropriate;
(d) the court awards lump sum costs in relation to an application, a step or any other matter in the family law case and fixes those costs under subrule (14), in which event costs in relation to all other applications, steps and matters in the family law case must be determined and assessed under this rule in accordance with this subrule.
[am. B.C. Reg. 133/2012, Sch. s. 22 (a).]
(2)On an assessment of special costs, a registrar must
(a) allow those fees that were proper or reasonably necessary to conduct the family law case, and
(i) the complexity of the family law case and the difficulty or the novelty of the issues involved;
(iii) the amount involved in the family law case;
(iv) the time reasonably spent in conducting the family law case;
(v) the conduct of any party that tended to shorten, or to unnecessarily lengthen, the duration of the family law case;
(vi) the importance of the family law case to the party whose bill is being assessed, and the result obtained;
(viii) Rule 1-3.
(3)The officer before whom costs are assessed is a registrar.
(4)When assessing costs under subrule(1) or (2) of this rule, a registrar must
(a) determine which disbursements have been necessarily or properly incurred in the conduct of the family law case, and
(5)If the court has made an order for costs,
(a) any party may, at any time before a registrar issues a certificate under subrule(25), apply for directions to the judge or master who made the order for costs,
(6)If tax is payable by a party in respect of legal services or disbursements, a registrar must, on an assessment under subrule (1) or (2), allow an additional amount to compensate for that tax as follows:
(a) if the tax is payable in respect of legal services, the additional amount to compensate for the tax must be determined by multiplying the percentage rate of the tax by the amount of costs allowed;
(7)Subject to subrule (9), costs of a family law case must be awarded to the successful party unless the court otherwise orders.
(8)A party is not disentitled to costs merely because the party's lawyer is an employee of the party.
(9)Unless the court hearing an application otherwise orders,
(10)If an entitlement to costs arises during a family law case, whether as a result of an order or otherwise, those costs are payable on the conclusion of the family law case unless the court otherwise orders.
Costs of hearing fees
(11)If the court orders that the parties bear their own costs, the hearing fees are to be shared equally between the parties unless the court otherwise orders or the parties otherwise agree.
Obligation to pay unaffected
(12)Nothing in subrule (11) removes from the party who filed the notice of trial the obligation to pay the hearing fees to the registry.
(13)If anything is done or omitted improperly or unnecessarily, by or on behalf of a party, the court or a registrar may order
Costs of whole or part of family law case
(14)The court may award costs
(a) of a family law case,
(b) that relate to some particular application, step or matter in or related to the family law case, or
(c) except so far as they relate to some particular application, step or matter in or related to the family law case
(15)If it is ordered that any costs are to be paid out of an estate or property, the court may direct out of what portion of the estate or property the costs are to be paid.
(16)If a party entitled to receive costs is liable to pay costs to another party, a registrar may assess the costs the party is liable to pay and may adjust them by way of deduction or set-off or may delay the allowance of the costs the party is entitled to receive until the party has paid or tendered the costs the party is liable to pay.
Costs of one respondent payable by another
(17)If the costs of one respondent against a claimant ought to be paid by another respondent, the court may order payment to be made by one respondent to the other directly, or may order the claimant to pay the costs of the successful respondent and allow the claimant to include those costs as a disbursement in the costs payable to the claimant by the unsuccessful respondent.
(18)If after pronouncement of judgment a party puts another party to unnecessary proceedings or expense, a registrar, in assessing the costs of the family law case, may award costs as the registrar considers appropriate against the offending party except in relation to anything for which expenses have been ordered.
[am. B.C. Reg. 133/2012, Sch. s. 22 (b).]
(19)A bill of costs must be in Form F71.
(20)A person who seeks to have costs assessed must
(b) file an appointment in Form F55 to which is attached the bill of costs to be assessed, and
(c) at least 5 days before the date of the appointment, serve a copy of the filed Form F55 appointment and any affidavit in support in accordance with subrule (24).
Place for assessment
(21)An appointment for assessment of costs must be taken out at the registry at which the proceeding is being conducted or at any other registry to which the parties to the appointment may agree.
(22)A registrar may order further particulars or details of a bill of costs being assessed.
(23)If a sheriff who has charged fees for services set out in Schedule 2 of Appendix C or a person affected by those fees wishes to have those fees assessed, the person seeking the assessment must
(a) obtain an appointment from a registrar in Form F55 and attach to that appointment a copy of the bill to be assessed, if available, and
(b) at least 5 days before the assessment, serve a copy of the appointment and any affidavit in support on all persons affected by the fees.
(24)A person seeking an assessment of costs must serve an appointment in Form F55 to which is attached the bill of costs, and any affidavit in support, on
Certificate of costs or expenses
(25)On the conclusion of an assessment of costs, or if the party charged has consented to the amount, a registrar must, either by endorsing the original bill or by issuing a certificate of costs or expenses in Form F72, certify the amount of costs awarded, and the party assessing costs must file the certificate.
[am. B.C. Reg. 133/2012, Sch. s. 22 (c).]
(26)A party who is dissatisfied with a decision of a registrar on an assessment of costs may, within 14 days after the registrar has certified the costs, apply to the court for a review of the assessment.
(27)A bill for special costs may be rendered on a lump sum basis.
(28)A lump sum bill must contain a description of the nature of the services and of the matter involved as would, in the opinion of a registrar, afford any lawyer sufficient information to advise a client on the reasonableness of the charge made.
(29)A party to an assessment of costs may put in evidence the opinion of a lawyer as to the nature and importance of the services rendered and of the matter involved and the reasonableness of the charges made, but a party must not put in evidence the opinions of more than 2 lawyers, and a lawyer giving an opinion may be required to attend for examination and cross-examination.
(30)If the court considers that a party's lawyer has caused costs to be incurred without reasonable cause, or has caused costs to be wasted through delay, neglect or some other fault, the court may do any one or more of the following:
(d) make any other order that the court considers will further the object of these Supreme Court Family Rules.
(31)If the court makes an order under subrule (30), the court may
(b) subject to subrule (34), fix the costs with or without reference to the tariff in Appendix B.
(32)An order against a lawyer under subrule (30) or (31) must not be made unless the lawyer is present or has been given notice.
(33)A lawyer against whom an order under subrule (30) or (31) has been made must promptly serve a copy of the entered order on his or her client.
(34)An order by the court under subrule (31) (b) in respect of the costs of an application must not exceed $1 000.
(35)If a party entitled to costs fails to assess costs and prejudices another party by failing to do so, a registrar may certify the costs of the other party and certify the failure and disallow all costs of the party in default.
(36)Unless the court otherwise orders, fees to lawyers, accountants, engineers, actuaries, valuators, merchants and other scientific persons to whom any matter or question is referred by the court must be determined by a registrar, subject to an appeal to the court.
Rule 16-2 — Assessment of Expenses
Expenses to be assessed
(1)If, under section 212 (2), 213 (2) (d) (i), 214 (4), 221 (2) (c) (i), 228 (1) (c) (i) or 230 (2) (b) (i) of the Family Law Act, the court orders that expenses be paid to a person,
(a) the parties may consent to the amount of expenses and file a certificate of costs or expenses in Form F72 setting out that amount,
(b) the court may award lump sum expenses and fix that lump sum in an amount the court considers appropriate, or
(c) if paragraphs (a) and (b) do not apply, those expenses must be assessed in accordance with this rule.
[en. B.C. Reg. 133/2012, Sch. s. 23.]
(2)The officer before whom expenses are assessed is a registrar.
(3)If the court makes an order for expenses,
(a) any party may, at any time before a registrar issues a certificate under subrule (7), apply for directions to the judge or master who made the order for expenses,
(b) the judge or master may direct that any item be allowed or disallowed as an expense, and
Appointment to assess expenses
(4)A person who seeks to have expenses assessed must
(b) file an appointment in Form F55 to which is attached the list of expenses in Form F71.1, and
(c) at least 5 days before the date of the appointment, serve a copy of the filed Form F55 appointment, to which is attached the list of expenses, and any affidavit in support on
(i) the person against whom expenses are to be assessed, and
(ii) every other person whose interest, whether in a fund or estate or otherwise, may be affected.
(5)An appointment for assessment of expenses must be taken out at the registry at which the proceeding is being conducted or at any other registry to which the parties to the appointment may agree.
(6)A registrar may order further particulars or details of a list of expenses being assessed.
(7)On the conclusion of an assessment of expenses, or if the party charged has consented to the amount, a registrar must, by issuing a certificate of costs or expenses in Form F72, certify the amount of expenses awarded, and the party assessing expenses must file the certificate.
(8)A party who is dissatisfied with a decision of a registrar on an assessment of expenses may, within 14 days after the registrar has certified the expenses, apply to the court for a review of the assessment.
When expenses payable
(9)Unless the court otherwise orders, if the court makes an order for expenses, those expenses are payable promptly after the later of
(a) the date on which a certificate for those expenses is filed under this rule, and
(b) if a review is requested under subrule (8), the date on which the amount of the expenses to be paid is confirmed by that review.
No costs if expenses ordered
(10)If expenses are ordered in relation to a step or matter in the family law case, costs are not to be assessed in relation to that same step or matter.
Part 17 — Petition Proceedings
Rule 17-1 — Petitions
(2)A person wishing to bring a family law case referred to in Rule 3-1 (3) or (4) (b) by filing a petition must file a petition in Form F73 and each affidavit in support.
(3)Unless these Supreme Court Family Rules otherwise provide or the court otherwise orders, a copy of the filed petition and of each filed affidavit in support must be served by personal service on all persons whose interests may be affected by the order sought.
(c) unless the court otherwise orders, serve on the petitioner 2 copies, and on every other party one copy, of each document filed under paragraph (a) or (b) as follows:
[am. B.C. Reg. 95/2011, Sch. B, s. 3 (a).]
(5)A response to petition must be in Form F74 and must
(6)A petitioner may file affidavits in response to any document served on the petitioner under subrule (4) (c), and, in that event, must serve copies of those filed responding affidavits on each petition respondent no later than the date on which the notice of hearing is served on that petition respondent under subrule (8) (b).
(7)Unless all parties consent or the court otherwise orders, a party must not serve any affidavits additional to those served under subrules (3), (5) and (6).
(a) in the case of a petition to which no response to petition has been served under subrule (4) (c), file a notice of hearing in Form F75 at any time before the hearing of the petition, or
(b) in the case of a petition to which a response to petition has been filed and served under subrule (4) (c), file a notice of hearing in Form F75, and serve a copy of the filed notice of hearing on each petition respondent, at least 7 days before the date set for the hearing of the petition.
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. B, s. 23 (a).]
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. B, s. 23 (b) and (c).]
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. B, s. 23 (d).]
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. B, s. 23 (e).]
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. B, s. 9.]
[en. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. B, s. 23 (f).]
a petition respondent may apply, by requisition in Form F17 on 2 days' notice, for directions.
[en. B.C. Reg. 95/2011, Sch. B, s. 3 (b).]
(18)Without limiting the court's right under Rule 10-3 (7) (d) to transfer the family law case referred to in this rule to the trial list, the court may, whether or not on the application of a party, apply any other of these Supreme Court Family Rules to a family law case referred to in this rule.
(b) subject to Rules 8-2 (7) and (9) and 9-6 (5),
and for that purpose Rule 8-1 (2) to (7) applies.
(24)If, in a family law case in which an order for adoption is sought, notice of an application for the order for adoption is not required, the petitioner may make that application by filing
(a) a requisition in Form F29, and
(b) a draft of the proposed order in Form F34.
(25)On being satisfied that the materials appropriate for an application referred to in subrule (24) have been filed in accordance with subrule (24), a registrar may refer the application to a judge or master.
(26)If an application is referred by a registrar to a judge or master under subrule (25), the judge or master may
Part 18 — Other Procedures
(1)At any stage of a family law case, the court may direct that an inquiry, assessment or accounting be held by a master, registrar or special referee.
(2)The court may direct that the result of an inquiry, assessment or accounting be certified by the master, registrar or special referee and, in that event, the certificate, if filed under subrule (9), is binding on the parties to the family law case.
(a) take out an appointment in Form F55, and
(b) serve notice of the appointment on all parties or as directed by the court.
(7)A party to a family law case in which an inquiry, assessment or accounting is held may subpoena any person, including a party, to give evidence at the hearing of the inquiry, assessment or accounting and to produce documents.
(b) the evidence to be introduced in support,
(16)If an account is made out under subrule (15), the items on each side of the account must be numbered consecutively, and the party required to account must file the affidavit and the account referred to in that subrule and serve copies of those filed documents on all parties.
(17)A party who alleges that there are errors or omissions in an account must file and serve on all parties a notice of those errors with brief particulars.
(18)If the court makes an order directing that an inquiry, assessment or accounting be held in a proceeding relating to the sale of any property, the court may direct that notice of the order in Form F76 be served on any person interested in the property.
(19)Any person served with notice of an order in accordance with subrule (18) is, subject to subrule (21), bound by the order to the same extent as the person would have been if the person had originally been made a party to the family law case.
(21)Within 28 days after service of a notice of order under subrule (18) on a person, the person may, without becoming a party to the family law case, apply to the court to vary or rescind the order.
(22)A person served with a notice of order under subrule (18) may, after filing a notice of interest in Form F77, take part in the family law case.
Rule 18-2 — Jurisdictional Disputes
(1)A party who has been served with a notice of family claim, counterclaim or petition in a family law case, whether that service was effected in or outside British Columbia, may, after filing a jurisdictional response in Form F78,
(a) apply to strike out the notice of family claim, counterclaim or petition or to dismiss or stay the family law case on the ground that the notice of family claim, counterclaim or petition does not allege facts that, if true, would establish that the court has jurisdiction over that party in respect of the claim made against that party in the family law case,
(b) apply to dismiss or stay the family law case on the ground that the court does not have jurisdiction over that party in respect of the claim made against that party in the family law case, or
(c) allege in a pleading or in a response to petition that the court does not have jurisdiction over that party in respect of the claim made against that party in the family law case.
(2)Whether or not a party referred to in subrule (1) applies or makes an allegation under that subrule, the party may apply to court for a stay of the family law case on the ground that the court ought to decline to exercise jurisdiction over that party in respect of the claim made against that party in the family law case.
(3)If a party who has been served with an notice of family claim, counterclaim or petition in a family law case, whether served in or outside British Columbia, alleges that the notice of family claim, counterclaim or petition is invalid or has expired or that the purported service of the notice of family claim, counterclaim or petition was invalid, the party may, after filing a jurisdictional response in Form F78, apply for one or both of the following:
(a) an order setting aside the notice of family claim, counterclaim or petition;
(b) an order setting aside service of the notice of family claim, counterclaim or petition.
(4)If an application is brought under subrule (1) (a) or (b) or (3) or an issue is raised by an allegation in a pleading or a response to petition referred to in subrule (1) (c), the court may, on the application of a party, before deciding the first-mentioned application or issue,
(a) stay the family law case,
(c) give directions for the conduct of the family law case, and
(d) discharge any order previously made in the family law case.
(5)If, within 30 days after filing a jurisdictional response in a family law case, the filing party serves a notice of application under subrule (1) (a) or (b) or (3) on the parties or files a pleading or a response to petition referred to in subrule (1) (c),
(a) the party does not submit to the jurisdiction of the court in relation to the family law case merely by filing or serving any or all of the following:
(ii) a pleading or response to petition under subrule (1) (c);
(iii) a notice of application and supporting affidavits under subrule (1) (a) or(b), and
(ii) defend the family law case on its merits.
(2)An appeal is to be started by filing in a registry a notice of appeal in Form F79 or Form F80.
(5)Unless the court otherwise directs, an application for directions under subrule (3) (b) must be set for hearing on a date that is at least 7 days after the date on which the notice of appeal is served in accordance with subrule (6).
(b) that evidence be introduced by way of affidavit, or that it be given orally,
(8)A person who intends to oppose an appeal must
(a) file a notice of interest in Form F77 within the following period:
(i) if the person was served with the notice of appeal anywhere in Canada, within 7 days after that service;
(ii) if the person was served with the notice of appeal anywhere in the United States of America, within 14 days after that service;
(iii) if the person was served with the notice of appeal anywhere else, within 28 days after that service, and
[am. B.C. Reg. 95/2011, Sch. B, s. 4.]
(9)After obtaining from a registrar a date for the hearing of the appeal, if the appellant wishes to proceed with the appeal, the appellant must set the appeal for hearing on that date by
(a) filing a notice of hearing of appeal in Form F81, and
(b) serving a copy of the filed notice of hearing of appeal on all parties.
(a) filing a notice of abandonment of appeal in Form F82, and
(b) serving a copy of the filed notice of abandonment of appeal on all parties.
Rule 19-1 — Canadian Judgments
Rule 19-2 — Foreign Judgments
(2)A family law case to register a reciprocally enforceable judgment must be started by petition.
(5)The order to register the judgment must be in Form F83.
Stay of proceeding in family law case on foreign judgment
(9)A respondent in a family law case on a foreign judgment, whether or not it is a reciprocally enforceable judgment, on proof that an appeal or other proceeding in the nature of an appeal is pending or the time for appeal has not expired, may apply for an order staying the family law case until the determination of the appeal or other proceeding on terms that the court may impose.
(3)A response to family claim, response to counterclaim or response to petition by a partnership must be in the name of the firm, but a partner or a person served as a partner may file a response to family claim, response to counterclaim or response to petition and defend in the person's own name, whether or not named in the notice of family claim, counterclaim or petition.
(4)If a firm is a party to a family law case, any other party may serve a notice requiring one of the partners to serve, within 10 days, an affidavit setting out the names and addresses of all persons who were partners when the alleged right or liability arose.
(a) filed a response to family claim, response to counterclaim or response to petition in the family law case in the person's own name as a partner,
(b) having been served with the notice of family claim, counterclaim or petition as a partner, failed to file a response to family claim, response to counterclaim or response to petition in the family law case,
(9)If the person against whom an application under subrule (8) is made disputes liability, the court may order that the liability of the person be determined in any manner in which an issue or question in a family law case may be determined.
Family law case against person carrying on business in a name other than the person's own
Rule 20-2 — Minors
(1)A minor may act without a litigation guardian in a family law case in the following circumstances:
(a) in a family law case brought under the Family Law Act, if section 201 of that Act applies;
(b) in any other family law case, if the minor has attained the age of 16 years.
[en. B.C. Reg. 133/2012, Sch. s. 24 (a).]
Rule 20-3 does not apply in certain circumstances
(1.1)Rule 20-3 does not apply to a minor who may, under subrule (1) of this rule, act without a litigation guardian in a family law case.
(2)Without limiting section 201 of the Family Law Act and despite subrule (1), if the court considers that it is in the interest of a minor referred to in subrule (1) or of any child of the minor, it may, whether or not on the application of a party, appoint a litigation guardian for the minor or for the child of the minor.
[am. B.C. Reg. 133/2012, Sch. s. 24 (b).]
Rule 20-3 — Persons under Disability
Start of family law case by person under disability
(2)A family law case brought by or against a person under legal disability must be started or defended by his or her litigation guardian.
(3)Unless a rule otherwise provides, anything that is required or authorized by these Supreme Court Family Rules to be done by or invoked against a party under disability must
(6)If a person is appointed committee, that person must be the litigation guardian of the patient in any family law case unless the court otherwise orders.
(7)Before the name of a person is used in a family law case as a litigation guardian, that person's consent, signed by the person or his or her lawyer, must be filed, unless the person
(b) is the litigation guardian under section 35 (1) of the Representation Agreement Act of a party to that family law case.
(8)Unless a committee has been appointed, the lawyer for a person under disability, before acting in a family law case, must, unless subrule (9) applies, file a certificate that he or she knows or believes that
(b) the proposed litigation guardian of the person under disability has no interest in the family law case adverse to that person.
(9)The lawyer for a person who, under section 35 (1) of the Representation Agreement Act, has a litigation guardian must, before acting in a family law case to which the person is a party, file a certificate certifying that the lawyer knows or believes that
(b) the litigation guardian is a representative under that representation agreement and is authorized under section 7 (1) (d) of the Representation Agreement Act in relation to the family law case, and
(c) the litigation guardian has no interest in the family law case adverse to the person.
(10)If a party to a family law case becomes a mentally incompetent person, the court must appoint a litigation guardian for him or her unless
(12)A party to a family law case who attains the age of majority may, if the party is then under no legal disability,
(a) file an affidavit, in Form F84, confirming the attainment of the age of majority, and
(b) serve a copy of the filed affidavit on all parties.
(a) the party on whose behalf the affidavit was filed assumes conduct of that party's claim or defence in the family law case, and
(15)Unless the court otherwise orders, notice of an application for leave under subrule (14) must be served on the person under disability at least 10 days before the hearing of the application, in the manner provided by Part 6.
(16)If no response to family claim, response to counterclaim or response to petition has been filed to a notice of family claim, counterclaim or petition on behalf of a person under disability, the person who started the family law case, before continuing the family law case against the person under disability, must obtain an order from the court appointing a litigation guardian for the person under disability.
(18)If, before a family law case is started, an agreement is reached for the settlement or compromise of a claim of a person under disability, whether alone or with others, and it is desired to obtain the court's approval, application may be made by petition and the court may make any order it considers will further the object of these Supreme Court Family Rules.
(1)If the court, on application made in accordance with subrule (3) before or after the start of a family law case, finds that a person
(b) cannot, without undue hardship, afford to pay the fees under Schedule 1 of Appendix C in relation to the family law case,
the court may order that no fees are payable by the person to the government under Schedule 1 of Appendix C in relation to the family law case unless the court considers that the claim or defence
[en. B.C. Reg. 104/2015, s. 3.]
(a) a family law case generally:
(b) any part of a family law case;
(d) one or more particular steps in a family law case.
(a) a requisition in Form F17,
(b) a draft of the proposed order in Form F85, and
(c) an affidavit in Form F86.
[am. B.C. Reg. 95/2011, Sch. B, s. 5.]
(a) the family law case,
(b) the part of the family law case,
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. B, s. 24 (b).]
(1)In this rule, "litigation representative", in relation to the estate of a deceased, means a person referred to in subrule (3) who is starting, conducting or defending a family law case referred to in subrule (2) on behalf of the deceased's estate.
[en. B.C. Reg. 90/2014, Sch. 2, s. 3.]
(a) a person who has or may have a cause of action dies before starting a family law case in relation to that cause of action,
(b) a person against whom a cause of action may be asserted dies before a family law case is started in relation to that cause of action,
(c) a person who has started a family law case dies before judgment is pronounced in that family law case, or
(d) a person against whom a family law case has been started dies before judgment is pronounced in that family law case,
and the cause of action, in relation to which the family law case may be or has been started, survives.
Starting, conducting or defending a family law case on behalf of deceased's estate
(3)If there is no personal representative for a deceased's estate, the court may, on application brought in accordance with subrule (5), appoint a person as a litigation representative to start, conduct or defend a family law case referred to in subrule (2) on behalf of the deceased's estate.
(5)An application under subrule (3) may be brought without notice under Rule 10-8.
(7)A litigation representative conducting or defending a family law case referred to in subrule (2) (c) or (d) must, under Rule 8-2, be substituted for the deceased as a party in the family law case.
(b) a family law case referred to in subrule (2) has been started in relation to the deceased,
the personal representative must, on application under Rule 8-2,
(c) be substituted for the deceased as a party in the family law case, or
(d) if a litigation representative is conducting or defending the family law case, be substituted for the litigation representative as a party in the family law case,
Part 21 — General
Rule 21-1 — Forms and Documents
(1)The forms in Appendix A must be used if applicable, with variations as the circumstances of the family law case require, and each of those forms must be completed by including the information required by that form in accordance with any instructions included on the form.
(2)Unless the nature of the document renders it impracticable, every document prepared for use in the court must be in the English language, legibly printed, typewritten, written or reproduced on 8 1/2 inch × 11 inch durable white paper or durable off-white recycled paper.
(4)The first page of each document prepared for use in a family law case must contain a blank area extending at least 5 centimetres from the top of the page and at least 5 centimetres from the left edge of the page.
(5)A document prepared for use in a family law case must be headed with the style of proceeding set out on the most recent notice of family claim, counterclaim or petition to be filed in that family law case, but in a document, other than an order or a document that starts a family law case, if there is more than one party to the family law case identified as a claimant or as any other classification of party, the style of proceeding may be abbreviated to show the name of the first party listed in that classification, followed by the words "and others".
Rule 21-2 — Time
(1)Unless a contrary intention otherwise appears, if a period of less than 7 days is set out by these Supreme Court Family Rules or in an order of the court, holidays are not counted.
(2)The court may extend or shorten any period of time provided for in these Supreme Court Family Rules or in an order of the court, even though the application for the extension or the order granting the extension is made after the period of time has expired.
Extending or shortening time respecting documents
(3)The period fixed by these Supreme Court Family Rules or an order for serving, filing or amending a pleading or other document may be extended by consent.
(4)In a family law case in which judgment has not been pronounced and no step has been taken for one year, a party must not proceed until
(a) the expiration of 28 days after service of notice of that party's intention to proceed in Form F48 on all parties, and
(5)Despite this rule, a respondent may apply to have a family law case dismissed for want of prosecution without serving a notice of intention to proceed in Form F48.
Rule 21-3 — Multiple Claims and Parties
(1)Without limiting Rule 3-1 (5) but subject to subrule (6) of this rule, a person, whether claiming in the same or different capacities, may join several claims in the same family law case.
(2)Subject to subrule (6), a family law case may be started by or against 2 or more persons in any of the following circumstances:
(a) if separate family law cases were brought by or against each of those persons, a common question of law or fact would arise in all the family law cases;
(b) a right to relief claimed in the family law cases, whether it is joint, several or alternative, is in respect of or arises out of the same transaction or series of transactions;
(3)Subject to any enactment or these Supreme Court Family Rules or unless the court otherwise orders, a claimant or petitioner who claims relief to which any other person is jointly entitled must name as parties to the family law case all persons so entitled, and any of them who do not consent to be named as a claimant or petitioner must be made a respondent.
(4)If relief is claimed against a person who is jointly liable with some other person, the other person need not be named as a party to the family law case, but if persons may be jointly, but not severally, liable and relief is claimed against some but not all of those persons in a family law case, the court may stay the family law case until the other persons who may be liable are named as parties.
(5)It is not necessary that every person named as a party be interested in all the relief sought in a family law case, but the court may order that a party be compensated for being required to attend, or be relieved from attending, a part of a trial or hearing in which that party has no interest.
(6)If a joinder of several claims or parties in a family law case may unduly complicate or delay the trial or hearing of the family law case or is otherwise inconvenient, the court may order separate trials or hearings or make any other order it considers will further the object of these Supreme Court Family Rules.
Separating counterclaim
(7)If a counterclaim ought to be disposed of by a separate family law case, the court may so order.
(8)Family law cases may be consolidated at any time by order of the court or may be ordered to be tried at the same time or on the same day.
Consolidation of proceedings with Provincial Court proceedings
(8.1)If, under section 194 (3) (c) of the Family Law Act, one or more Provincial Court proceedings are to be consolidated with one or more Supreme Court proceedings, the court may, in the order for consolidation, make any orders it considers will further one or both of the object of these Supreme Court Family Rules and the object of the Family Law Act, including, without limitation, orders respecting the following:
(a) the amendment, filing and service of pleadings;
(b) any matter in relation to which the court may make an order at a judicial case conference under Rule 7-1 or at a trial management conference under Rule 14-3.
[en. B.C. Reg. 133/2012, Sch. s. 25.]
(9)A family law case must not be defeated by reason of the misjoinder or nonjoinder of a party and the court may deal with the matter in controversy so far as it affects the rights and interests of the parties before it.
Rule 21-4 — Change of Lawyer
(1)A party to a family law case
but until copies of notice of the change in Form F87 or F88 have been filed and served on the other parties, the other parties are entitled to proceed on the basis that there has been no change of representation or address for service.
the court, on the application of any other party, may order that the lawyer has ceased to be the lawyer of the first mentioned party.
(3)If a lawyer who has acted for a party to a family law case has ceased to act and the party has not given a notice of change in accordance with subrule (1), the court, on the application of the lawyer, may declare that the lawyer has ceased to be the lawyer acting for the party and, if applicable,
(4)As an alternative to proceeding under subrule (3), a lawyer who has ceased to act for a party who has not given a notice of change under subrule (1) may serve a notice of intention to withdraw in Form F89 on that party and on the other parties.
(a) file in the registry an objection in Form F90, and
(6)A lawyer who serves a notice of intention to withdraw under subrule (4) on all parties to a family law case may file a notice of withdrawal of lawyer in Form F91 if no objection, notice of change of lawyer or notice of intention to act in person is filed within 7 days after service of the notice of intention to withdraw.
(7)If a lawyer files a notice of withdrawal of lawyer under subrule (6), the lawyer ceases to be the party's lawyer when the notice has been served on all parties.
(8)After a lawyer ceases under subrule (7) to be a party's lawyer, the party's address for service is, until that address is changed under Rule 6-1 (3), the address set out in the notice of withdrawal of lawyer filed under subrule (6) of this rule.
(10)If personal service of a notice of intention to withdraw cannot be made in accordance with Rule 6-3 (2) on a party for whom the lawyer acts, the lawyer may apply for an order under Rule 6-4 allowing service by an alternative method.
(11)An applicant who obtains an order under subrule (2) or (3) must serve a copy of the entered order on all parties and, until it is served, a party is entitled to proceed on the basis that there has been no change of lawyer or address for service.
Rule 21-5 — If Parties Fail to Comply with These Rules
If party does not comply with the rules
(1)If a party does not comply with these Supreme Court Family Rules, the court may do one or more of the following:
(a) if the party who has not complied is a claimant or a respondent who has brought a counterclaim,
(i) strike out the notice of family claim, counterclaim or petition, and
(ii) grant judgment dismissing the claims made in the notice of family claim, counterclaim or petition;
(b) if the party who has not complied is a respondent or a respondent to counterclaim, strike out the response to family claim, response to counterclaim or response to petition;
(c) set aside a step taken;
(d) make an order for costs against the party;
(e) make any other order it considers will further the object of these Supreme Court Family Rules.
(2)Unless the court otherwise orders, a failure to comply with these Supreme Court Family Rules must be treated as an irregularity and does not nullify
(a) a family law case,
(b) a step taken in the family law case, or
(c) any document or order made in the family law case.
[en. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. B, s. 25.]
Rule 21-6 — If Parties Fail to Attend
(1)Without limiting Rule 21-5, if a party fails to attend at a trial or hearing at the time appointed for that trial or hearing, the court may, after receipt of any evidence of service it considers appropriate, do one or more of the following:
(a) proceed with the trial or hearing;
(b) draw any inference from the failure to attend that the court considers appropriate, including attributing an amount of income to the party;
(c) grant some or all of the relief sought.
(2)Unless the court otherwise orders, if no party is in attendance when the trial of a family law case is called, the family law case must be struck off the trial list.
(3)A party may apply to set aside a judgment obtained at trial in that party's absence.
Rule 21-7 — Contempt of Court
(4)A person who is guilty of an act or omission described in Rule 14-7 (25), in addition to being subject to any consequences prescribed by those rules, is guilty of contempt of court and subject to the court's power to punish contempt of court.
(5)If the court is of the opinion that a person may be guilty of contempt of court, it may order, by warrant in Form F92 directed to a sheriff or other officer of the court or to a peace officer, that the person be apprehended and brought before the court.
(7)If the court is of the opinion that a corporation may be guilty of contempt of court, it may order, by its warrant in Form F92 directed to a sheriff or other officer of the court or to a peace officer, that any director, officer or employee of the corporation be apprehended and brought before the court.
(8)If a director, officer or employee referred to in subrule (7) is apprehended and brought before the court, the court in a summary manner may adjudge the innocence or guilt of the corporation and punish the corporation for the contempt, if any, or may give the directions it thinks fit for the determination of its innocence or guilt and the punishment to be imposed.
[am. B.C. Reg. 112/2012, Sch. B, s. 3.]
(9)The court may order the release of a person apprehended under subrule (5) or (7) on receiving an undertaking in Form F93 from that person.
(10)A release order under subrule (9) must be in Form F94.
(13)The court may give directions as to the mode of hearing the application, including an order that the matter be transferred to the trial list under Rule 10-3 (7) (d).
(16)The court, on application by or on behalf of a person committed to prison for contempt may discharge that person, even though the period of the committal may not have elapsed.
(17)If the court orders a person committed without specifying in days, weeks or months the period of the committal, the sheriff must bring that person before the court at intervals of not more than 7 days, in order that the court may review the committal and determine whether relief as set out in subrule (15) or (16) should be granted.
Part 22 — Court and Registry Matters
Rule 22-1 — Powers of Court
Court may adjourn trial, hearing or conference
(1)Whether or not the parties consent, the court may adjourn a trial, hearing or conference to a specific date or without setting a date.
(2)The court may, at any time,
(a) waive or modify a time limit set by these Supreme Court Family Rules or by an order of the court, even after the time limit has expired, and
(b) waive or modify any service or notice requirement under these Supreme Court Family Rules.
Attendance by telephone or other means
(3)A person entitled or required to attend court may attend by telephone, video conference or other communications medium if
(a) the court authorizes attendance in that manner, and
(b) all persons participating, whether by telephone, by video conference, by other communications medium or in person, are able to communicate with each other.
Court may direct how attendance by telephone or other means is to be conducted
(4)If the court considers it appropriate for a person to attend court by telephone, video conference or other communications medium, the court may direct the manner in which the attendance is to be conducted.
Court may refer calculation of child support
(5)If the regional manager has advised the court in writing that a person designated by the Attorney General to provide assistance in the calculation of child support is readily available to the court, the court may, at any time,
(a) refer calculation of child support to that person, and
(b) require that the results of that calculation be reported back to the court.
(6)The court may make an order for security for the costs of a party.
(7)If a custody order, a guardianship order, an order respecting parenting arrangements or contact with a child or a support order is appealed, the order remains in force until the determination of the appeal, unless the court that made the order otherwise directs.
[am. B.C. Reg. 133/2012, Sch. s. 26.]
Same judge or master
(8)Whenever practicable and appropriate, the same judge or master is to manage and hear all of the following in a family law case:
(b) judicial case conferences;
Rule 22-2 — Registry Operations
(1)Unless otherwise provided by an enactment, a person may, on payment of the proper fees, obtain from the registry a copy of a document on file in a family law case.
(a) notice of family claim, and
(9)Unless these Supreme Court Family Rules provide otherwise, if a person wishes a registrar to perform some act under these Supreme Court Family Rules,
(a) the person must make the request by requisition in Form F17 unless these Supreme Court Family Rules otherwise provide, and
(10)If an application ought to be made to, or any jurisdiction ought to be exercised by, the judge by whom a family law case has been tried or partly tried, or heard or partly heard, then, if that judge dies or ceases to be a judge of the court during or after the trial or hearing, or if for any other reason it is impossible or inconvenient for that judge to act in the family law case, the Chief Justice or next senior judge of the court may, either by a special order or by a general order, nominate some other judge to whom the application may be made or by whom the jurisdiction may be exercised.
(a) order that the family law case be restored to the proper registry for retrial or rehearing,
(iv) any other basis,
as in his or her opinion the circumstances of the family law case require, and
(13)At any time after a family law case is started, the court may on application order the family law case to be transferred from the registry in which it is being conducted to any other registry of the court for any or all purposes.
Rule 22-3 — Fax Filing
(1)This rule applies only to those family law cases that are filed at the Chilliwack, Cranbrook, Dawson Creek, Kamloops, Kelowna, Nelson, Penticton, Prince George, Rossland, Salmon Arm, Smithers, Terrace, Vernon or Williams Lake registry of the court.
(i) sent under cover of a fax cover sheet in Form F95, and
(i) adoption;
(iii) and (iv) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. B, s. 26 (b).]
(vi) a requisition requesting a judicial case conference;
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. B, s. 26.]
(b) if the document was not transmitted for filing in accordance with subrule(3), or was not approved for filing by the registrar, provide to the person identified as the submitting party on the fax cover sheet
Rule 22-4 — Electronic Filing
[am. B.C. Reg. 27/2013, Sch. 2, s. 15.]
(a) any document pertaining to the reciprocal enforcement of orders under the Court Order Enforcement Act;
(vii) an affidavit, filed under Rule 14-7 (59), that constitutes the evidence in chief of a witness.
[am. B.C. Reg. 121/2014, s. 10.]
(6)An affidavit or other signed document that is being filed for evidentiary purposes, if submitted for filing electronically, must clearly identify the signatory and must be accompanied by a statement, in Form F96, of the lawyer acting for the person on whose behalf the document is submitted for filing or, if that person is unrepresented, by a statement of that person, in Form F96, indicating that
(a) the original paper version of the document appears to bear an original signature of the person identified as the signatory and the person making the Form F96 statement has no reason to believe that the signature placed on the document is not the signature of the identified signatory, and
(b) the version of the document that is being submitted for filing electronically appears to be a true copy of the original paper version of the document and the person making the Form F96 statement has no reason to believe that it is not a true copy of the original paper version.
(7)A person who, under subrule (6), submits a document for filing in a family law case must
(i) the date on which the family law case, including any appeals, is finally disposed of,
(ii) the date on which the appeal period for that family law case has expired if no notice of appeal respecting the family law case has been filed within that period, and
(10)A person who is entitled to inspect a document under subrule (9) may, if that inspection is denied, file a requisition in Form F17 to request that the original paper version of the document be filed, and, promptly after receipt of that requisition, the registrar must make a request under subrule (7) (a) (iii).
Application of Rule 10-4
(11)Rule 10-4 continues to apply to affidavits filed under this rule, but, in the event of a conflict between this rule and Rule 10-4 in respect of those affidavits, this rule prevails.
(12)For the purposes of these Supreme Court Family Rules other than subrule (6) of this rule, a document is deemed to have been originally signed if it has been electronically authenticated in the manner contemplated by the applicable electronic services agreement.
Sealing of notice of family claim
(15)After a registrar provides an electronic acceptance of a notice of family claim under subrule (14), the notice of family claim is deemed to have been sealed by the registrar.
(c) if paragraph (a) or (b) applies and, under these Supreme Court Family Rules, multiple copies of the document are to be served, the serving party need serve only a single electronic copy of the document.
Rule 22-5 — Money in Court
(14)In a family law case in which a sum of money or a security is awarded to a person under a disability, the court may, at or after the trial, order that the whole or any part of the sum or the security be paid,
(15)If a sum of money or a security is paid into court under subrule (14)(b), the sum or the security may be paid out of court as the court may direct.
(17)In support of an application for payment out of money paid in under subrule (16), the applicant must file a declaration in Form F97.
Rule 22-6 — Sittings and Hearings
[en. B.C. Reg. 65/2013, Sch. B, s. 1 (a).]
[en. B.C. Reg. 65/2013, Sch. B, s. 1 (b).]
(a) must be made by requisition in Form F17, and
[am. B.C. Reg. 65/2013, Sch. B, s. 1 (c).]
Rule 22-7 — Masters, Registrars and Special Referees
(1)Without limiting any other powers of a master under these Supreme Court Family Rules, a master hearing an application has the powers of the court set out in Rules 10-3 (2) to (8) and 10-9 (6) to (8).
(2)A master has the powers and jurisdiction of a registrar under these Supreme Court Family Rules.
(v) if the appointment is to settle an order under Rule 15-1, a copy of the reasons for judgment on which the order is based, a transcript of the order made or a copy of the clerk's notes from the hearing;
(vi) if the appointment is to assess costs under Rule 16-1, a copy of the entered order for costs;
[en. B.C. Reg. 65/2013, Sch. B, s. 2.]
(3.2)Rule 10-6 (15), (17) and (18) applies to a hearing record and, for that purpose, a reference in Rule 10-6 (15), (17) or (18) to "application record" is a reference to a hearing record and a reference to an "applicant" and an "application respondent" is a reference to the applicant and respondent to the registrar's hearing respectively and a reference to the "hearing of the application" is a reference to the hearing of the registrar's hearing.
(b) exercise the powers that, under Rule 10-3 (2) and (3) or 22-6 (4), may be exercised by the court,
[am. B.C. Reg. 112/2012, Sch. B, s. 4.]
(e) any other matter that may assist in the just and efficient determination of the issues.
(9)The appeal must be made by filing a notice of appeal in Form F98 within 14 days after the order or decision complained of.
Rule 22-8 — Searches
(1)Unless the court otherwise orders,
(a) no person, other than the following, may search a registry file in respect of a family law case:
(i) a lawyer, whether or not a lawyer of a party;
(ii) a party;
(iii) a person authorized in writing by a party;
(iv) a person authorized in writing by a party's lawyer, and
(b) no person, other than the following, may search a registry file in respect of a proceeding under the Child, Family and Community Service Act:
(i) a party's lawyer;
(iv) a person authorized in writing by a party's lawyer.
Electronic court docket information available
(2)Despite any other power the registrar may have to compile and retain information, the registrar may compile and retain an index, in electronic format or otherwise, that contains the following information respecting proceedings referred to in subrule (1):
(a) the parties as identified in the style of proceeding;
(b) the case file number as set out in the style of proceeding;
(c) the category or type of the proceeding;
(d) the date the proceeding was started.
(3)Unless the court otherwise orders, any person may, in respect of a proceeding referred to in subrule(1), have access to the information retained in the registry under subrule (2) about that proceeding.
(4)Nothing in this rule requires the registrar to provide access to information in any form or format other than the form and format in which that information is available in the registry at the time that the request for access is made.
Search of exhibits
(5)The exhibits produced at the trial or hearing of a proceeding referred to in subrule (1) must be sealed by the registrar in a secure manner and, unless the court otherwise orders, no person other than a party's lawyer, a party or a person authorized by a party or by a party's lawyer may search the exhibits.
Search of agreements
(6)Unless the court otherwise orders, no person other than a party, a party's lawyer, a person authorized in writing by a party or a person authorized in writing by a party's lawyer may search a separation agreement filed under section 122 of the Family Relations Act.
Part 23 — Transition
Rule 23-1 — Transition
These rules apply to transitional family law cases
(2)A transitional family law case is deemed to be a family law case started under these Supreme Court Family Rules.
Pleadings deemed to be a notice of family claim
(3)If the person who started a transitional family law case did so by filing a writ of summons or a writ of summons and statement of claim,
(a) the person is deemed to be the claimant in the family law case, and
(b) the writ of summons is, or the writ of summons and statement of claim collectively are, deemed to be the notice of family claim in the family law case.
Requisition deemed to be a notice of family claim
(4)If the person who started a transitional family law case did so by filing a requisition,
(b) the requisition is deemed to be the notice of family claim in the family law case.
(5)If the person who started a transitional family law case did so by filing a petition,
(a) the person is deemed to be the petitioner in the family law case, and
(b) the petition is deemed to be a petition in the family law case.
Appearance and statement of defence deemed to be a response to family claim
(6)If a person filed, in a transitional family law case referred to in subrule (3) or (4), an appearance, with or without a statement of defence,
(a) the person is deemed to be a respondent in the family law case, and
(b) the appearance is, or the appearance and statement of defence collectively are, deemed to be a response to family claim in the family law case.
(7)If a person filed, in a transitional family law case referred to in subrule (5), an appearance,
(a) the person is deemed to be a petition respondent, within the meaning of Rule 17-1, in the family law case, and
(b) the appearance is deemed to be a response to petition in the family law case.
Counterclaim and third party notice deemed to be counterclaim
(8)If a person filed, in a transitional family law case referred to in subrule (3) or (4), a counterclaim or a third party notice,
(b) the counterclaim or third party notice is deemed to be a counterclaim in the family law case.
(9)If, in response to a counterclaim or a third party notice, a person filed in a transitional family law case referred to in subrule (3) or (4) an appearance, with or without a statement of defence to counterclaim or a statement of defence to third party notice,
(a) the person is deemed to be a respondent in the transitional family law case, and
(b) the appearance is, the appearance and statement of defence to counterclaim collectively are, or the appearance and statement of defence to third party notice collectively are, deemed to be a response to counterclaim in the transitional family law case.
(10)Unless the court otherwise orders, if, before July 1, 2010, a person filed a writ of summons, with or without a statement of claim, and that document has not, or those documents have not, been served on a person named as a respondent in the transitional family law case started by that filing, Rule 4-2 applies to the filed document or documents.
(11)Subject to subrule (14) of this rule, a party to a family law case referred to in this rule may, by demand in Form F99, demand that a document that is deemed under this rule to be a notice of family claim, response to family claim, counterclaim, response to counterclaim, petition or response to petition be amended by the party who filed it to make it accord with these Supreme Court Family Rules.
(12)If a demand is served under subrule (11), the party on whom the demand is served must, within 21 days after service, amend the deemed notice of family claim, response to family claim, counterclaim, response to counterclaim, petition or response to petition to make it accord with these Supreme Court Family Rules and that amendment does not constitute an amendment for the purposes of Rule 8-1 (1) (a).
(13)If a demand is served under subrule (11) of this rule and the party on whom the demand is served does not make the amendments required under subrule (12) within the period referred to in that subrule, the demanding party may apply to the court for an order to strike the deemed notice of family claim, response to family claim, counterclaim, response to counterclaim, petition or response to petition of the party on whom the demand is served.
No demand if final relief has been given
(14)A demand must not be served under subrule (11) if final orders have been made in respect of all of the claims in the family law case.
(15)For the purposes of Rule 6-1 of these Supreme Court Family Rules, until a new address for service is provided for a party to a family law case referred to in this rule, the party is deemed to have, as an address for service in the family law case, that party's address for delivery under the former Supreme Court Rules.
(16)If a step in a family law case is taken before July 1, 2010, the former Supreme Court Rules apply to any right or obligation arising out of or relating to that step if and to the extent that that right or obligation is to have effect before September 1, 2010.
(17)If the trial of a transitional family law case is scheduled to begin before October 1, 2010,
(a) a trial management conference may be held in the transitional family law case at any time, or
(b) if a trial management conference was not required to be held in relation to the transitional family law case under the former Supreme Court Rules, the trial may proceed without a trial management conference.
(18)If there is any dispute in relation to the procedure to be applied to or followed in a family law case referred to in this rule, any party may seek directions.
Rule 23-2 — Family Law Act Transitional Provisions
(1)In these Supreme Court Family Rules, as they relate to a family law case started before March 18, 2013,
(a) a reference to relief referred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) of the definition of "family law case" in Rule 1-1 includes reference to relief referred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) or (g) of the definition of "family law case" in Rule 1-1 as it read before March 18, 2013,
(b) a reference to a claim under the Family Law Act includes reference to a claim under the Family Relations Act,
(c) a reference to a claim or relief under Part 5 of the Family Law Act includes reference to a claim or relief under Part 5 of the Family Relations Act, and
(d) a reference to a claim or relief under Part 6 of the Family Law Act includes reference to a claim or relief under Part 6 of the Family Relations Act.
[en. B.C. Reg. 133/2012, Sch. s. 27.]
Documents filed before March 18, 2013
(2)If a document filed before March 18, 2013 contains one or more claims for relief under the Family Relations Act, the court may, subject to sections 252 and 253 of the Family Law Act, treat the document, as it relates to those claims, as one seeking relief under the Family Law Act and make one or more orders accordingly.
Reports prepared before March 18, 2013
(3)Rule 13-1 as it read before March 18, 2013 applies to any report under section 15 of the Family Relations Act that was completed before March 18, 2013.
References to non-final orders in documents filed before March 18, 2013
(4)A reference in a filed pleading or other filed document to a non-final order is deemed to be a reference to an interim order.
(5)If there is any dispute in relation to the procedure to be applied to or followed in a family law case started before March 18, 2013, any party may seek directions.
(6)If a proceeding started before November 24, 2011 includes a claim for parental support, the provisions of these Supreme Court Family Rules that apply to spousal support claims apply to the claim for parental support.