See the tab to the left for the different court web sites

Our services, in addition to mediation and negotiation to resolve disputes, include using the litigation tools of the Provincial Court, Supreme Court and Federal Court to solve your dispute.

The PROVINCIAL COURT has only statutory jurisdiction and cannot deal with some issues like slander or family asset division or estate disputes but this court is often more convenient to most people and its design is to be more user friendly with fill in forms and free mediators called Justice Counselors for family issues.  To save our clients money, for their future variation applications as well as present dispute issues, we often recommend that our clients seriously consider using Small Claims court for money disputes under $25,000.00 and to consider starting in the Provincial Court for all child related legal issues and then conclude their family proceedings in the Supreme Court if a separation agreement cannot be negotiated.   HOWEVER the legal consequences of making the wrong choices remain the same despite how user friendly the forms might be in Provincial Court thus legal advice from an experienced lawyer is critical BEFORE you start any court proceedings or make any agreement.

The British Columbia SUPREME COURT can resolve most disputes except for those within the jurisdiction of the Federal Court.  Business matters including debts over $25,000.00 and complicated contract disputes including corporate issues, and slander or libel, all should be resolved in the Supreme Court.  Family issues like Divorce and Asset Division must be resolved in the Supreme Court but other issues like child access and support can be resolved in both Provincial and Supreme Court under the Family Relations Act.  Estate issues like the validity of a Will and Variations must be resolved in the Supreme Court.

The FEDERAL COURT has different divisions with jurisdiction over Federal legal matters including admiralty issues, tax matters, and military appeals (not already resolved by Summary or Courts Martial).