Getting ready for small claims court
Cases small claims court deals with
Whether you can bring a case to the BC Provincial Court's small claims court depends on the subject of your claim and its dollar value.
Small claims court can deal with cases involving:
Debt
Damages (money to compensate for loss or injury)
Recovery of personal property or opposing claims to personal property
Performance of agreements about personal property or services
Information about claims that small claims court cannot deal with
Getting started
You begin a small claims lawsuit by filing a Notice of Claim<p>The form used to begin a case in small claims court. It explains who the claimant is, who they are suing, what happened, and what they are asking for.</p> form in a BC Provincial Court registry and delivering it to the defendant. In the form, you describe what happened and state the amount you're suing for.
If you receive a Notice of Claim in BC you must file a Reply form in the court registry within 14 days. In it, you may agree to pay the amount claimed, agree to pay part of it, or oppose (disagree with) all or part of the claim.
Court Services Branch does not provide interpreters for small claims cases.
Small claims court fees (Government of BC)
Preparing your case (Small Claims BC)
Next steps
You can make a reasonable offer to settle and file it with the Court. If the other party doesn't accept it, in some cases, the judge may impose a penalty on the party who refused the offer.
If the matter is not settled, the next step in the court process is to attend a settlement conference.
Small claims settlement conference
Related notices, policies and practice directions
SM CL 02 Default Method of Attendance for Court Appearances Under the Small Claims Rules
SM CL 04 Intimate Images Protection Act Procedural Requirements