Filling out a form in a Provincial Court family law case should be easier, more efficient and less frustrating after August 12, 2024. The Justices Services Branch of BC’s Ministry of the Attorney General has worked with the Court and other stakeholders to replace the forms required by the Provincial Court Family Rules with new forms that are shorter, clearer and easier to navigate.

The Ministry’s redesign team used a human-centred service design approach. It conducted five surveys to collect 147 responses from the public, support workers, legal information providers, paralegals, advocates, lawyers, judges, and staff of court registries, Justice Access Centres and Family Justice Centres. The surveys and informal feedback revealed that the previous forms presented users with unnecessary challenges including:

• Some were very long and overwhelming
   
• Legal concepts, ideas and jargon made some hard to understand
   
• Formatting and design made some difficult to navigate
   

The new forms address each of these problems. The redesign:

• Eliminates unnecessary content, reduces redundancies and consolidates information
   
• Introduces progress indicators and progressive disclosure
   
• Separates guidebooks from forms
   
• Uses plain language, simpler terms, clear instructions, visual aids, and sidebars containing tips, warnings, explanations and links
   
• Uses headings and a navigation menu for forms with many schedules
   

Forms that tell people when to attend court now include information on how to attend (whether in-person or remotely by telephone or video conference).

The redesign team tested draft forms in four workshops and then incorporated users’ feedback. They hope that people will find it quicker and easier to fill out the new forms and that the forms they complete will be more accurate and complete.

Most family forms can be completed and filed online using the Family Law Act Online Forms Service. This free service includes guided pathways that ask questions and add the answers to the required forms for you. When finished, you can save the form and file it electronically or print it to file in person.

Fillable PDF forms are also available on the Court Services Branch Forms web page. Court registries will also have printed versions of the forms.

More information

Family Law Act Online Forms Service – use guided pathways and file online or in person (Government of BC)

Provincial Court Family Rules Forms – fillable pdf forms (Court Services Branch, Government of BC)

JSB.FPLT@gov.bc.ca - submit feedback and questions on the forms (Government of BC)

Provincial Court Family Rules Forms Redesign 2024 video (Government of BC)