Tag: criminal court

Helping Clients with Going to BC Provincial Court? This One’s for You

New on Clicklaw

Do you refer clients to resources about small claims, family court, or criminal court? Clicklaw has updated the handouts that could help you share these key resources. Check out the Provincial Court Resources for Everyone.

Where to get them & what’s new

Follow the links below, click “Download PDF handout”, then print & distribute the handouts:

  • Family Court: bit.ly/clicklawpcf (the new Family Law in BC website added)
  • Small Claims: bit.ly/clicklawpcs (the new Guide to Small Claims Court from BC Provincial Court added)
  • Criminal Court: bit.ly/clicklawpcc (details for criminal law resources from LSS and JES updated)

The handouts give a brief overview of the resources and direct readers to the short URL (bit.ly) given at the bottom of the page. The links resolve to Clicklaw’s Common Questions pages for more details.

Please share with your clients to help them better understand the court process.

New Small Claims Court Guide

Logo of BC Provincial Court

The handouts also include some great resources from the BC Provincial Court, including the new Small Claims Court Guide. Using a fictional sample problem, it explains the Small Claims Court process and includes claimants’ guide, defendants’ guide, and sample documents for both. Read more about it from BC Provincial Court’s eNews.

Background

In 2015, we worked with the BC Provincial Court and the Clicklaw Steering Committee to create three special Common Questions pages and handouts. The intention was to guide Self-Represented Litigants to resources specific to Family Court, Criminal Court and Small Claims Court. We have updated the handouts throughout the years, with help from our contributors.

Acknowledgement

Thank you to everyone who made this happen. This July 2019 version is based on recent feedback from our contributors at the BC Provincial Court, Justice Education Society, Legal Services Society, and People’s Law School.

Send us feedback

Have you used any of them with your clients? Have any comments you’d like to share? We’d love to hear from you. Email us.

Stay informed:

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Big Changes to Small Claims

Get help using Clicklaw, The broader context

Small Claims under $5001

Last week, the Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT)–Canada’s first online tribunal–began accepting small claims disputes $5000 and under.

Small claims disputes that the CRT can resolve include a wide variety of issues between individuals and organizations. You can start with the Solution Explorer, the first step in the CRT process, to find information and self-help tools for your issue. You can also apply for dispute resolution right from the Solution Explorer.

If you go through to obtain a CRT order, it may be enforced by filing it in the BC Provincial Court. When you do so, it has the same force and effect as a judgment of the BC Provincial Court.

What about Small Claims over $5000?

The BC Provincial Court now handles Small Claims cases between $5001 and $35,000. The Court has put together a helpful page that goes over the changes, including:

  • types of disputes;
  • what the CRT can and cannot hear;
  • when a claim under $5001 can still be heard by the Provincial Court;
  • when the CRT might refuse a claim;
  • what to do when you are not happy with a CRT decision;
  • special procedures in Vancouver and Richmond; and
  • alternatives to court.

What resources & help are there for Small Claims?

With the help of Judge Ann Rounthwaite (retired), Digital Communications Coordinator for the BC Provincial Court, we have updated Where do I start for information on Small Claims Court?

This page provides a curated collection of helpful basics for all things Small Claims.

It includes a printable PDF handout with:

  • A summary of the resources; and
  • A short bit.ly link so anyone can quickly access the full list of links.

Other Provincial Court resources

The following Common Questions have also been updated:

Access all “Where do I start…?” questions and handouts at: bit.ly/clicklawbcpc

Stay informed:

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