British Columbia · Supreme Court

The judicial case conference in BC Supreme Court family cases.

In about 6 minutes, this page sets out what a judicial case conference (JCC) is, why most applications cannot be served until one has been held, how one is requested and booked, the Form F8 deadlines that go with it, who must attend, and what the judge or associate judge may do there.

The key steps and deadlines
  1. Any party may request a JCC at any time (Rule 7-1 (1)), by filing a notice in Form F19 (Rule 7-1 (7)).
  2. Serve the filed Form F19 and the Form F8 on all parties at least 30 days before (Rule 7-1 (8)); file the original Form F8 at least 7 days before (Rule 7-1 (10)).
  3. A party served with the notice serves and files their Form F8 at least 7 days before (Rule 7-1 (11)).
  4. Until a JCC is held, no notice of application or supporting affidavit may be served, subject to listed exceptions (Rule 7-1 (2), (3)).
  5. Relief from that requirement is sought by requisition in Form F18.1 (Rule 7-1 (4), (5)); an attendance exemption by Form F19.1 (Rule 7-1 (13.1)).

Rules current to October 27, 2026 (Supreme Court Family Rules, B.C. Reg. 169/2009, as amended). Last reviewed November 2, 2026.

What this page does not do.

It describes what the Supreme Court Family Rules and the court's published guidance provide. It does not advise what to say, propose or agree to at a judicial case conference, or whether to request one. It is legal information, not legal advice, and it does not create a lawyer–client relationship.

On this page

  1. Why it comes first
  2. Requesting and booking
  3. The Form F8 deadlines
  4. Who attends
  5. What can happen
  6. Common problems, stated neutrally
  7. Questions people actually ask
  8. Where this comes from
Step one

1Why it usually comes before applications.

Supreme Court Family Rules, Rule 7-1 (2)

“Subject to subrules (3) and (4), unless a judicial case conference has been conducted in a family law case, a party to the family law case must not serve on another party a notice of application or an affidavit in support.”

Rule 7-1 (3) lists applications that may be filed and served even though no JCC has been held:

  1. 7-1 (3) (b)An order under s. 91 of the Family Law Act restraining the disposition of property at issue.
  2. 7-1 (3) (b.1)An order under s. 32 or 39 of the Family Homes on Reserves and Matrimonial Interests or Rights Act, or an equivalent First Nation law.
  3. 7-1 (3) (c), (d)An application for a consent order; an application without notice.
  4. 7-1 (3) (e) to (g)An application to change, suspend or terminate a final order; to set aside or replace all or part of an agreement; or to change or set aside a parenting coordinator's determination.
Supreme Court Family Rules, Rule 7-1 (4), (5)

On application, the court may relieve a party from the requirement where it is premature to require a JCC, where compliance is impracticable or unfair, where the application is urgent, where delay or attendance is or might be dangerous to anyone's health or safety, or where the court considers it appropriate. The application is made by filing a requisition in Form F18.1.

Step two

2Requesting and booking a JCC.

  1. Rule 7-1 (1)A party may request a JCC at any time, whether or not one or more have already been held.
  2. Rule 7-1 (7)The request is made by filing a notice of judicial case conference in Form F19.
  3. Rule 7-1 (9)The court may itself direct that a JCC take place and order a party to file and serve the notice.
  4. BookingThe Supreme Court states that its Online Booking System (COBS) is available for booking JCCs, and that conferences can still be booked by phone or in person at the registry.
Step three

3The Form F8 deadlines that go with it.

  1. Rule 7-1 (8)The requesting party serves on all parties, at least 30 days before the date set, the filed Form F19 and a copy of their Form F8 (if one is required under Rule 5-1), with the income documents referred to in section B of Part 1.
  2. Rule 7-1 (10)The requesting party files the original Form F8, with those documents, at least 7 days before.
  3. Rule 7-1 (11)A party served with the notice serves their Form F8 on every other party and files the original at least 7 days before.

The Form F8 in a Supreme Court case →

Step four

4Who attends.

  1. Rule 7-1 (12)A JCC is conducted by a judge or associate judge.
  2. Rule 7-1 (13)Unless the court orders otherwise, each party and the party's lawyer must attend.
  3. Rule 7-1 (13.1)An application to exempt a person from attending is made by requisition in Form F19.1.
  4. Rule 7-1 (14)A party excused from attending must be readily available and immediately accessible for consultation during the JCC, in person or by telephone.
  5. Rule 7-1 (16)If a party fails to appear, the court may proceed in their absence, exercise its Rule 7-1 (15) powers, and order costs.
  6. Rule 7-1 (19)Proceedings are recorded, but no part of the recording may be made available or used without a court order.

The court's Litigants' Guide to Judicial Case Conferences (June 2025) describes a JCC as a private, informal meeting with a judge or associate judge, usually about 90 minutes and scheduled for a specific time, and states that the judge will not make orders on disputed issues; orders are made by consent or on procedural matters.

Step five

5What the judge or associate judge may do.

Rule 7-1 (15) lists what may happen at a JCC. In the rule's own lettering, the court may:

  1. (a) identify the issues in dispute and those not in dispute, and explore ways to resolve the disputed issues without a trial
  2. (b) make orders to which all the parties consent
  3. (c) mediate any of the issues in dispute
  4. (d) with the parties' consent, refer them to a family dispute resolution professional (other than a family justice counsellor)
  5. (e) refer them to a family justice counsellor or a person designated by the Attorney General, where the regional manager advises one is available
  6. (f) direct a party to attend the Parenting After Separation program
  7. (g) order a pleading, petition or response amended within a fixed time
  8. (h) order particulars
  9. (i) make orders about discovery of documents
  10. (j) make orders about examinations for discovery
  11. (j.1) make official-language orders in a Divorce Act proceeding
  12. (k) order that applications be brought within a specified time
  13. (l) reserve a trial date, or a date for the trial of an issue
  14. (m) set a date for a trial management conference under Rule 14-3
  15. (n) make any order available at a trial management conference under Rule 14-3 (9)
  16. (o) without hearing witnesses, give a non-binding opinion on the probable outcome of a hearing or trial
  17. (p) make orders about the timing of events
  18. (q) adjourn the conference
  19. (r) direct a further judicial case conference at a specified date and time
  20. (s) make any procedural order or direction that furthers the object of the rules

Rule 7-1 (17) also allows a judge or associate judge to order that all applications in the case be heard by them.

Watch out for

Common problems, stated neutrally.

  1. Serving an application before a JCC: Rule 7-1 (2) prohibits it unless an exception in Rule 7-1 (3) applies or the court grants relief under Rule 7-1 (4).
  2. Treating the Form F8 deadline as 7 days for everyone: the requesting party serves it with the Form F19 at least 30 days before (Rule 7-1 (8)).
  3. Serving the Form F8 but not filing the original: Rules 7-1 (10) and (11) require filing at least 7 days before.
  4. Assuming a represented party need not attend: Rule 7-1 (13) requires each party and their lawyer to attend unless the court orders otherwise.
  5. Expecting a ruling on disputed issues: the court's guide states the judge will not make orders on disputed issues at a JCC.
FAQ

Questions people actually ask.

What is a judicial case conference in BC Supreme Court?

A judicial case conference is a conference under Rule 7-1 of the Supreme Court Family Rules, conducted by a judge or associate judge. Under Rule 7-1 (15), the court may identify the issues in dispute, explore ways to resolve them without a trial, make consent orders, and make a range of procedural orders. The court's Litigants' Guide describes it as a private, informal meeting.

Do I need a judicial case conference before I can apply for an order?

Rule 7-1 (2) provides that, subject to subrules (3) and (4), unless a judicial case conference has been conducted, a party must not serve a notice of application or a supporting affidavit. Rule 7-1 (3) lists exceptions, including consent orders, applications without notice, s. 91 Family Law Act property restraint orders, and applications to change a final order. Rule 7-1 (4) and (5) allow relief by requisition in Form F18.1.

How do I request a judicial case conference?

Rule 7-1 (7) provides that a party requests one by filing a notice of judicial case conference in Form F19. The Supreme Court states that JCCs can be booked through its Online Booking System (COBS), or by phone or in person at the registry.

When must the Form F8 be served for a JCC?

Rule 7-1 (8) requires the requesting party to serve the filed Form F19 and a copy of their Form F8, with income documents, at least 30 days before the date set. Rule 7-1 (10) requires the original Form F8 to be filed at least 7 days before. Rule 7-1 (11) requires a party who was served to serve and file their Form F8 at least 7 days before.

Who has to attend a judicial case conference?

Rule 7-1 (13) provides that, unless the court orders otherwise, each party and the party's lawyer must attend. An exemption is sought by requisition in Form F19.1 under Rule 7-1 (13.1).

Is a judicial case conference confidential?

Rule 7-1 (19) provides that proceedings at a judicial case conference must be recorded, but no part of the recording may be made available to or used by any person without a court order. The court's practice direction FPD-12 and its Litigants' Guide describe the proceedings as confidential.

Official sources

Where this comes from.

  1. Supreme Court Family Rules, B.C. Reg. 169/2009, consolidated (table of contents) — https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/169_2009_00
  2. Supreme Court Family Rules, Parts 1 to 9: Rules 5-1, 7-1 — https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/169_2009_01
  3. Supreme Court Family Rules, Appendix A: Form F18.1, Form F19, Form F19.1, Form F8 — https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/169_2009_04
  4. Supreme Court of BC, Family Practice Direction FPD-12, Judicial Case Conferences — https://www.bccourts.ca/supreme_court/practice_and_procedure/practice_directions/family/FPD-12_Judicial_Case_Conferences.pdf
  5. Supreme Court of BC, Litigants' Guide to Judicial Case Conferences (June 2025) — https://www.bccourts.ca/supreme_court/practice_and_procedure/practice_directions/family/FPD%20-%2012%20-%20Judicial%20Case%20Conferences%20-%20Litigants'%20Guide%20to%20Judicial%20Case%20Conferences.pdf
  6. Supreme Court of BC, Online Booking System (COBS) — https://www.bccourts.ca/supreme_court/scheduling/online_booking.aspx
  7. Province of British Columbia, Supreme Court Family Rules forms — https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/courthouse-services/documents-forms-records/court-forms/sup-family-forms

This page provides general legal and procedural information for British Columbia. It describes what the Supreme Court Family Rules provide. It does not advise what to say, propose or agree to at a judicial case conference. It is not legal advice. Rules and forms are amended; always confirm the current requirements against the Supreme Court Family Rules before acting. Rule text on this page was checked against B.C. Reg. 169/2009 as consolidated on BC Laws, current to October 27, 2026 (last amended October 1, 2026 by B.C. Reg. 105/2026). Last reviewed November 2, 2026.

Next step

Keep going.

Next: Interim applications (Rule 10-6)

Once a JCC has been held, the usual application procedure opens up, and since October 1, 2026 it runs serve-first, file-later.

Read: Interim applications (Rule 10-6) →

← Financial statement (Form F8) · Interim applications (Rule 10-6) →

The Supreme Court family process, in order

  1. How a BC Supreme Court family case works
  2. Notice of family claim (Form F3)
  3. Response to family claim (Form F4)
  4. Counterclaim (Form F5) and response (Form F6)
  5. Financial statement (Form F8)
  6. Judicial case conference (Form F19) (this page)
  7. Interim applications (Rule 10-6)
  8. Documents and examinations for discovery
  9. Settlement conference (Rule 7-2)
  10. Case planning conference (Part 7.1)
  11. Setting a family trial (Part 14)