British Columbia · Supreme Court

Setting a family trial in BC Supreme Court.

In about 5 minutes, this page sets out the Part 14 steps between getting a trial date and the first day of trial in a BC Supreme Court family case: the notice of trial, the trial brief and its two sets of deadlines, the trial management conference, the trial record and the trial certificate.

The key steps and deadlines
  1. File a notice of trial in Form F44 showing the trial date reserved at the JCC or obtained from the registry (Rule 14-2 (1), (2)); an objection means applying within 21 days after service (Rule 14-2 (6)).
  2. Trial brief in Form F45: claimant at least 56 days, others at least 49 days before trial; but if a trial management conference is scheduled, claimant at least 28 days and others at least 21 days before the TMC (Rule 14-2.1).
  3. A trial management conference is required where any party is or may be without a lawyer, unless the court orders otherwise, and is held at least 28 days before trial (Rule 14-3 (1), (1.1)).
  4. The trial record (cover page Form F32.2) is filed 14 to 28 days before trial (Rule 14-4).
  5. Each party files a trial certificate in Form F46 at least 14 days but not more than 28 days before the scheduled trial date (Rule 14-5 (2)).

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 Part 14 of the Supreme Court Family Rules provides. It does not advise how to prepare a case for trial, which witnesses to call, what evidence to lead, or how long a trial should be. It is legal information, not legal advice, and it does not create a lawyer–client relationship.

On this page

  1. Notice of trial
  2. Trial brief
  3. Trial management conference
  4. Trial record and certificate
  5. Common problems, stated neutrally
  6. Questions people actually ask
  7. Where this comes from
Step one

1The notice of trial (Form F44).

Supreme Court Family Rules, Rule 14-2 (1)

“To set a family law case for trial, a party must file a notice of trial in Form F44.”

  1. Rule 14-2 (2)The notice includes the date reserved for the trial at a judicial case conference or, if none was reserved there, the trial date obtained from the registry.
  2. Rule 14-2 (5)The claimant, or a party the court orders, serves the filed notice promptly.
  3. Rule 14-2 (6)A party who objects to the trial date applies to have the trial rescheduled within 21 days after service of the notice of trial.
  4. BookingThe Supreme Court states that in Vancouver, New Westminster and Victoria litigants are strongly encouraged to book trial dates through its Online Booking System (COBS), using a booking window in the first seven days of each month and a ranked list of the top five preferred dates. Elsewhere, trials can be booked online, by phone or in person.
Step two

2The trial brief (Form F45): two sets of deadlines.

  1. Rule 14-2.1 (1)Unless the court orders otherwise, the claimant files and serves a trial brief in Form F45 at least 56 days before the scheduled trial date.
  2. Rule 14-2.1 (2)Each other party files and serves theirs at least 49 days before.
Supreme Court Family Rules, Rule 14-2.1 (2.1)

“Despite subrules (1) and (2) and unless the court otherwise orders, if a trial management conference is scheduled to take place, (a) the claimant must, at least 28 days before the date set for the trial management conference, (i) file a trial brief in Form F45, and (ii) serve a copy of the filed trial brief on each of the other parties, and (b) each party, other than the claimant, must, at least 21 days before the date set for the trial management conference, (i) file a trial brief in Form F45, and (ii) serve a copy of the filed trial brief on each of the other parties.”

Added by B.C. Reg. 152/2025. Because a trial management conference is required where any party is not represented (Rule 14-3 (1) (b) (ii)), this TMC-based deadline is the one that applies in many cases with a self-represented party.

Rule 14-2.1 (3) allows the claimant to file an amended trial brief at least 42 days before trial.

Step three

3The trial management conference.

Supreme Court Family Rules, Rule 14-3 (1)

“A trial management conference must take place if (a) required by order of the court, or (b) unless the court otherwise orders, (i) more than 15 days have been reserved for the trial, (ii) any party is not represented by a lawyer, or may not be represented by a lawyer at the trial, (iii) a party requests a trial management conference by filing a requisition not less than 42 days before the scheduled trial date, or (iv) in the case of a Divorce Act proceeding, a party intends to file documents, give evidence or make submissions in the French language or both official languages.”

  1. Rule 14-3 (1.1)It takes place at least 28 days before the scheduled trial date, at a time and place fixed by a registrar.
  2. Rule 14-3 (2)It is conducted by a judge or associate judge.
  3. Rule 14-3 (4), (6)Unless the court orders otherwise, each lawyer and the parties attend in person. Only a party represented by a lawyer may be absent, and only if they (or a person with full authority to settle) are readily available by telephone or video.
  4. Rule 14-3 (7)An application about manner of attendance or an exemption is made by requisition in Form F19.1, which may be made without notice unless the court orders otherwise.
  5. Rule 14-3 (11)A trial management conference does not hear applications on affidavit evidence or make a final judgment except by consent.
Step four

4The trial record and the trial certificate.

  1. Rule 14-4 (1)The party who filed the notice of trial files a trial record: a cover page in Form F32.2, the notice of family claim and each response to family claim, counterclaim and response to counterclaim, any particulars and the demand for them, each party's most current Form F8, the most current Form F102 statement of information for corollary relief proceedings where that form applies, any orders about the conduct of the trial, each party's trial brief and any amended witness list under Rule 14-2.1 (6), and any document a registrar requires.
  2. Rule 14-4 (3)It is filed at least 14 days but not more than 28 days before the scheduled trial date, and served promptly after filing.
  3. Rule 14-4 (5)In a divorce or nullity case, a trial record cannot be filed unless a party has filed a certificate of pleadings in Form F36, signed by the registrar.
  4. Rule 14-5 (1), (2)Each party files a trial certificate in Form F46 at least 14 days but not more than 28 days before the scheduled trial date.
  5. Rule 14-5 (3)The certificate states that the party is ready to proceed, has completed all intended examinations for discovery, gives a current estimate of trial length, and states whether a trial management conference was held or was not required.
  6. Rule 14-5 (5)If no party files a trial certificate, the trial is removed from the trial list.
Different court, different steps.

In the Provincial Court, trial readiness is governed by the Provincial Court Family Rules. Setting a family trial in the Provincial Court →

Watch out for

Common problems, stated neutrally.

  1. Using the 56/49-day trial brief deadlines when a TMC is scheduled: Rule 14-2.1 (2.1) sets 28 and 21 days before the TMC instead.
  2. Missing the 21-day objection window: Rule 14-2 (6) runs from service of the notice of trial.
  3. Filing the trial record or certificate outside the window: Rules 14-4 (3) and 14-5 (2) both set 14 to 28 days before trial.
  4. Forgetting the Form F36 in a divorce: Rule 14-4 (5) blocks the trial record without it.
  5. Expecting to attend a TMC by phone without a lawyer: under Rule 14-3 (4) and (6), only a represented party may be absent, unless the court orders otherwise.
  6. Assuming someone else files the trial certificate: Rule 14-5 (1) requires each party to file one.
FAQ

Questions people actually ask.

How is a family trial set in BC Supreme Court?

Under Rule 14-2 (1) of the Supreme Court Family Rules, a party files a notice of trial in Form F44. Under Rule 14-2 (2), it includes the trial date reserved at a judicial case conference or, if none was reserved, the date obtained from the registry.

When is the trial brief due?

Rule 14-2.1 (1) and (2) require the claimant to file and serve a Form F45 trial brief at least 56 days before trial, and each other party at least 49 days before. Rule 14-2.1 (2.1) provides that, despite those subrules, if a trial management conference is scheduled, the claimant files and serves at least 28 days, and each other party at least 21 days, before the date set for the trial management conference.

Is a trial management conference required if I do not have a lawyer?

Rule 14-3 (1) (b) (ii) provides that, unless the court orders otherwise, a trial management conference must take place if any party is not represented by a lawyer or may not be represented at trial. Under Rule 14-3 (1.1) it takes place at least 28 days before trial.

When are the trial record and trial certificate filed?

Rule 14-4 (3) requires the party who filed the notice of trial to file the trial record at least 14 days but not more than 28 days before the scheduled trial date. Rule 14-5 (2) requires each party to file a trial certificate in Form F46 within the same window.

What happens if no trial certificate is filed?

Rule 14-5 (5) provides that if no party files a trial certificate, the trial is removed from the trial list.

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 10 to 14: Part 14 (Rules 14-2, 14-2.1, 14-3, 14-4, 14-5) — https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/169_2009_02
  3. Supreme Court Family Rules, Appendix A: Forms F19.1, F32.2, F36, F44, F45, F46, F102 — https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/169_2009_04
  4. Supreme Court of BC, Online Booking System (COBS) and trial booking window — https://www.bccourts.ca/supreme_court/scheduling/online_booking.aspx
  5. BC Supreme Court Rules Committee: amendment history (including B.C. Reg. 152/2025 trial brief changes) — https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/about-bcs-justice-system/sc-rules-committee
  6. 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 on trial preparation, witnesses or evidence. 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.

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Back to the whole sequence

This is the last step in the section. The start page has every step on one diagram, with links to each page.

See the whole Supreme Court sequence →

← Case planning conference (Part 7.1)

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)
  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) (this page)