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Plain-language, source-cited guides for people representing themselves in family court. The forms and the rules are provincial, so the guides are grouped by province — British Columbia and Ontario are covered separately, because they are not the same. Start with the overview, or go straight to your province.
Financial statements — British Columbia
What is a financial statement?
Plain-language overview of financial disclosure in BC family law — Form 4 vs Form F8, what a financial statement asks for, and the supporting documents.
Read → Start hereForm 4 or Form F8 — which one do you need?
The form follows the court, not the subject. Side-by-side comparison of the two BC financial statements — the rules behind each, which parts you complete, the two different document lists, and when each is due.
Read → Supreme CourtBC Form F8 — plain-language guide
What Form F8 is, when Rule 5-1 requires it, its parts, the documents to gather, and how to prepare — for cases in the BC Supreme Court.
Read → Provincial CourtBC Form 4 — plain-language guide
What Form 4 is, when the Provincial Court Family Rules require it, its parts, the documents to gather, and how to prepare — for cases in the BC Provincial Court.
Read → Both courtsSupporting documents for a BC financial statement
What documents a financial statement calls for — the Supreme Court Rule 5-1(1) list for Form F8, the child support guidelines list for Provincial Court Form 4, and where the two differ.
Read →Financial statements — Ontario
Ontario's financial statements are made under the Family Law Rules, and which one you file depends on the claims in the case. Guides only for now — the guided tools on this site are for British Columbia.
Ontario financial statements — where to start
The two forms side by side, which one Rule 13 points to, what both ask for, the schedules and Form 13A, and when a financial statement has to be updated.
Read → Support claimsOntario Form 13 — plain-language guide
The support-claims financial statement: its five parts, the schedules, the supporting documents, and when Rule 13 calls for it — for a support claim with no property claim.
Read → Property and supportOntario Form 13.1 — plain-language guide
The financial statement where property is in issue: the three valuation dates, Parts 4 to 9, the matrimonial-home carve-out, and how the form reaches net family property.
Read →Family court process — British Columbia
The sequence a family case follows in each BC court — and where the financial statement fits in.
How a Provincial Court family case starts
The whole sequence step by step — which registry you are in, the early resolution steps required before filing, the Form 3 application, personal service, the Form 6 reply, and the family management conference. Each step tied to its rule.
Read → Provincial CourtWhat happens at a family management conference
The first appearance in most Provincial Court family cases — who attends, what the judge can consider and order at a Part 4 conference, why it is not a trial, and what happens next. Cited to the rules.
Read → Provincial CourtWhat happens at a family settlement conference
The settlement-focused conference under Part 8 — conducted by a judge, what orders Rule 108 allows, whether it is confidential, how to prepare, and what follows if the case does not settle.
Read → Provincial CourtSetting a family trial: issues, witnesses and what to prepare
What being directed toward trial under Rule 56 actually means, how to break a dispute into the decisions a judge must make, which witnesses have first-hand knowledge, how trial time is estimated, and where Form 22 and a trial preparation conference fit in.
Read → Supreme CourtHow a Supreme Court family case works
The whole sequence step by step, with a diagram — the Form F3 notice of family claim, service, the Form F4 response, the Form F8 and judicial case conference, interim applications, discovery, conferences and trial. Each step tied to its rule.
Read → Supreme CourtFiling a notice of family claim (Form F3)
How most Supreme Court family cases start under Rule 4-1, the marriage certificate under Rule 4-5, personal service under Rule 6-3, and the 12-month life of the claim under Rule 4-2.
Read → Supreme CourtResponding to a notice of family claim (Form F4)
The 30 days in Rule 4-3 (1) to file and serve a response to family claim, what Rule 4-3 (2) says happens if none is filed, and where a counterclaim fits.
Read → Supreme CourtCounterclaim (Form F5) and response to counterclaim (Form F6)
Rule 4-4: the 30-day filing period, ordinary service on parties and 60-day personal service on new parties, and the Form F6 response within 30 days.
Read → Supreme CourtThe Form F8 financial statement in a Supreme Court case
When Rule 5-1 requires a Form F8, the 30-day (or 60-day) deadline in Rule 5-1 (11), the 30-day and 7-day steps around a judicial case conference, and keeping it current.
Read → Supreme CourtJudicial case conference (Form F19)
Rule 7-1: who may request one, the JCC-first rule before applications and its exceptions, Form F18.1 relief, Form F19.1 attendance, and what the court may do under Rule 7-1 (15).
Read → Supreme CourtInterim applications under Rule 10-6
The serve-then-file procedure in force October 1, 2026: an unfiled Form F31, the Form F32 response in 5 business days, then the Form F31.1 notice of hearing.
Read → Supreme CourtDocuments and examinations for discovery
Part 9: the Form F20 list of documents within 35 days, the 5-hour oral examination under Rule 9-2 on a Form F21 appointment, interrogatories and notices to admit.
Read → Supreme CourtSettlement conference in the Supreme Court (Rule 7-2)
Held only on a joint Form F17 requisition or a judge's or associate judge's direction. Private, no witnesses, and a different judge at trial unless all parties consent.
Read → Supreme CourtCase planning conference (Part 7.1)
Requested after a judicial case conference on Form F19.2, with Form F19.3 case plan proposals, ending in a Form F19.4 case plan order. With a JCC, settlement conference and TMC comparison.
Read → Supreme CourtSetting a Supreme Court family trial (Part 14)
The Form F44 notice of trial, the Form F45 trial brief, the trial management conference under Rule 14-3, the trial record and the Form F46 trial certificate.
Read → Canada · Any courtWhat can and can't go in an affidavit
An affidavit is evidence, not argument. The one rule that decides what belongs in one, the phrases that get struck and what to write instead, hearsay, and exhibits — the principles, for any Canadian court.
Read → British ColumbiaAffidavits in BC family court
An affidavit is evidence, not argument. What Rule 10-4 and Rule 171 let you put in one, the phrases that get struck and what to write instead, hearsay, exhibits, and the 25-page Provincial Court limit.
Read → Provincial Court · MapFind a BC Provincial Court registry
Every Provincial Court location on one searchable map — staffed registries, circuit courts and the registry to contact for each, the early resolution registries, and Rule 7 on which registry to use.
Find a registry → Supreme Court · MapFind a BC Supreme Court registry
Every Supreme Court registry on one map, with addresses and registry phones, the fax filing registries under Rule 22-3, Fort Nelson filing, Revelstoke scheduling and the Vancouver Law Courts.
Find a registry → Provincial Court · ProcessApplication About a Family Law Matter (Form 3)
The form that starts most Provincial Court family cases — what it covers, the early resolution steps, when Form 4 must be filed with it, and service. Quoted from the rules.
Read → Provincial Court · ProcessReply to an Application (Form 6)
Responding within 30 days — agreeing, disagreeing, counter applications, and when Form 4 travels with the reply. Quoted from the rules.
Read → Provincial Court · ProcessReply to a Counter Application (Form 8)
What to file when the other party's Form 6 included a counter application, the 30 days under Rule 34, and why this is not Supreme Court Form F8.
Read → Provincial Court · ProcessApplication About a Priority Parenting Matter (Form 15)
The defined list of time-sensitive parenting matters on Form 15, how it differs from Form 3, and the notice that goes with it.
Read → British Columbia · Free toolStandby or testamentary guardian (Form 2)
Who you can appoint, how the two witnesses work, how it fits with your will, and a free Form 2 you fill in and print.
Read and fill in →More guides are on the way. The guided tools are live for British Columbia — start building your BC financial statement — and Ontario is guides only for now.