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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 starts
The sequence step by step — the Form F3 notice of family claim, personal service under Rule 6-3, the Form F4 response and its 30 days, the Form F5 counterclaim, and the judicial case conference required by Rule 7-1 (2). Each step tied to its rule.
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 · 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 →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.