Effective date: 6 July 2026
Summary:
This practice direction sets out expectations regarding chambers practice and compliance with the
Supreme Court Civil Rules (SCCR) and the Supreme Court Family Rules (SCFR) in chambers proceedings. It emphasizes certain requirements that allow chambers to function efficiently so that the court may hear and resolve as many matters as possible in a timely way.
Content of a notice of application, application response, petition and response to petition
- The SCCR and SCFR establish requirements for the form and content of a notice of application, application response, petition and response to petition.
- Parties and counsel must take particular care to set out a concise factual basis and a proper legal basis for seeking or opposing relief. This information is required to give proper notice to the opposing parties and the court of the nature of the application or petition, or the grounds for opposing it. The legal basis should be brief but informative and must include the rules, legislation, and case law relied on.
- The legal basis in a notice of application must also include a short summary of the legal arguments that the applicant intends to make and application of the law to the facts.
- The court may decline to permit a party to rely on a legal argument which lacks a sufficient basis in the party’s notice of application, application response, petition or response to petition.
- Failure to include a proper factual and legal basis for the relief sought may result in the application or petition being adjourned or dismissed.
- Parties are reminded of SCCR 8-1(15.1)(b) and SCFR 10-6(14.1)(b) that require an applicant to provide the registry with a separate copy of the notice of application clearly indicating the orders sought. Where an application is being re-set, the orders sought must also be clearly identified in accordance with SCCR 8-1(21.1)(a)(iii) and SCFR 10-6 (19.1)(a)(iii).
- Parties are also reminded that pursuant to SCCR 8-1(16), for civil matters two hours or less, no additional written arguments are permitted.
Download the full direction for further information on page limits, affidavits, application and petition records, condensed books, time estimates and costs.
Ronald A. Skolrood
Chief Justice
Supreme Court of British Columbia