Summary

• Some routine court appearances in B.C. Supreme Court civil and family cases can now be done remotely by videoconferencing 
• The change saves people from interruptions in their daily lives, such as long drives to a courthouse, time off work and the cost of travel

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More people living in B.C. can attend routine civil and family matters in the Supreme Court of British Columbia by videoconferencing, making it easier to participate in court proceedings without long commutes, time off work or added travel costs.

“Justice should be accessible no matter where you live,” said Niki Sharma, Attorney General. “Letting people join routine court matters by video means fewer long drives, fewer days off work and one less reason to scramble for child care. It is a practical step, led by the B.C. Supreme Court, that makes B.C.’s courts work for the realities of people’s lives.”

What is happening

New directions from the Supreme Court of B.C. set attendance via videoconferencing as the default for case planning conferences and judicial management conferences in civil and family proceedings.

• Judicial management conferences are conferences before a Supreme Court judge or associate judge that generally relate to procedural matters in civil and family law cases.
• Case planning conferences are similar conferences used to manage civil and family proceedings by setting timelines for different steps in a proceeding in order to resolve matters efficiently and avoid unnecessary costs.

The Province’s Court Services Branch, which manages courtroom administration, will support the implementation of these changes as part of its ongoing work to enhance the convenience and efficiency of court processes in B.C.’s court services to meet the needs of people in B.C.

What these changes mean for people

People can now participate in these hearings in the comfort of their home or another location where they have peace of mind. For someone living in a rural area with a routine civil or family matter, this may mean joining the hearing from home or their office on a phone or laptop, without a commute to a courthouse in a neighbouring jurisdiction, a full day off work or the need to arrange child care.

“For families and individuals navigating family law matters, getting to court can be costly, intimidating and sometimes even traumatizing,” said Jennifer Blatherwick, parliamentary secretary for gender equity. “The option to attend court by video can reduce fear, as well as avoid unnecessary contact and retraumatization. Expanding virtual access is about reducing barriers and making the justice system more responsive to people's real-life circumstances.”

In addition, judges and associate judges will be able to conduct hearings for proceedings in other locations throughout the province. For example, a judge in a courtroom in Victoria may hear matters underway in northern B.C. This flexibility helps ensure matters are heard in a timely way and supports overall court efficiency.

These changes are part of ongoing efforts to modernize court processes in B.C. and complement initiatives implemented by the Province. Virtual counter service, for example, connects people anywhere in the province with court registry staff by videoconference or phone for free assistance with Provincial Court and Supreme Court processes.

Quick Facts:

• Videoconferencing attendance for certain scheduled conferences in civil and family cases took effect May 4, 2026.
• People participating in these cases receive a Microsoft Teams link before their hearing.
• People can ask to attend in person or by phone if videoconferencing does not suit them, at the court’s discretion.
• Anyone who needs to attend in person or by phone may apply to the court.
• Participants appearing by videoconference must observe the formality and decorum of a court proceeding.

Learn More:

• To learn more about the Supreme Court of B.C. new videoconferencing directions, visit: https://www.bccourts.ca/supreme_court/practice_and_procedure/civil_practice_directions.aspx
• To learn more about the Province’s new Virtual Counter service for free court registry help, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/courthouse-services/virtual-counter