I’m involved in a Supreme Court case and can’t afford the court fees. What can I do?

Last reviewed May 2025 by the Clicklaw editors

If you can’t afford to pay the fees in BC Supreme Court, you can apply for an order to waive fees. This order allows you to file court documents and go to hearings without paying court-filing fees. Note that it doesn’t cover all costs, like lawyers’ fees and the costs of ordering court transcripts. 

How to apply for an order to waive fees

Civil court

If you’re involved in a civil matter in the Supreme Court of BC, you can file an application for “No Fee” status. Rule 20-5 of the Supreme Court Civil Rules explains who can apply and what forms to use. The CanLII Manual to British Columbia Civil Litigation provides more details about Rule 20-5. The Supreme Court BC website has a section called “Forms, Filing and Fees” that briefly explains what to do, with links to the forms. links to the forms.

Family court

If you’re involved in a family matter in the Supreme Court of BC, you can apply for an order to waive fees. Rule 20-5 of the Supreme Court Family Rules explains who can apply and what forms to use. “Get an order to waive fees” is a step-by-step guide on the Family Law in BC website. 

Helpful resources

  • Applications to Waive Fees (PDF) (Supreme Court of British Columbia): This package compiles what the rules say about waiving fees for civil and family matters and shows what the forms look like. It includes a link to individual fillable forms.

Helpful services