What’s the difference between small claims court and the Supreme Court of BC?

Last reviewed May 2024 by the Clicklaw editors

Small claims court and the Supreme Court of BC both handle general civil law matters. There are several differences between these two courts.

Small claims court

Small claims court is for most disputes about debts or damages from $5,001 to $35,000. The process is generally simpler and faster than the Supreme Court of BC and is designed for people to use without a lawyer. 
 
If your claim is for $5,000 or less, you can use the Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT), where you resolve your case online.

To learn more about small claims court, good starting points include:

  • Small Claims BC (Justice Education Society): This page includes information, videos and personalized free legal help through online chat and phone support.
  • What Is Small Claims Court? (Government of BC): This page gives a basic explanation of the small claims court process.
  • Starting a Lawsuit (People’s Law School): This is an overview of lawsuits in BC and the types of cases that can be heard in small claims court.
  • LSLAP Manual: Small Claims and the CRT (PDF) (Law Students’ Legal Advice Program): This chapter describes what is involved in commencing or defending a small claims action, exploring settlement options, getting to trial, and enforcing a judgment. It includes guides to filling out court forms.

Supreme Court of British Columbia

The Supreme Court of BC is for disputes over $35,000, with some exceptions. The court process for the Supreme Court of BC is more complicated than small claims court and often takes longer.

The Supreme Court of BC hears appeals from the Provincial Court of BC, including small claims court. It also handles judicial reviews of some administrative tribunal decisions.

Some legal issues can only be heard in the Supreme Court. For example, divorce is only handled by the Supreme Court. 

To learn more about the Supreme Court of BC, a good starting point is the Supreme Court BC website (by the Justice Education Society), which provides an overview of the court as well as links to self-help materials.

Helpful resource

  • Courts of BC (Justice Education Society): This gives an overview of all the courts of BC.

Helpful services

Choosing a court for your case can be complicated, and it’s a good idea to get legal advice:

  • Lawyer Referral Service (Access Pro Bono): The service offers a free, brief initial consultation with a lawyer to determine your legal needs. If you would like further help from your lawyer, you can retain them at a rate you both agree to.
  • Find more services.