(LPCC)Get a first appearance date

Get a first appearance date

You'll need:

  • documents that prove you have fulfilled the requirements of your registry, as outlined below, or
  • a court order excusing you from these requirements to get a court date.

When you started your family law case, you filed an Application Respecting Existing Orders or Agreements (Form 2). What you need to do to get notice of your first appearance date depends on where you filed your application.

See the table below to find out which rule your registry falls under. If your registry isn't on the list, you don't need to do anything to get a court date.

Rule 21 registries

  • Abbotsford
  • Campbell River
  • Chilliwack
  • Courtenay
  • Kamloops
  • Kelowna
  • Nanaimo
  • New Westminster
  • North Vancouver
  • Penticton
  • Port Coquitlam
  • Prince George
  • Richmond
  • Surrey
  • Vancouver (Robson Square)
  • Vernon
  • Victoria

Rule 5 registries

  • Kelowna
  • Nanaimo
  • Surrey
  • Vancouver (Robson Square)

Registry requirements 

If you don't fulfill your registry's requirements, you'll need a court order excusing you from these requirements to get a court date.

Expand the headings below to find out your registry's requirements for getting a court date.

  1. You must take a Parenting After Separation class.
  2. You must file at the registry:
    • your original Parenting After Separation Certificate of Attendance, or
    • a completed Parenting After Separation Exemption Request (Form 31). Find your registry's form in the list of family court forms.
  3. The Family Court clerk will send out a first appearance date, even if the other person hasn't filed a Reply (Form 3).
If you don't take the Parenting After Separation class, you need a court order excusing you from this requirement to get a court date. If you don't file the certificate or have a court order, you won't get a court date.
  1. You must attend a Parenting After Separation class and meet with a family justice counsellor before you can have a court hearing.
  2. You must file at the registry:
    • a Referral Request (Form 6) (after your meeting with the family justice counsellor), and
    • your original Parenting After Separation Certificate of Attendance, or
    • a completed Parenting After Separation Exemption Request (Form 31). Find your registry's form in the list of family court forms.
  3. The Family Court clerk will send out a first appearance date, even if the other person hasn't filed a Reply (Form 3).
If you don't meet with a family justice counsellor and attend a Parenting After Separation class, you need a court order excusing you from these requirements to get a court date. If you don't file the certificate and confirmation or have a court order, you won't get a court date.

The court clerk will automatically mail you a Notice of Hearing that contains the first appearance date after the other person files their Reply (Form 3). You don't need to do anything further.

Updated on 4 October 2019