Starting a family case means the other person has to be formally served with the documents that begin it. This page covers what to send us, what it costs and what happens next.
Who serves the documents
The person starting the case should not be the one who hands over the documents. A third party can swear an affidavit about what happened, so you stay out of the witness box on the question of service and avoid a confrontation. Provincial Court and Supreme Court family cases have their own forms and rules. The document that starts a case in Provincial Court is the Application About a Family Law Matter. In Supreme Court it is the Notice of Family Claim, covered in Serving divorce papers in BC. Your registry or lawyer will confirm which applies and how the document has to be served.
What to send us
- The filed documents, exactly as the registry gave them back to you.
- The person's full name and the address where they can be found.
- A description or photo, their work hours and the vehicle they drive, if you know them.
- Anything we should know in advance: a protection order, a history of conflict, or a workplace where discretion matters.
Use the request form and choose Individual. We confirm the price by email before we start.
What it costs
| Where | One attempt | Three attempts |
|---|---|---|
| Kelowna | $110 | $170 |
| West Kelowna | $130 | $200 |
| Vernon | $135 | $215 |
| Penticton | $175 | $525 |
Canadian dollars, before GST. Same-day attempt adds $75. A sworn PDF affidavit is included.
The first attempt is the price for your town. Additional attempts are made only if needed, on different days and at different times, until the person is served or you tell us to stop. Attempts include evenings and weekends.
What happens after the service
Every attempt is logged with the time, address and outcome, and we email updates on request. Once the person is served, we draft the affidavit of service from the log and swear it. You get the PDF by email the day it is sworn, ready to file. The original is filed at the registry for your matter or mailed to you.
If they avoid service
When a person cannot be found or keeps avoiding the server, the attempt log becomes an affidavit of attempted service. That affidavit is the evidence the court needs before it allows another way to serve. Start with When the defendant is avoiding service, and for Provincial Court family cases see Alternative service in Provincial Court family cases.
Discretion
We serve at the time and place that is least disruptive, and we handle the documents confidentially.
Questions
Can I serve my ex myself in BC?
In most family cases the person starting the case should not serve the documents themselves. Having a third party do it keeps you out of the witness box and avoids a confrontation. Your registry or lawyer confirms the rule for your court.
How much does it cost to serve my ex in Kelowna?
The first attempt is $110 plus GST in Kelowna, with additional attempts at $30 each only if needed. The sworn PDF affidavit is included. Other towns are priced on the pricing page.
Okanagan Process Servers is a process serving company, not a law firm, and does not give legal or procedural advice. This guide restates publicly available information from the sources on the references page. Rules, forms and time limits change; confirm the current requirement with the registry, the Residential Tenancy Branch or your lawyer.