How the guides are written
Each guide summarizes what the rules of court, the Residential Tenancy Act and the guidance published by the BC courts and the Province say about serving documents. We cite the rule or form where it helps the reader find it. We do not interpret the rules for any particular file, and we do not give advice on strategy, deadlines or the merits of a claim.
Rules, forms and time limits change. Where a guide states a number of days, a form number or a rule number, check it against the current source before relying on it. If a guide and a source disagree, the source is right and we would like to hear about it.
Last reviewed 2026-09-22.
Rules of court and statutes
- Supreme Court Civil Rules, B.C. Reg. 168/2009Part 4 (service), Rule 3-2 (time for service), Rule 3-3 (response), Forms 15 and 16.
- Supreme Court Family Rules, B.C. Reg. 169/2009Part 6 (service), Form F3 Notice of Family Claim, Form F15 Affidavit of Personal Service.
- Small Claims Rules, B.C. Reg. 261/93Rule 2 (serving the Notice of Claim), Rule 3 (Reply), Form 4 Certificate of Service.
- Residential Tenancy Act, S.B.C. 2002, c. 78Sections 88 to 90 (how documents are given or served, and when they are deemed received).
- Residential Tenancy Regulation, B.C. Reg. 477/2003Service by email and other methods set by regulation.
- Divorce Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 3 (2nd Supp.)Federal statute under which a divorce is granted; procedure is governed by the Supreme Court Family Rules.
Court and government guidance
- Supreme Court of BC online help: serving documents (civil)Plain-language guide to personal and ordinary service, who can serve, and proof of service.
- Supreme Court of BC online help: serving documents (family)Personal service of the Notice of Family Claim, the Affidavit of Personal Service, and alternative service.
- Province of BC: Small Claims how-to guide, serving documentsMethods of service, the Certificate of Service, and time limits in Provincial Court.
- Province of BC: Supreme Court civil formsCurrent versions of Form 1 Notice of Civil Claim and Form 15 Affidavit of Personal Service.
- Province of BC: Supreme Court family formsCurrent versions of Form F3 and Form F15.
- Province of BC: Small Claims formsCurrent versions of Form 1 Notice of Claim, Form 2 Reply and Form 4 Certificate of Service.
- Residential Tenancy BranchNotices to End Tenancy, forms, and dispute resolution.
- Residential Tenancy Branch: serving documentsMethods of service, proof of service, and substituted service.
- Residential Tenancy Branch: Policy Guideline 12, Service ProvisionsHow the Branch treats service and deemed receipt under the Act.
- Civil Resolution TribunalSmall claims up to $5,000 and other disputes handled online.
- Provincial Court of BC: court locationsRegistry locations and schedules, including Kelowna, Vernon, Penticton and Salmon Arm.
- Supreme Court of BC: court locations and contactsSupreme Court registries, including Kelowna and Vernon.
- Family Law in BC (Justice Education Society)Public legal information on separation, divorce and serving family documents.
Okanagan Process Servers is a process serving company, not a law firm, and does not give legal advice. For advice about your file, speak with a lawyer. Access Pro Bono and Legal Aid BC can help if you do not have one.