What Is the BC Protection Order Registry and How Does It Work?
This answer covers the law of British Columbia.
The Protection Order Registry is a confidential database of all family law and criminal protection orders in British Columbia. It holds Family Law Act orders as well as criminal orders such as peace bonds. Police can call a central number at any time of day or night to confirm an order's current details, and then act to enforce it right away.
You do not have to ask for your order to be registered, because court staff usually enter orders in the registry the same day a judge signs them. Orders in the registry must include a no-contact, limited-contact or other protective condition. Anyone named as a protected party on a civil or criminal order can also register for victim notification.
A police officer with reasonable and probable grounds to believe a term of a Part 9 order has been contravened may act to enforce it, whether or not there is proof the order was served. Who beyond police can see an order depends on access rules that are worth confirming with the registry or a lawyer. If you are named in an order, the registry holds it alongside other Family Law Act and criminal orders, and you can register for victim notification.
Key takeaways
- The registry is a confidential database of family law and criminal protection orders in British Columbia.
- Court staff usually enter an order the same day a judge signs it, so you do not have to request registration.
- Police can call a central number at any time of day or night to confirm an order's current details and then act to enforce it right away.
- Anyone named as a protected party on a civil or criminal order can register for victim notification.