- In the Supreme Court of British Columbia, financial disclosure is made on Form F8, and the parts you complete depend on what the case is about.
- In the Provincial Court, a financial statement is filed in Form 4 for child support where income information is required, and for spousal support.
- Disclosure documents in the Supreme Court are generally due within 30 days after service of the claim.
If you are in a dispute about support or property, the other side and the court need a clear picture of your finances. That picture is usually a financial statement, backed up by documents such as tax returns.
The form and the deadlines depend on which court your case is in. This article explains the general rules in British Columbia so you know what to gather and when.
This article covers the law of British Columbia.
Which court, which form
The Supreme Court can deal with all matters under the Family Law Act, while the Provincial Court cannot make property division orders, except about a companion animal. Property and debt division between spouses therefore goes to the Supreme Court.
| Court | Financial form | When it is required |
|---|---|---|
| Provincial Court | Form 4 financial statement | Child support where income information is required, and spousal support |
| Supreme Court | Form F8, Part 1 plus income documents | Child support where income information is required |
What goes in the Supreme Court Form F8
Form F8 is divided into parts, and which parts you complete depends on the claim.
- Child support: Part 1 plus the applicable income documents.
- Spousal support sought, changed or ended: Parts 1, 2 and 3 plus income documents.
- Property division under Part 5 of the Family Law Act: Part 3 for each party.
- Special or extraordinary expenses: Part 4.
Documents you must hand over
For Supreme Court income disclosure, the documents include personal tax returns and notices of assessment for the 3 most recent years, plus employment, business, partnership, corporate, trust or property documents as applicable.
If you and the other party agree on the payor's annual income, you can sign a Form F9 agreement and file it with the referenced documents to meet the child support disclosure rule.
Deadlines and updates
In the Supreme Court, financial disclosure documents must be filed and served within 30 days after service of the claim, or 60 days if the party lives outside Canada and the U.S.. A respondent also has 30 days after being served to file a response.
If your Form F8 was served more than 91 days before the trial or hearing, you must serve an updated one at least 28 and not more than 63 days before it.
In the Provincial Court, a respondent must file a reply within 30 days after being served, and a reply to a child or spousal support application also requires a Form 4 financial statement. A party who files no reply is not entitled to notice of any part of the proceedings.
What to do next
- Confirm which court your case is in and which claims are being made.
- Gather your tax returns and notices of assessment, and your employment or business records.
- Note your filing and service deadline from the day you were served.
- Complete the correct form fully and honestly, and keep copies of everything you file.
- Ask a lawyer or a Family Justice Counsellor if you are unsure which parts of the form apply to you.
Frequently asked questions
Is the financial statement the same in both courts?
No. The Provincial Court uses a Form 4 financial statement, and the Supreme Court uses Form F8. The situations that require them are similar but the forms and parts differ.
Do I need to provide tax returns?
For Supreme Court child support income disclosure, you need personal tax returns and notices of assessment for the 3 most recent years, along with other documents that apply to your income.
What if the other side and I agree on income?
In the Supreme Court, you can sign a Form F9 agreement on the payor's annual income and file it with the referenced documents.
What happens if I ignore the deadline?
Missing the reply or response deadline can mean you are not entitled to notice of later steps in the case. If you are late, speak to a lawyer promptly about your options.
Sources
- Family Law Act, ss.192–193 (BC Laws) — bclaws.gov.bc.ca
- Provincial Court Family Rules, rule 28 — bclaws.gov.bc.ca
- Supreme Court Family Rules, Rule 4-3 — bclaws.gov.bc.ca
Links go to official government, court and regulator pages. The law changes — confirm you are reading the current version.
This is a family law question
An uncontested divorce with us is from $2,126.88, tax included. Third-party fees are extra.