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ARTICLE · 14 OCTOBER 2026

New Chambers Application Framework In British Columbia: The Shift To A “Serve First” Model

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Effective October 1, 2026, the Supreme Court of British Columbia will implement a fundamental procedural change requiring parties to exchange application materials before filing with the court or setting hearing dates. This reversal of the traditional "file and serve" sequence shifts much of the procedural activity to the pre-filing stage, fundamentally altering how chambers applications are initiated and managed.

CanadaLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
Melanie Harmer
Melanie Harmer
Respina Rostamifar
Respina Rostamifar
August Meyer (Articling Student)
August Meyer (Articling Student)
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Effective October 1, 2026, chambers applications in the Supreme Court of British Columbia will follow a different procedural sequence. At their core, the amendments reorder the steps parties must take when bringing an application: materials will now be exchanged between the parties before a hearing date is set and before any application materials are filed with the court. The amendments, approved by the Lieutenant Governor in Council on June 26, 2026,1 affect the Supreme Court Civil Rules (the “Civil Rules”),2 the Supreme Court Family Rules,3 and the Tax Appeals Regulation.4

Key Amendments for Civil Procedure

The centrepiece of the reforms is a reversal of the longstanding “file and serve” sequence. Under the previous procedure, applicants filed their materials with the court registry and then served filed copies on responding parties. The amended Civil Rules invert that process: applicants must first serve their materials on the other parties, allow time for a response, and only

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