It is possible to start a proceeding in the Provincial Court to deal with things like child support, and then start a proceeding in the Supreme Court to get a divorce and deal with things like property. It can be complicated to split your family law issues between two courts. A lot of people find it easier just to deal with everything in one court, but because of the limits of the authority of the Provincial Court, the Supreme Court is the only choice available.

If you need the court to make an order about something, even about something you might agree to, like a divorce, you must start a ''court proceeding''. Court proceedings are also called cases, lawsuits, and actions. There are two types of court proceedings, ''criminal matters'' and ''civil matters''. Criminal matters concern the government's claim that someone has broken a criminal law, like the ''[http://canlii.ca/t/7vf2 Criminal Code]'' or the ''[http://canlii.ca/t/7vtc Controlled Drugs and Substances Act]''. Civil matters concern claims between people, companies and governments. Family law cases are civil matters.