To start a proceeding in a Family Justice registry, you file specific forms based on what you’re asking a judge to ultimately decide. Some of the most common things people ask for are guardianship, parenting responsibilities, decision-making authority, parenting time (sometimes called “custody”, though Canadian courts don’t use that word anymore), contact child support and special expenses, and spousal support. There are also conduct orders which can help parties set boundaries to assist them in working towards resolution, and there are protection orders, which follow a different process due to their often-urgent nature.    Applying for Other Orders    If your matter isn’t captured by the definition of a “Family Law Matter”, then you’ll have to file another type of form.    Start by figuring out what kind of order you need. That will determine the form you’ll have to file with the court. Orders other than family law matters include applications for: a case management order, a protection order, an order about a priority parenting matter, an order about relocation, or a consent order. The rules for these orders are the same no matter the registry you’re in.    Case Management Orders  Case management orders are orders about a range of issues to help manage a case. The list is set out at section 62 of the Rules, but a few examples include: transferring a court file to another registry; accessing a court file; correcting or amending a filed document; waiving or changing requirements about serving someone with court documents you filed; applying to attend court by phone or video; adjourning court appearances; or correcting an order made under the Provincial Court Rules.    To apply for a case management order, file an Application for Case Management Order in Form 10, along with any supporting evidence or documents you have.    You can also file an Application for Case Management Order Without Notice or Attendance in Form 11 if no appearance before a judge is required. Check the instructions located in each of the forms, linked in this section, or Rule 65 to determine whether an appearance is required, and which form you’ll have to file. If a case management order is made without notice, you’ll have to serve a copy of the order, the application, and any supporting evidence or documents, on the other party.    Protection Orders  If you’re applying for a protection order and an order about a family law matter, you don’t have to follow the usual steps set out in the early resolution model, the family justice model, or the parenting education model.    No matter the court registry you are in, if you have protection or safety concerns, you can apply to the court to go before a judge without notice to the other party, and it’s up to the judge whether to hear your “without notice” application. Your without notice application will have to include your reasons why the application is being made without notice. File a Form 12 to apply for a protection order along with a Form 11 to apply without notice to the other party.    Once you speak to the judge about the protection order you’ve asked for and if the order is made, remember that a protection order expires either on the date the judge orders for it to end, or one year after the date it is made. You can apply for another protection order if you need to.    If you have safety concerns about family violence, you may want to talk to a support worker. VictimLinkBC is a confidential, multilingual telephone service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-563-0808. Victim services workers can provide crisis support, information and referrals to supports including safety planning, victim services, transition houses and counselling services. (This is taken directly from Form 12, but I think it’s important that we include something like this here)    Priority Parenting Matter  Orders about priority parenting matters are decisions where a delay in obtaining a court’s decision would pose a risk to a child. These applications should be filed in rare circumstances, and only in situations listed in the Application About a Priority Parenting Matter form, in Form 15.    In addition to Form 15 – the Application About a Priority Parenting Matter – you’ll also have to file a Form 11 if you’re applying to waive or change the requirement to give seven days’ notice of the application to the other party.    Relocation  If you have a written and signed agreement or a court order about parenting time or contact and you receive written notice from the other parent saying the plan to relocate with the child, then you can apply to the court for an order prohibiting the relocation of the child using Form 16. At least seven days before the court date listed on the application form, you’ll have to serve the Form 16 on the other party, along with a copy of the written agreement or court order about parenting time, and a copy of (or details about) the notice of relocation that you received.    If the other parent plans to relocate with your child and you do not have a written and signed agreement about parenting time or contact, you can apply for an order prohibiting relocation using the Application About a Priority Parenting Matter form, in Form 15, and you’ll have to serve that Form on the other parent at least seven days before the court date listed on the application form.    Consent Orders  If you and the other party in your Family Law Matter have reached an agreement, you can ask the court to make an order, usually without going to court and arguing before a judge. A judge will still have to review the draft consent order that you file and, as long as they don’t have any questions or concerns about the orders you’re asking for, they can make the order. “Family Law Matters” include parenting arrangements, child support, contact with a child, guardianship, and spousal support.    To obtain a consent order about a Family Law Matter, you’ll have to file an Application for a Family Law Matter Consent Order form, in Form 17, as well as a draft of the Consent Order setting out what you have agreed on and the orders you’re asking the court to make, The draft Consent Order is in Form 18, and will have to be signed by all parties or their lawyers.    If a judge reviews your application and draft Consent Order and needs more information, they can ask for more evidence or information, which may mean that you must go to court and speak to a judge. It could also mean that a judge might make changes to the draft Consent Order and, if you and the other party agree to the changes, you can go to the registry at the courthouse and sign the changes.    An application for a Consent Order can also be rejected. If that happens, the judge will provide their reasons for rejection.    In addition to applying for Consent Orders about a Family Law Matter, you can also apply for Consent Orders about case management by filing an Application for Case Management Order in Form 10.    Case management orders include orders about moving the court file to another registry, correcting filed court documents, providing deadlines for parties to exchange documents like financial disclosure, parentage tests, adjourning court appearances, orders about parties’ conduct, adding a party to the case, correcting an order made under the BC Provincial Court Family Rules, and more.    If you specify in your Form 10 that you do not want a court appearance, you must also submit a draft of the Orders your seeking in Form 18.