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{{JP Boyd on Family Law How Do I TOC|expanded=other}}
==Introduction==
This information is for people who have already been to court and need to find a copy of a document prepared in that court proceeding, such as a court order or an affidavit.
==Locating court documents==
There is no central registry for court records and documents. To get a copy of a court document you must go to the particular court that dealt with your proceeding, since that's the court registry that <span class="noglossary">will</span> have your file. The BC Government has an [https://bit.ly/3QSrp7y online directory of courthouse locations with contact information].
==Access and privacy==Family law files are sealed from the general public, except for lawyers and the parties to the proceeding. Make sure you bring some photo ID. When visiting a court registry to request court documents, please be aware that you can look at the file without charge, but there is a fee for the registry staff to produce copies of documents in the court file. They usually accept payment in cash or debit card only. Credit cards are not typically accepted.
==Requesting copies and costs==
When visiting a court registry to request court documents, please be aware that you can look at the file without charge, but there is a fee for the registry staff to produce copies of documents in the court file. They usually accept payment in cash or debit card only. Credit cards are not typically accepted.
==Authorization for third-party document retrieval==
If you no longer live near the court that dealt with your proceeding, it may be possible to have someone who lives there pick it up for you. That person <span class="noglossary">will</span> need, at a minimum, a letter from you authorizing them to search your court file. Check with the court registry to find out exactly what they'll need to see before they <span class="noglossary">release</span> your file to someone other than you.
==Understanding document availability==
There are a few other things that are good to know:
*the court <span class="noglossary">will</span> not let you take your file out of the courthouse,
*the court <span class="noglossary">will</span> not let you take a document from your file, but you can get photocopies made (be warned, copying is $1 per page in the Supreme Court),
*files older than seven or so years are usually stored off-site, and there <span class="noglossary">will</span> be a delay of a few days while the file is retrieved.
==More information==
For more information refer to:
* [https://perma.cc/R29F-RYSE Supreme Court records access policy]
* [https://perma.cc/BRE8-P23X Provincial Court records access policy]
{{REVIEWED | reviewer = [[Negin Saberi]], September 15, 2023}}