Important: Public Legal Information Only
This article provides general public legal information about filing and enforcing Parenting Coordinator determinations in British Columbia. It is not legal advice and should not be relied upon as instructions for any particular case. Court rules, forms, filing procedures, online services, registry practices and filing fees may change, and individual circumstances may require a different procedure. Before taking any step, confirm the current requirements with the appropriate court registry, review the current court rules and forms, or obtain independent legal advice.
What Is a Parenting Coordinator Determination?
A Parenting Coordinator may make a determination about a matter within the authority conferred by the applicable court order or Parenting Coordination agreement. A determination is binding when it is made, or on any later date specified by the Parenting Coordinator. If the determination is filed with the court, it is enforceable under the Family Law Act as if it were an order of that court.
Filing does not mean that the court decides the issue again. The determination has already been made by the Parenting Coordinator. Filing provides access to the court processes that may be required if a parent does not comply voluntarily.
A determination may address many different implementation issues. It might deal with parenting schedules, exchanges, holidays, education, activities or another matter within the Parenting Coordinator's delegated authority. Some determinations may also require one parent to reimburse the other for a specified share of Parenting Coordination fees.
The basic sequence is:
Determination → Voluntary Compliance → Filing if Enforcement Is Required → Enforcement
The Parenting Coordinator makes the determination. The Parenting Coordinator does not file it on behalf of a parent or use the court's enforcement processes for either parent.
Do You Have to File Every Determination?
No. Filing may be unnecessary where both parents comply voluntarily with the determination.
If enforcement becomes necessary, however, filing is important. Section 18(5) of the Family Law Act provides the statutory distinction: a determination is binding when made, or on a later effective date specified by the Parenting Coordinator, and once filed is enforceable under the Act as if it were an order of the court.
The procedure for filing depends on whether the determination is being filed in the Provincial Court of British Columbia or the Supreme Court of British Columbia.
Which Court Should Be Used?
The correct filing procedure depends primarily on whether the parties’ family proceeding is in:
the Provincial Court of British Columbia; or
the Supreme Court of British Columbia.
The determination should generally be filed in the existing family proceeding connected to the Parenting Coordinator’s appointment.
If there are proceedings in both courts, or if there is uncertainty about which court has jurisdiction, the parties should consider obtaining independent legal advice or contact the relevant registry before filing.
Filing a Determination in Provincial Court
Provincial Court Family Rule 133 allows a party to file a Parenting Coordinator determination using Form 27, Request to File a Determination of Parenting Coordinator. Once filed, the determination is enforceable under the Family Law Act as if it were an order of the Provincial Court.
Step 1: Obtain the Complete Determination
The filing party should have a complete copy of the Parenting Coordinator’s written and signed determination.
A recommendation, email, Report and Account or non-binding parenting guidance cannot be filed as though it were a determination. The document must be a determination made under section 18 of the Family Law Act.
Step 2: Confirm the Source of the Parenting Coordinator’s Appointment
Form 27 asks whether the Parenting Coordinator acted under:
a court order; or
a written Parenting Coordination agreement.
If the Parenting Coordinator was appointed by agreement, that agreement must also be filed with the Provincial Court. An agreement can be filed using Form 26, Request to File an Agreement. The current Provincial Court family forms are available at: https://www.gov.bc.ca/court-forms
Step 3: Complete Form 27
The direct address for the current Form 27 and its instructions is:
The form asks for:
the Provincial Court registry;
the existing court file number, if there is one;
the parties’ names and dates of birth;
the filing party’s address for service;
the date of the determination;
a copy of the determination;
the date of the appointment order or agreement; and
confirmation that the appointment agreement has been filed, where applicable.
Step 4: File Form 27 and the Determination
The Form 27 package can be submitted through the filing methods accepted by the Provincial Court registry. The form instructions identify filing in person, electronically through the Online Forms Service, by mail, by permitted email or by fax. There is no filing fee for Provincial Court family documents. The Family Law Act Online Forms Service is available at:
https://justice.gov.bc.ca/apply-for-family-order/
Keep the registry-stamped copy after the determination has been accepted for filing. The filed determination is now enforceable as if it were an order of the Provincial Court.
Enforcement Through Provincial Court
Once filed, the determination is enforceable under the Family Law Act as if it were an order of the Provincial Court. Provincial Court Family Rule 135 provides a procedure for applying to the Provincial Court for an enforcement order using Form 29, Application About Enforcement. The current Form 29 is available at:
Form 29 is used where a party asks the Provincial Court to make an order concerning enforcement of the filed determination. The application generally must be filed and served on the other party at least seven days before the court appearance unless the court orders otherwise.
A monetary determination may also raise questions about remedies available under the Court Order Enforcement Act. That Act permits an application by a judgment creditor or another person entitled to enforce an order for payment of money, and its definition of “judge” includes a Provincial Court judge for proceedings in that court.
However, the procedural interaction between those remedies and a Provincial Court family file is specialized. A person considering garnishment, execution or another monetary enforcement process should confirm the appropriate procedure with the registry or obtain independent legal advice. Later in this article will be a discussion about collection under the Court Order Enforcement Act.
Filing a Determination in Supreme Court
Supreme Court Family Rule 2-1.1 allows a Parenting Coordinator determination to be filed in an existing Supreme Court family case. A copy of the determination must be attached to Form F17.2, Requisition to File a Determination of a Parenting Coordinator.
Step 1: Locate the Existing Supreme Court Family File
Use the file number and style of proceeding from the existing Supreme Court family case.
If there is no appropriate existing family case, Rule 3-1(4.3) requires an appropriate family case to be started before the determination can be filed. Starting a new proceeding may involve additional forms, filing fees and service requirements, so legal advice is advisable.
Step 2: Confirm That the Appointment Agreement Is Filed
If the Parenting Coordinator acted under a written agreement rather than a court appointment order, Rule 2-1.1(2) provides that the determination cannot be filed until the appointment agreement has been filed under Rule 2-1. Check the court file before assuming the agreement has already been filed.
Step 3: Complete Form F17.2
The official Supreme Court Family Rules forms page is:
Download the current version of:
Form F17.2, Requisition to File a Determination of a Parenting Coordinator
Form F17.2 should identify:
the correct registry;
the court file number;
the complete style of proceeding;
the party filing the determination;
the Parenting Coordinator;
the date of the determination; and
the determination attached for filing.
The complete signed determination should be attached.
Step 4: Pay the Filing Fee
The applicable Supreme Court filing fee should be confirmed in Appendix C, Schedule 1 of the Supreme Court Family Rules or with the registry before submission.
There is a fee associated with filing a requisition. The registry should confirm whether that fee applies once or more than once when several determinations are included in the filing request.
Can Several Interrelated Determinations Be Filed Together?
Sometimes a Parenting Coordinator issues several determinations at the same time because the issues are interconnected and refer to one another.
There are two separate considerations:
whether the determinations can be submitted to the registry in one filing package; and
whether one Form F17.2 and one $40 filing fee are sufficient.
Court Services Online allows one electronic filing package to contain one or many documents, provided they relate to the same court file. Interrelated determinations can therefore be uploaded together in one electronic package for registry review. However, Supreme Court Family Rule 2-1.1 and Form F17.2 refer to filing “a determination.” I have not located an official published direction confirming that one requisition and one filing fee always cover several separate determinations.
Where the determinations were made together and are intended to operate as an interrelated package, the filing party may ask the registry to accept one Form F17.2 that lists each determination by number, title and date.
Wording for the requisition might include:
The filing party requests the filing under Rule 2-1.1 of the following interrelated Parenting Coordinator determinations, all dated >
Determination No. 1: [title];
Determination No. 2: [title]; and
Determination No. 3: [title].
The determinations arise from the same Parenting Coordination process and are submitted together as one interrelated filing packageContact the applicable registry before filing to ask whether it will accept that format and charge one requisition fee. If the registry requires a separate Form F17.2 for each determination, each requisition may attract a separate fee.
Can the Supreme Court Package Be Filed Online?
Most Supreme Court family documents can be filed electronically through Court Services Online unless they are excluded from electronic filing under Supreme Court Family Rule 22-4(5). The available electronic-filing information does not identify Form F17.2 as categorically excluded. Court Services Online is located at: https://justice.gov.bc.ca/cso/index.do
A registered user needs:
an active Court Services Online account;
a payment method registered with that account;
the existing Supreme Court file number;
Form F17.2 in PDF format; and
each determination in a clear PDF format.
Court Services Online charges a $7 electronic filing fee per package, in addition to applicable statutory filing fees. One package can contain multiple documents relating to the same court file.
Online Filing Steps
Complete Form F17.2.
Scan or save the signed determination as a clear PDF.
If there are several interrelated determinations, prepare a PDF of each determination and list all of them on the requisition.
Confirm that the Parenting Coordination appointment agreement is already filed, if required.
Log in to Court Services Online.
Choose the option to file documents in an existing court file.
Enter the Supreme Court file number and registry.
Select the appropriate document type for the requisition.
Upload Form F17.2.
Upload each determination included in the package.
Add a filing note explaining that the determinations are interrelated and submitted together for registry review.
Review the statutory fee generated by the system.
Submit the package.
Retain the electronic filing confirmation.
Monitor the package for acceptance, rejection or a request for correction.
Download and retain the stamped filed documents after acceptance.
Court Services Online requires each PDF to be added to the electronic package. Several documents can be uploaded within the same package, rather than combined into an unidentified single scan.
Collecting Parenting Coordination Fees Awarded in a Determination
A Parenting Coordinator determination is binding when it is made. If the determination requires one parent to reimburse the other for Parenting Coordination fees, the amount does not automatically move from one parent’s bank account to the other parent’s bank account.
The first step is voluntary payment. If payment is not made, the parent entitled to receive the money can file the determination with the appropriate court and then use the available court processes to collect the amount owing.
The basic sequence is:
Determination → Filing → Request for Payment → Collection
The Parenting Coordinator makes the determination. The Parenting Coordinator does not file it for a parent, collect the money, garnish wages, seize property or otherwise enforce payment.Who Collects the Money?
The parent entitled to receive payment is responsible for taking the necessary enforcement steps if voluntary payment is not made.
For example, if a determination provides:
Mom shall reimburse Dad $5,000.00 for Parenting Coordination fees by October 31, 2026.
Dad is the person entitled to receive the payment. The Parenting Coordinator does not become the creditor, even if the original expense arose from an account issued by the Parenting Coordinator.
The determination addresses the allocation of fees between the parents. It does not authorize the Parenting Coordinator to act as a collection agent for either parent.
What Happens When a Parenting Coordinator Makes a Fee Determination?
Section 18(5) of British Columbia’s Family Law Act distinguishes between a determination being binding and being enforceable as a court order.
A Parenting Coordinator determination:
is binding when it is made, or on any later effective date specified in the determination; and
once filed in court, is enforceable under the Family Law Act as if it were an order of that court. Filing does not require the court to decide the fee issue again. The court does not need to convert the Parenting Coordinator’s decision into a second decision before the filed determination becomes enforceable as a court order.
Where the determination states a precise amount payable by one parent to the other, filing gives the recipient access to the enforcement processes available for an order requiring payment of money.
Start by Asking for Voluntary Payment
Court enforcement may take time and create additional expense. The simplest first step is therefore to send the determination to the parent required to pay and politely request payment.
A written request should identify:
the determination and its date;
the paragraph requiring payment;
the exact amount owing;
the date payment was due;
the method by which payment can be made; and
a reasonable deadline for payment.
A short request is usually sufficient:
The Parenting Coordinator’s determination dated [date] requires you to reimburse me $[amount]. Please send payment by e-transfer to [email address] no later than [date]. If payment is not received, I may file the determination and use the available court processes to collect the amount owing.
If payment is made, no filing or collection process is necessary.
How to Collect the Money After Filing in Supreme Court
Once the monetary determination has been filed, deliver the filed copy to the parent required to pay and politely request payment by a reasonable date.
If payment is not received, the parent entitled to the money may select the enforcement process that best fits the information available about the debtor’s income and assets.
The relevant legislation is the Court Order Enforcement Act: https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96078_01
The court does not automatically select or commence an enforcement remedy. The judgment creditor must decide how to proceed.
Option 1: Obtain Information About the Debtor’s Finances
If the creditor does not know where the debtor works, banks or owns property, it may be useful to obtain financial information before attempting collection.
Subpoena to Debtor
Supreme Court Family Rule 15-6 permits the use of a subpoena to debtor. The applicable family form is Form F66.
A subpoena to debtor can require the debtor to attend before a registrar and answer questions under oath about:
income;
expenses;
employment;
bank accounts;
property;
debts;
assets transferred or disposed of; and
ability to pay.
The process may also result in an order requiring payment immediately or by instalments. The subpoena, supporting affidavit and judgment must ordinarily be personally served at least seven days before the hearing, together with the applicable attendance expenses. Form F66 is available through the official Supreme Court family forms page: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/courthouse-services/documents-forms-records/court-forms/sup-family-forms
Examination in Aid of Execution
An examination in aid of execution is another process for questioning the debtor under oath about employment, income, banking, assets and property.
It can help the creditor determine whether garnishment, registration against land or seizure of personal property is likely to produce payment.
Option 2: Garnish Wages or a Bank Account
Garnishment redirects money owed to the debtor by another person or organization. The garnishee is commonly:
the debtor’s employer; or
the debtor’s bank.
Part 1 of the Court Order Enforcement Act allows a judgment creditor or person entitled to enforce an order for payment of money to apply for a garnishing order. The supporting affidavit must identify the order, the amount remaining unpaid and the person believed to owe money to the debtor.
The Supreme Court’s garnishment package is available at: https://www.bccourts.ca/supreme_court/self-represented_litigants/sc_info_packages/garnishment_package.pdf
The package includes examples of:
Form B, Affidavit in Support of a Garnishing Order After Judgment; and
Form D, Garnishing Order After Judgment.
The usual process is:
Confirm the exact unpaid balance.
Identify the employer, bank or other garnishee.
Prepare the supporting affidavit.
Prepare the garnishing order after judgment.
File the documents and pay the applicable fee.
Serve the garnishing order on the garnishee.
Serve the required material on the debtor.
Follow the payment-out procedure after money is paid into court.
The garnishment package currently identifies an $80 filing fee for a garnishing order and a separate fee if an affidavit is sworn at the registry. Those amounts should be confirmed before filing. Garnishment can be technical. Using the wrong bank branch, corporate name or employer may make the order ineffective. Limits and exemptions also apply to wages and certain types of income.
Option 3: Register the Judgment Against Land
If the debtor owns land in British Columbia, the judgment may be registered against title under the Court Order Enforcement Act.
A registered judgment creates a charge against the debtor’s interest in the land. It may prevent a sale or refinancing from proceeding without the registered judgment being addressed. The creditor will generally need to obtain the appropriate certificate of judgment and submit the required materials to the Land Title Office. Legal advice is recommended where:
the property is jointly owned;
there are prior mortgages or judgments;
ownership is uncertain;
the debtor’s name differs between the judgment and title; or
the creditor is considering an application to force a sale.
Registration may secure the judgment without producing immediate payment.
Option 4: Seize and Sell Eligible Personal Property
Part 5 of the Court Order Enforcement Act provides processes for enforcing a judgment against eligible personal property. Depending on the circumstances, a court bailiff may seize and sell non-exempt property and apply the net proceeds to the judgment. The process may involve:
obtaining the necessary writ or execution process;
identifying property belonging to the debtor;
instructing an authorized court bailiff;
paying enforcement expenses in advance;
determining whether property is exempt or subject to secured claims; and
applying the net proceeds to the amount owing.
For a modest fee reimbursement, seizure and sale may cost more than it recovers. The creditor should compare the likely value of the debtor’s eligible property against bailiff, storage, search and sale expenses before choosing this remedy.
Choose a Proportionate Collection Method
A modest judgment does not necessarily justify the most complicated collection process.
The practical sequence may be:
Ask for voluntary payment.
Provide a short but clear deadline.
Consider whether an instalment arrangement would resolve the matter.
File the determination if it has not already been filed.
Use a simple enforcement method if reliable employment or banking information is available.
Obtain financial information if the debtor’s circumstances are unknown.
Avoid spending more on collection than the amount reasonably recoverable.
The right to enforce a determination does not mean every available remedy is economically sensible.
When the Determination Has Been Paid
Once full payment is received, the recipient should provide written acknowledgment.
If a garnishment, judgment registration or other enforcement process was used, the recipient may also need to file an acknowledgment of payment or take steps to discharge the registration.
The current Supreme Court family form is Form F62, Acknowledgment of Payment, available through:
The recipient should not leave an enforcement registration in place after the amount it secures has been fully paid.
What the Parenting Coordinator Can Explain
The Parenting Coordinator may provide neutral procedural information. A Parenting Coordinator determination is binding when made. Once filed with the appropriate court, it is enforceable under the Family Law Act as if it were an order of that court. The Parenting Coordinator does not file or enforce the determination for either parent and does not collect an amount payable by one parent to the other. If voluntary payment is not made, either party may obtain independent legal advice concerning filing and enforcement.
The Parenting Coordinator does not participate in the collection or enforcement process. General public legal information may be provided equally to both parties, but either party requiring advice about their particular circumstances should obtain independent legal advice. Making a determination and enforcing it are different legal functions.
Practical Checklist
Provincial Court
Obtain the complete signed determination.
Confirm whether the Parenting Coordinator acted under an order or agreement.
File the appointment agreement using Form 26 if required.
Complete Form 27.
Attach the determination.
File the package.
Obtain the registry-stamped copy.
Send a written request for payment.
If unpaid, obtain advice about Form 29 or the available monetary enforcement procedure.
Supreme Court
Locate the existing Supreme Court family file.
Confirm that the appointment agreement is filed, if required.
Complete Form F17.2.
Attach the complete determination.
Ask the registry whether one requisition may include several interrelated determinations.
Confirm the filing fee.
File at the registry or through Court Services Online.
Obtain the stamped filed copy.
Request payment by a reasonable date.
If unpaid, choose a proportionate enforcement process under the applicable rules and the Court Order Enforcement Act.
The Essential Point
A Parenting Coordinator decides the allocation of fees within the authority conferred by the governing appointment documents. The Parenting Coordinator does not collect reimbursement from one parent for the other. The determination decides the obligation. Filing gives it the force of a court order. Collection turns the court order into payment.
