BC splits money claims in two: the Civil Resolution Tribunal handles claims up to $5,000 online, and Provincial Court Small Claims handles $5,001 to $35,000. This guide covers which track fits your loan, filing, evidence, and the two-year limitation period.
Recovering an unpaid loan in British Columbia starts with a question no other province asks quite this way: which venue? BC runs a two-tier system — an online tribunal for smaller claims and Provincial Court for larger ones — and the dollar amount decides where you begin. Get that right and the rest is straightforward. Here's how it works.
British Columbia is unusual: it splits small claims across two venues. Loans of $5,000 or less must begin at the online Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT); loans from $5,001 to $35,000 go to Provincial Court Small Claims. Knowing which track you're on is the first decision.
Which track is your loan on?
Run the number first. If the borrower owes you $5,000 or less, your case starts — and usually finishes — at the CRT. If it's between $5,001 and $35,000, you're in Provincial Court. More than $35,000 means BC Supreme Court, unless you choose to give up the surplus and keep the simpler $35,000 process. This two-tier system is specific to BC, so don't assume the process a friend used in another province applies.
The CRT route (loans up to $5,000)
The Civil Resolution Tribunal is an online-first body designed for self-represented people. You begin with its Solution Explorer, file your dispute, and most of the process happens in writing and through facilitated negotiation rather than a courtroom. For a small, well-documented loan, it's fast and inexpensive — and for these amounts, it's mandatory before any court.
The Provincial Court route ($5,001–$35,000)
Larger loans go to Provincial Court Small Claims. You file a Notice of Claim setting out the debt and the facts, serve the defendant, and the case moves through the court's stages. The procedures are simpler than Supreme Court, and you can represent yourself.
Mandatory mediation
BC's small claims process builds in a settlement step. For Provincial Court claims, a settlement conference (and, for some claims, mediation) comes before trial, giving both sides a structured chance to resolve. A clear paper trail showing the money was a loan tends to drive settlement.
Trial and beyond
If no settlement is reached, the matter goes to trial, where you present your evidence and a judge decides. BC also offers simplified trial procedures for less complex cases, keeping costs down.
Enforcing the decision
Winning is step one; collecting is step two. A CRT decision can be filed with the court to become enforceable, and court judgments can be enforced through garnishment or seizure. A payment hearing can require the debtor to reveal income and assets.
Common questions
Where do I sue for an unpaid loan in BC?
It depends on the amount. Loans of $5,000 or less must start at the Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT), an online tribunal. Loans from $5,001 to $35,000 go to the Provincial Court Small Claims Division. Above $35,000, it's BC Supreme Court (or you abandon the excess to stay in Small Claims).
What is the CRT and is it mandatory?
The Civil Resolution Tribunal is BC's online dispute-resolution body. For most claims up to $5,000 it's the required first step — you can't skip straight to court. It's designed to be used without a lawyer, largely in writing, through an online process.
How long do I have to sue in BC?
Generally two years from discovery under BC's Limitation Act. A written acknowledgement of the debt or a partial payment can restart that two-year clock.
Whichever track you're on, evidence decides it
A signed loan agreement is the clearest proof for the CRT or the court. LendRight builds one both people e-sign in minutes. Free to draft.
Create my loan agreement →General information for British Columbia, not legal advice; LendRight is not a law firm. Tribunal and court thresholds and rules change — confirm current limits with the Civil Resolution Tribunal and Provincial Court before filing.
We write plain-language guides on lending between family and friends in Canada, reviewed against current provincial and CRA rules. LendRight is not a law firm — this is general information, not legal advice.