Applying for no fee status (formerly indigent or impoverished)

Last revised September 10, 2026

BC Supreme Court

No Fee (formerly indigent or impoverished) status may be granted to self-represented litigants who cannot afford to pay court fees. These litigants may apply for an order to waive fees payable to the government under BC Supreme Court Civil Rule 20-5 or BC Supreme Court Family Rule 20-5.

An Order to Waive Fees only covers the fees set out in the BC Supreme Court Civil Rules, Appendix C, Schedule 1 and the BC Supreme Court Family Rules, Appendix C, Schedule 1. An order to waive fees does not cover the costs of transcripts.

The Order to Waive Fees package can be found on the Courts website on the Information Packages page. Note that the package contains both Family and Civil forms so you will fill and print only the forms for the division of court you have filed in.

BC Court of Appeal

No Fee status may be granted to self-represented litigants by filing a application for order that no fees are payable (Form 22) and affidavits under BC Court of Appeal Rule 85.

The application only covers court filing fees. It does not cover the costs of transcripts and you may still be responsible for the other party's costs if your appeal is not successful.

The steps for the application can be found on the Court of Appeal BC website as well as where to get free, or low cost, legal help if you qualify. 

Case Law

Vilardell v. Dunham, 2013 BCCA 65 - BC Court of Appeal Judge Rules Court Fees Constitutional, Expands Definition of No Fee Status (called indigent status at the time of the decision):

In my opinion, were it not for the power of the courts to give relief from the hearing fees, they would be an unconstitutional impediment to justice.  The power is found in an enlarged interpretation of the indigency provision.

Content reviewed September 10, 2026