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Only top-level descriptions Divorce--British Columbia
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Fernie Supreme Court civil cause books

  • GR-2148
  • Series
  • 1905-1977

Series consists of cause books from the Fernie Supreme Court for civil cases between 1905-1977. Cause books provide the framework for Supreme Court civil action cases and may include the names of parties and their solicitors; the dates when proceedings occurred, including the issuing of orders; and fees charged. They are often the only source of information for divorces that were not finalized since no final order would have been granted and case files are destroyed.

The records are arranged chronologically by the date a case was initiated. Case file numbers were then assigned sequentially and include the last two digits of the year (e.g., 1/24 for the first case initiated in 1924). The records were scheduled for retention under Court Services ORCS (schedule 100152) 53200-20.

British Columbia. Supreme Court (Fernie)

Vancouver Supreme Court civil orders

  • GR-2011
  • Series
  • 1944-1976; 1980-2006

The series consists of Vancouver Supreme Court civil orders between 1944-1976 and 1980-2005. Orders dating from April 1944 until December 1945 were microfilmed and the originals destroyed. Between ca. 1980 until 1994, civil orders were separated into different series by the court registry: statutes (“A”), motor vehicle (“B”), general civil (“C”), and foreclosures (“H”). Beginning July 1994, civil orders and judgements were once again combined into a single series of numbered volumes prefixed by the letter “S”.

The records are arranged within volumes by folio number. They were scheduled for full retention under Court Services ORCS (schedule 100152) 51400-25.

British Columbia. Supreme Court (Vancouver)

Delta Supreme Court divorce orders

  • GR-4261
  • Series
  • 1974-1977, 1980

Series consists of Delta Supreme Court divorce decrees absolute, decrees nisi, and orders created between 1974 and 1977 as well as one judgement from 1980. Between 1968 and 1985, a decree nisi required a three-month waiting period before a decree absolute could be applied for. During this time, a divorce was not legally in effect without a decree absolute. Also included in the series is a list of divorce petitions for August 1974-February 1975.

All orders are arranged by volume and folio numbers, as assigned by the Court Registry, and folders each include a nominal file list. The divorce petitions list is arranged by case file number and entries include a last name, an additional unknown numbering sequence, and details per case such as date discontinued or transfer to another registry. The records were scheduled for full retention under Court Services ORCS (schedule 100152) 51440-25.

British Columbia. Supreme Court (Delta)

Cranbrook Supreme and County Court civil orders

  • GR-3704
  • Series
  • 1955-1999

Series consists of civil orders from both the Supreme and County Courts of Cranbrook for 1955-1999. Civil orders represent the formal expression of the ruling of the court. Records relate to a variety of civil matters including divorces, bankruptcies, foreclosures, and some adoptions.

Records from the Supreme and County levels were interfiled together and are arranged by volume and folio number. Records of varying types have been interfiled, except when probate orders were separated into their own files between 1973-1974.

British Columbia. Supreme Court (Cranbrook)

Creston Supreme Court civil orders and reasons for judgement

  • GR-3637
  • Series
  • 1953-2001

Series consists of civil orders and judgements from the Supreme Court of Creston for 1953-2001, including divorces.

Orders and judgements are interfiled. Although most divorces are interfiled, the series also includes one file of divorce orders that were either removed from their original volumes or were maintained separately.

British Columbia. Supreme Court (Creston)

Kelowna Supreme Court civil cause books

  • GR-3858
  • Series
  • 1923-1977

This series consists of civil cause books from the Kelowna Supreme Court, from 1951-1977. Only indexes are available for the years 1923-1946. The books includes cases related to adoption, divorce, estate administration, probates and other civil matters. Some files are noted as Penticton files.

British Columbia. Supreme Court (Kelowna)

Kelowna Supreme Court civil orders and judgements

  • GR-4252
  • Series
  • 1923-1986

Series consists of original civil orders and judgements created between 1923 and 1986 by the Kelowna Supreme Court. Orders are the formal expression of the ruling of the court and judgements are the final orders issued in a case. Records relate to a variety of civil matters including divorce, estates, bankruptcy, foreclosure, and some adoptions. In later years, divorce, adoption, and probate orders may also be located within their own series.

Orders and judgements are interfiled. From 1923-1961, records were arranged by entered date and assigned a sequential folio number by the court registry (nos. 1-1305). From 1962-1973, the assigned folio numbering sequence was re-set each year, starting with 1/1962. Beginning in 1974, all orders and judgements for a case are filed together by case file number. This means that records of varying dates are interfiled. Box 6, folder 12 includes orders for cases initiated but not finalized before 1974. The records were scheduled for full retention under Court Services ORCS (schedule 100152) 51400-25.

British Columbia. Supreme Court (Kelowna)

Prince George Supreme Court divorce case files

  • GR-2237
  • Series
  • 1919-1949

The series consists of divorce case files. Files from 1919-1923 are from the Fort George registry and from 1925-1949 are from Prince George registry.

British Columbia. Supreme Court (Prince George)

Divorce court orders

  • GR-3255
  • Series
  • 1901-1983

The series consists of copies of British Columbia divorce court orders submitted to the Division of Vital Statistics and its predecessor, the Vital Statistics Branch. It includes copies of divorce orders for Victoria from 1901 to 1983 and for British Columbia from 1935 to 1983.

In 1935 an amendment to the Vital Statistics Act required that the Vital Statistics Branch be sent a certified copy of each court order relating to the dissolution of marriage. From 1 April 1935 until 1986, when the requirement for the Division of Vital Statistics to maintain a central divorce register was repealed, divorce orders were sent to Victoria. Copies of final decrees dating back to 1901 were also submitted by the Victoria court registry.

The Victoria orders from 1901 to 1935 are arranged roughly by year. Volume number 999 was assigned to this group of records in 1946 (see GR-3254 description). For British Columbia divorce orders starting in 1935, a sequential volume numbering system was introduced, continuing until 1976. Each year consists of several volumes which are organized alphabetically within groups of months. File numbering to 1946 was sequential but thereafter usually started at 1 at the beginning of each year. From 1977 to 1983, there were no volume numbers assigned.

The volumes and file numbers are internal Vital Statistics numbers and are not the same as the volume and folio numbers assigned by the respective court registries. These orders are intended for reference purposes only. If a certified copy is required, a copy should be made from the original filed document which may be available from the British Columbia Archives or may still be in the custody of the issuing court registry.

British Columbia. Division of Vital Statistics

Penticton County Court and Supreme Court orders and judgements

  • GR-2332
  • Series
  • 1914-1938

Series consists of original civil orders and judgements created between 1914 and 1938 by the Penticton County Court and Supreme Court. Orders are the formal expression of the ruling of the court and judgements are the final orders issued in a case. Records relate to a variety of civil matters including divorces.

British Columbia. County Court (Penticton)

Penticton Supreme court orders and judgements

  • GR-2705
  • Series
  • 1922-1941

Series consists of original civil orders and judgements created between 1922 and 1941 by the Penticton Supreme Court. Orders are the formal expression of the ruling of the court and judgements are the final orders issued in a case. Records relate to a variety of civil matters including divorces.

British Columbia. Supreme Court (Penticton)

Cranbrook Supreme Court divorce orders

  • GR-4245
  • Series
  • 1969-1979, predominately 1972-1978

Series consists of original decrees nisi, decrees absolute, divorce orders, and judgements created between 1972 and 1979 by the Cranbrook Supreme Court. Also includes 1969-1975 monthly lists of returned certified copies of decrees from the Cranbrook Court Registry and acknowledgements of the returns by Vital Statistics. Between 1968 and 1985, a judgement by way of decree nisi required a three-month waiting period before a judgement by way of decree absolute could be applied for. During this time, a divorce was not legally in effect without a decree absolute.

Initially, orders, decrees nisi, and decrees absolute are filed together and arranged by case file number, not by volume and folio or by date. This means that records of varying dates are interfiled. Beginning 1 October 1975, records were separated and arranged by volume and folio numbers. As such, cases started but not completed before 30 September 1975 may be found under a case file number, volume and folio numbers, or by both. The records were scheduled for full retention under Court Services ORCS (schedule 100152) 51440-25.

British Columbia. Supreme Court (Cranbrook)

Duncan Supreme Court divorce orders and judgements

  • GR-4244
  • Series
  • 1950-1976

Series consists of original divorce decrees nisi, decrees absolute, orders, and judgements created between 1950 and 1976 by the Duncan Supreme Court registry. Records for 1969-1971 are missing. Between 1968 and 1985, a judgement by way of decree nisi required a three-month waiting period before a judgement by way of decree absolute could be applied for. During this time, a divorce was not legally in effect without a decree absolute. After 1985, divorce orders automatically came into effect 31 days after the divorce was granted, barring an appeal.

Orders, judgements, decrees nisi, and decrees absolute are filed together and arranged by case number, not by volume and folio or by date. This means that records of varying dates are interfiled. From 1950-1978, case file numbers were assigned chronologically and include the year a divorce was initiated. For example, no. 1/53 was the first divorce initiated in 1953, no. 1/54 was the first divorce of 1954, and so on. Later, case file numbers continued sequentially across years from no. 93 in 1971 to no. 430 in 1976. The records were scheduled for full retention under Court Services ORCS (schedule 100152) 51440-25.

British Columbia. Supreme Court (Duncan)

Ashcroft Supreme Court, County Court, and Small Claims Court civil orders/reasons for judgement

  • GR-3531
  • Series
  • 1974-1997

Series consists of civil orders and reasons for judgement from the Supreme Court, County Court, and Small Claims Court in Ashcroft. The series includes divorce records interfiled with other court orders. Records from the various level of court are interfiled. The series includes a small number of records that were originally filed at the Kamloops registry before being transferred to Ashcroft.

British Columbia. Supreme Court (Ashcroft)

Ashcroft Supreme Court divorce orders

  • GR-4250
  • Series
  • 1950-1958, 1971-1997

Series consists of original decrees nisi, decrees absolute, and divorce orders created between 1950-1958 and 1971-1997 by the Ashcroft Supreme Court registry. Between 1968 and 1985, a judgement by way of decree nisi required a three-month waiting period before a judgement by way of decree absolute could be applied for. During this time, a divorce was not legally in effect without a decree absolute. After 1985, divorce orders automatically came into effect 31 days after the divorce was granted, barring an appeal.

Decrees nisi and decrees absolute are filed together and arranged by case number, not by volume and folio or by date. This means that records of varying dates are interfiled. From 1950-1978, case file numbers were assigned chronologically and include the year a divorce was initiated. For example, no. 1/71 was the first divorce initiated in 1971, no. 1/72 was the first divorce of 1972, and so on. Starting in 1979, case file numbers continued sequentially across years from no. 14 in 1979 to no. 82 in 1997. The records were scheduled for full retention under Court Services ORCS (schedule 100152) 51440-25.

British Columbia. Supreme Court (Ashcroft)

New Westminster Supreme Court civil cause books and case record cards

  • GR-1564
  • Series
  • 1881-1977

Series consists of civil cause books and case record cards from the New Westminster Supreme Court from September 1881 to April 1977. There are no cause books for November 1947 to August 1949 or for July to December 1975 and volume 11 (1956) is missing. Cause books and case records cards provide the framework for Supreme Court civil action cases and may include the names of parties, the dates when proceedings occurred, and can be used to determine volume and folio numbers for locating final orders and/or judgements. Cause books were used by the courts until approximately the mid-1970s. They were replaced by case record cards, which were replaced by digital systems in the 1990s. They are often the only source of information for divorces that were not finalized since no final order would have been granted and case files are destroyed.

Records are arranged chronologically by the date a case was initiated. Case file numbers were then assigned sequentially and include the year a case was initiated. Original textual records prior to 1949 were destroyed after microfilming. Retrieve records using microfilm reels The records were scheduled for retention under Court Services ORCS (schedule 100152) 53200-20.

British Columbia. Supreme Court (New Westminster)

Barkerville Supreme Court divorce case files

  • GR-2022
  • Series
  • 1939-1951

The series consists of six Barkerville Supreme Court divorce case files from 1939 to 1951.

British Columbia. Supreme Court (Barkerville)

Penticton Supreme Court civil orders and judgements

  • GR-4266
  • Series
  • 1951-1987, 1988, 1990-1992

Series consists of original civil orders and judgements created by the Penticton Supreme Court registry from March 1951 to December 1987 and April 1990 to June 1992. Orders are the formal expression of the ruling of the court and judgements are the final orders issued in a case. Records relate to a variety of civil matters including divorces, bankruptcies, probates, foreclosures, and some adoptions.

Orders and judgements are interfiled. Records up to December 1987 are arranged by volume and folio number as assigned by the court registry. Initially, folio numbers were assigned to each page of a record. Beginning July 1981, each record was assigned only one folio number. Records from 1990-1992 are arranged chronologically by entered date. The records were scheduled for full retention under Court Services ORCS (schedule 100152) 51400-25.

British Columbia. Supreme Court (Penticton)

New Westminster Supreme Court orders and judgements

  • GR-2018
  • Series
  • 1940-1945, 1948-2004

This series contains New Westminster Supreme Court orders from January 1940 to May 1945 and January 1948 to December 2004 (predominantly up to April 2001). Orders are the formal expression of the ruling of the court and judgements are the final orders issued in a case. Records relate to a variety of civil matters including divorces, bankruptcies, foreclosures, probates, and some adoptions.

Records are arranged by volume and folio number as assigned by the court registry. Beginning in May 1950, orders and judgements were separated and volume numbers 49-108 are duplicated. Beginning in March 1976, orders and judgements are interfiled. Between October 1990 and December 2004, orders, default judgements, certificates, and determinations related to financial cases were separated into their own volumes, 148-204, once again creating duplicated volume numbers. Researchers are encouraged to check volume numbers against dates when searching for specific records. Most, but not all, volumes include indexes or volume file lists. However, beginning in July 1990, volumes include a file list by case number only. The records were scheduled for full retention under Court Services ORCS (schedule 100152) 51400-25.

British Columbia. Supreme Court (New Westminster)

Vancouver Supreme Court civil cause books and case record cards

  • GR-1608
  • Series
  • 1893-1994

This series consists of cause books and case record cards from the Vancouver Supreme Court for civil cases between 1893 and 1994. Cause books and case records cards provide the skeletal framework for Supreme Court civil action proceedings and may include the names of parties, the dates when proceedings occurred, and can be used to determine a volume and folio number for locating final orders. Cause books were used by the courts until approximately the mid-1970s. They were replaced by case record cards, which were used until the courts turned to digital systems in the 1990s. Cause books and case record cards are also often the only source of information for divorce cases that were dropped and never completed, as no final order would have been granted, and case files would have been destroyed.

The records are arranged by case number, which can be found by using the indexes in GR-1704. Some years, the case numbering sequence was re-set. As such, case numbers within this series have been used repeatedly. Make note of the case number and year when the case started when matching records. The original bound volumes for records 1/1893 to 3300/1961 were destroyed after microfilming; retrieve records using microfilm. The records were scheduled for retention under Court Services ORCS (schedule 100152) 53200-20.

British Columbia. Supreme Court (Vancouver)

Vernon Supreme Court cause books

  • GR-2813
  • Series
  • 1900-1914; 1937-1954

This series consists of cause books from the Vernon Supreme Court for civil cases between 1900-1914 and 1937-1954. Cause books provide the skeletal framework for Supreme Court civil action proceedings and may include the names of parties, the dates when proceedings occurred, and can be used to determine a volume and folio number for locating final orders. Subjects include a variety of financial matters, divorces, probates and estate administration, adoption orders, and other civil cases.

British Columbia. Supreme Court (Vernon)

Grand Forks Supreme Court orders

  • GR-1880
  • Series
  • 1900-1947

The series consists of original civil orders created between 1900 and 1947 by the Grand Forks Supreme Court registry. Orders are the formal expression of the ruling of the court. Records relate to a variety of civil matters including divorces, bankruptcies, foreclosures, and some adoptions.

British Columbia. Supreme Court (Grand Forks)

Vernon Supreme Court cause book

  • GR-1851
  • Series
  • 1914-1937

This series consists of one cause book from the Vernon Supreme Court for civil cases between Sep 1914 and May 1937. Cause books provide the skeletal framework for Supreme Court civil action proceedings and may include the names of parties, the dates when proceedings occurred, and can be used to determine a volume and folio number for locating final orders. Subjects include a variety of financial matters, divorces, probates and estate administration, adoption orders, and other civil cases.

British Columbia. Supreme Court (Vernon)

Vernon Supreme Court orders

  • GR-1853
  • Series
  • 1901-1930; 1958-1959

The series consists of orders issued by the Supreme Court in Vernon between 1901-1930 and 1958-1959. Researchers should note that orders for the period 1931 to 1957 are missing. Orders are the formal expression of the ruling of the court and judgements are the final orders issued in a case. Records relate to a variety of civil matters including divorces, bankruptcies, foreclosures, and some adoptions.

Microfilm reel B16147 contains volume 1 (May1901-November 1916) and volume 2 (October 1916-July 1920) of the orders. Container 831041-0001 contains original paper copies of orders as well as several indexes, although it is unclear to which orders these refer. They appear to index more than what was transferred in the box. When the records arrived at the Archives, they had been divided into folders based on year, and are arranged in rough chronological orders. Records relating to the same case can be found across several folders. The paper records also contain a small number of interfiled judgments.

British Columbia. Supreme Court (Vernon)

Vernon Supreme Court civil cause books

  • GR-3787
  • Series
  • 1901-1916; 1954-1958

The series consists of civil cause books from the Vernon Supreme court covering 1901-1916 and 1954-1958. Cause books provide details such as the name of parties involved, the names of their solicitors, nature of the claim and a listing of proceedings in the case. Subjects include a variety of financial matters, divorces, probates and estate administration, adoption orders, and other civil cases.

Volume one does not include an index, and several files are noted to be “from Vancouver registry.” Volumes two and three have indexes. Volume two has two separate indexes: a large index at the front of the volume and a smaller separate index tucked in the front cover of the volume. These two indexes have overlapping information, but some information may be unique to each index.

British Columbia. Supreme Court (Vernon)

Chilliwack Supreme Court civil orders and reasons for judgement

  • GR-3705
  • Series
  • 1916-1946, 1949-1992

The series consists of civil orders created by the Chilliwack Supreme Court between 1916 and 1946 and 1949 to 1992. The series also consists of a subseries of early reasons for judgement, dating to the 1930s and 1940s. In many cases, these were interfiled with the civil orders. Early civil orders contain adoption information, although later orders appear to have been removed. The series includes divorce records, including decrees nisi and absolute. Reasons for judgement provide the rationale behind a court’s decision, and civil orders are a formal expression of the court’s will.

Records in this series are arranged by volume and folio number. Many of the records were originally housed in shannon folders, and have been rehoused for preservation purposes. When the records were received by the Archives, the volumes were out of order. As it would have been too difficult to re-order the files at the time, they have been left in the received physical order but the file list is arranged by volume number. The records in this series were selected for full retention under the Court Services ORCS (Schedule 100152) number 51400-25.

British Columbia. Supreme Court (Chilliwack)

Duncan Supreme Court civil orders

  • GR-3712
  • Series
  • 1950-2002

The series consists of civil orders created in the Supreme Court in Duncan between 1950 and 2002. Orders are a formal expression of the court’s will, and orders in this series cover a variety of issues, including adoption and divorce.

The series is arranged by volume, and then by folio. From volumes 1 to 48, the volume and folio numbers are provided on the records themselves. After volume 48, this information is not always provided. Sometimes the records bear file numbers which appear to be sequential and which restart every year. Sometimes even these numbers are not listed on the records and the only way to identify them is by filing date.
The dates listed in the file list are derived from the date on which the order was filed. Although the filing date for the majority of the records corresponds closely to when the order was issued, this is not always the case, and there are instances in which orders were filed months after being issued.

Originally the majority of the files were arranged in binders based on volume number. If an index existed for the volume, it would be placed in the front of the binder. For space and preservation reasons, the records have been removed from the binders and placed in acid-free folders. Records from binders tend to span two folders, which are linked by volume number. The first of the two binders will house the index for the entire volume, if one was included.

British Columbia. Supreme Court (Duncan)

Grand Forks Supreme Court cause books

  • GR-1635
  • Series
  • 1900-1969

The series consists of four volumes of indexed cause books, created in the Grand Forks registry between 1900 and 1969. A typical cause book entry lists the style of cause, solicitors' names, nature of claim, and the dates of various proceedings in each case. The entry also provides the case file number. For Supreme Court cases, cause books are often used as a starting point for research. The cause books include information on adoption, divorce, chattel mortgages, and other civil proceedings.

The records are arranged by case number and are also chronological.

British Columbia. Supreme Court (Grand Forks)

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