B.C.’s new online “virtual counter” court registry service is now fully operational and available for people to use provincewide.
The program, introduced as a pilot project in 2024, allows people to connect with court registry staff via video chat or phone.
“Navigating the justice system can be challenging, especially for people who face barriers accessing in-person services,” Attorney General Niki Sharma said in a Wednesday (Feb. 4) news release. “People need support that adapts to their circumstances and remote access through the new virtual counter transforms the way we help people.”
This service can be used to reach court staff in real-time on secure platforms such as Microsoft Teams or WaitWell, through a single, provincewide queue.
Staff can help explain the next steps in family, civil, small claims and criminal matters, clarify correspondence, court orders, and forms, and assist in accessing online records.