Court bailiffs

Last updated on August 19, 2024

The execution of court orders issued in a civil proceeding can only be performed by court bailiffs under contract with the Ministry of Attorney General.

What is a court bailiff?

Court bailiffs are legally authorized to enforce court orders from civil proceedings. These civil execution services include executing several types of court orders and extra-judicial processes.

In civil court proceedings, the court may find one party (the creditor) is entitled to a remedy or judgment from another party (the debtor). The judgment often involves the payment of money for debt, damages or other causes. Creditors can either be individuals, business entities, organizations or government. The Court Order Enforcement Act sets out a number of options for creditors to collect the judgment.

When the debtor does not pay the judgment, the creditor may seek a court order (or writ) to have the judgment enforced by a court bailiff. The most common court orders include a writ of possession, writ of seizure and sale, and order of seizure and sale.

To satisfy a court order, court bailiffs can:

Seize and sell debtor’s goods and chattels;
Evict tenants from residential premises, turn over possession of the property to the landlords and seize/sell sufficient the tenants’ goods to satisfy costs;
Sell a specific parcel of land.

The writ may be satisfied by full payment or other arrangements agreed to by the creditor.

In order to fulfill their duties, court bailiffs are very knowledgeable about legal and legislative requirements.

The court bailiff, as an officer of the court, must always be aware that their actions and duties while executing a court order reflect directly on the integrity of all court levels.

While performing executions, the court bailiff must act impartially between the parties. Court bailiffs are to enforce the order as is directed by the court. The court bailiff must not do anything that jeopardizes the creditor’s claim and must always consider the rights of the debtor.

If any of the civil execution services requested by a creditor cannot be performed by a court bailiff due to bias, partiality or conflict of interest (including the appearance of partiality) the court bailiff firm must contact the Province immediately to notify that the services cannot be provided.

Court bailiffs cannot execute any civil or criminal court order which entails the search, apprehension or arrest of individuals.

How do you become a court bailiff?

The Province contracts to court bailiff firms to provide civil execution services in BC. These firms hire individuals who are trained and appointed to become court bailiffs. Only individuals appointed by the Attorney General under section 3(1) of the B.C. Sheriff Act are authorized to perform civil execution services as a court bailiff in BC.

Individuals hired by a contracted court bailiff firm can enter into the Justice Institute of BC’s Court Bailiff Certification Program. After studying the manual, receiving on the job training and passing the exam, the employee must pass a Criminal Record Check. Individuals are then considered for appointment and must meet certification standards set by the Ministry. If the individual is determined to be suitable for appointment, they may be appointed by the Attorney General.

When should I contact a court bailiff?

Contact an authorized court bailiff firm in your area if you are a creditor who has been awarded a monetary judgment by the court or a landlord with an order of possession from the Residential Tenancy Branch.

Court bailiff services are provided within the 12 service areas of the province.

Within those service areas, court bailiff firms will bill travel/mileage fees from a billing location. A non-exhaustive list of billing locations is included below. Please contact the court bailiff firm in your area to ask what other billing locations are available. To help keep costs down, creditors should consider choosing a court bailiff firm with a billing location close to the site where services will be provided.

Service area 1: Victoria

Potential billing locations

BC Supreme Court
850 Burdett Avenue
Victoria, BC V8W 9J2

Service area 2: Mid-Island

Potential billing locations

BC Supreme Court
238 Government Street
Duncan, BC V9L 1A5

BC Supreme Court
35 Front Street
Nanaimo, BC V9R 5J1

BC Supreme Court
238 Government Street
Duncan, BC V9L 1A5

BC Supreme Court
35 Front Street
Nanaimo, BC V9R 5J1

Service area 3: Upper-Island

Potential billing locations

BC Supreme Court
2999 – 4 Avenue
Port Alberni, BC V9Y 8A5

BC Supreme Court
420 Cumberland Road
Courtenay, BC V9N 2C4

BC Supreme Court
500 – 13 Avenue
Campbell River, BC V9W 6P1

BC Supreme Court
2999 – 4 Avenue
Port Alberni, BC V9Y 8A5

BC Supreme Court
420 Cumberland Road
Courtenay, BC V9N 2C4

BC Supreme Court
500 – 13 Avenue
Campbell River, BC V9W 6P1

Service area 4: Vancouver

Potential billing locations

BC Supreme Court
800 Smithe Street
Vancouver, BC V6Z 2E1

Service area 5: New Westminster

Potential billing locations

BC Supreme Court
651 Carnarvon Street
New Westminster, BC V3M 1C9

Service area 6: Surrey

Potential billing locations

BC Supreme Court
32375 Veterans Way
Abbotsford, BC V2T 0B3

BC Supreme Court
46085 Yale Road
Chilliwack, BC V2P 2L8

BC Supreme Court
32375 Veterans Way
Abbotsford, BC V2T 0B3

BC Supreme Court
46085 Yale Road
Chilliwack, BC V2P 2L8

BC Supreme Court
32375 Veterans Way
Abbotsford, BC V2T 0B3

BC Supreme Court
46085 Yale Road
Chilliwack, BC V2P 2L8

Service area 7: Kootenays

Potential billing locations

BC Supreme Court
102 – 11 Avenue South
Cranbrook, BC V1C 2P3

BC Supreme Court
837 Park Drive
Golden, BC V0A 1H0

BC Supreme Court
320 Ward Street
Nelson, BC V1L 1S6

BC Supreme Court
2288 Columbia Avenue
Rossland, BC V0G 1Y0

BC Supreme Court
102 – 11 Avenue South
Cranbrook, BC V1C 2P3

Service area 8: Kamloops/Okanagan

Potential billing locations

BC Supreme Court
455 Columbia Street
Kamloops, BC V2C 6K4

BC Supreme Court
1355 Water Street
Kelowna, BC V1Y 9R3

BC Supreme Court
100 Main Street
Penticton, BC V2A 5A5

BC Supreme Court
3001 – 27 Street
Vernon, BC V1T 4W5

BC Supreme Court
455 Columbia Street
Kamloops, BC V2C 6K4

BC Supreme Court
1355 Water Street
Kelowna, BC V1Y 9R3

Service area 9: Terrace/Skeena

Potential billing locations

BC Supreme Court
100 Market Place
Prince Rupert, BC V2L 5S2

BC Supreme Court
3793 Alfred Avenue
Smithers, BC V0J 2N0

BC Supreme Court
3408 Kalum Street
Terrace, BC V8G 2N6

Service area 10: Prince George

Potential billing locations

BC Supreme Court
250 George Street
Prince George, BC V2L 5S2

Service area 11: Fort St. John/Peace River

Potential billing locations

BC Supreme Court
10600 – 100 Street
Fort St. John, BC V1J 4L6

BC Supreme Court
1201 – 103 Avenue
Dawson Creek, BC V1G 4J2

BC Supreme Court
4640 Sunset Drive
Fort Nelson, BC V0C 1R0

BC Supreme Court
10600 – 100 Street
Fort St. John, BC V1J 4L6

Service area 12: Williams Lake

Potential billing locations

BC Supreme Court
305 – 350 Barlow Avenue
Quesnel, BC V2J 2C1

BC Supreme Court
540 Borland Street
Williams Lake, BC V2G 1R8

How are court bailiffs paid?

Court bailiff firms are paid by the creditors/debtors directly. The Supreme Court Civil Rules and Small Claims Rules outline the fees to be paid to court bailiffs for their services.

Court bailiffs pay for disbursements such as storage, towing, movers and include those costs in their billing to creditors/debtors. Court bailiffs also charge for mileage to/from the billing location.

The court bailiff costs will be clearly indicated and detailed on the bill.

Concerns over billing should be sent to the court bailiff firm directly. If parties are unable to come to a resolution, please report concerns to the program administrator (see “Resolving Issues”).

Who administers the program?

The Ministry of Attorney General contracts with private sector companies to provide civil execution services by court bailiffs across the province. There are currently seven court bailiff firms in BC.

One inspector with the BC Sheriff Service oversees the court bailiff program.

Resolving issues

If you have an issue with a court bailiff firm, first try to resolve it directly with the firm. If you can't reach an agreement, report your concern to:

Inspector Ken Prince
Port Coquitlam Provincial Court
2620 Mary Hill Road
Port Coquitlam, BC V3C 3B2

Email: BCSS.CourtBailiffProgram@gov.bc.ca

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The B.C. Public Service acknowledges the territories of First Nations around B.C. and is grateful to carry out our work on these lands. We acknowledge the rights, interests, priorities, and concerns of all Indigenous Peoples - First Nations, Métis, and Inuit - respecting and acknowledging their distinct cultures, histories, rights, laws, and governments.

More topics

Court bailiffs

What is a court bailiff?

How do you become a court bailiff?

When should I contact a court bailiff?

Service area 1: Victoria

Company information

Potential billing locations

Service area 2: Mid-Island

Company information

Potential billing locations

Service area 3: Upper-Island

Company information

Potential billing locations

Service area 4: Vancouver

Company information

Potential billing locations

Service area 5: New Westminster

Company information

Potential billing locations

Service area 6: Surrey

Company information

Potential billing locations

Service area 7: Kootenays

Company information

Potential billing locations

Service area 8: Kamloops/Okanagan

Company information

Potential billing locations

Service area 9: Terrace/Skeena

Company information

Potential billing locations

Service area 10: Prince George

Company information

Potential billing locations

Service area 11: Fort St. John/Peace River

Company information

Potential billing locations

Service area 12: Williams Lake

Company information

Potential billing locations

How are court bailiffs paid?

Who administers the program?