CRT Order Enforcement Timeline — How Long Does It Take in BC?

You won your CRT case and the debtor is not paying. The most common question at this point is: how long is this actually going to take? The answer depends on which enforcement path you need and how cooperative (or evasive) the debtor is. Here is what each stage realistically looks like.

Stage 1: Validated Copy to Court Filing (1–2 Weeks)

The CRT issues a validated copy of the order alongside the written decision. Once you have it, you file it at the BC Provincial Court registry closest to where the debtor lives or does business, or where the events giving rise to the claim occurred. The registry charges $21 and dockets the order as an enforceable court judgment.

If you file in person, this can happen on the same day you receive the validated copy. Filing through Court Services Online (CSO) adds processing time — typically a few business days. The total elapsed time from CRT decision to enforceable court judgment is usually 1 to 2 weeks.

Stage 2: Demand Letter (10–14 Days)

Before launching formal enforcement, send a written demand letter giving the debtor 10 to 14 days to pay. This is not strictly required by statute, but it is recommended by the court and creates a record that you gave the debtor a reasonable opportunity to pay voluntarily before incurring enforcement costs.

Some debtors pay at this stage. A formal demand letter attached to a court judgment carries more weight than the original CRT order alone. If the debtor pays here, the entire process from decision to payment is about 3 to 4 weeks.

Stage 3: Garnishing Order (2–6 Weeks)

If the demand letter does not produce payment and you know where the debtor banks or works, a garnishing order is typically the fastest enforcement tool.

• Drafting and filing: Prepare the affidavit and Form D Garnishing Order, file at the registry. This takes a few days.
• Service on the garnishee: Serve the bank branch or employer with the garnishing order. Personal service is immediate; registered mail can add delivery time.
• Statutory holding period: After the garnishee pays attached funds into court, serve the debtor with the Garnishing Order and Notice of Payment Out. The mandatory 10-day holding period runs from service on the debtor, before you apply for payment out.
• Payment out: After 10 days from service on the debtor, file the Affidavit of Service and a request for payment out. The registry processes the release.

From filing to receiving funds, a garnishing order typically takes 2 to 6 weeks — shorter if you serve personally and the bank complies quickly, longer if there are complications like the debtor contesting the garnishment or the garnishee requesting clarification.

Stage 4: Payment Hearing (4–10 Weeks)

If you do not know the debtor's assets, a payment hearing is the discovery tool.

• Filing Form 12: The registry schedules a hearing date, which may be 3 to 6 weeks out depending on the court's calendar.
• Service: Personally serve the debtor with the sealed summons and a blank Statement of Finances at least 7 full days before the hearing.
• The hearing: Takes 15 to 30 minutes. The judge examines the debtor's finances and issues a payment order.

From filing to the hearing, expect 4 to 10 weeks. After the hearing, if you learn of assets, you then move to garnishment or seizure — adding the timelines above.

Stage 5: Seizure and Sale (6–12+ Weeks)

An Order for Seizure and Sale (Form 11) is the heaviest enforcement tool and the slowest.

• Filing and bailiff engagement: File the order, then engage an Authorized Court Bailiff. You need to provide an upfront deposit ($1,000 to $3,000+).
• Bailiff execution: The bailiff locates and seizes the debtor's personal property. This can take days to weeks depending on asset location and accessibility.
• Sale or auction: Seized goods are sold, and proceeds are applied to the judgment after deducting bailiff fees and costs.

The entire seizure-to-proceeds cycle typically runs 6 to 12 weeks or more, and the outcome depends entirely on whether the seized assets have resale value above the statutory exemptions.

Stage 6: Land Registration (Indefinite Wait)

Registering the judgment against the debtor's real property at the LTSA is fast to file — a few days — but recovery depends on when the property is sold or refinanced. This could be months or years. What it does immediately is create a lien that prevents the debtor from completing a property transaction without addressing your judgment.

Total Timeline: Best Case to Worst Case

The fastest resolutions happen when the debtor has assets you already know about. The slowest happen when the debtor is evasive, judgment-proof, or out of province.

The Structured Approach

Each week of delay is time the debtor has to move assets or change circumstances. The BC Order Enforcement Guide lays out the enforcement sequence in priority order — demand letter first, then the tools that produce the fastest results for your specific situation — with timelines, forms, and checklists for each step.

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