BC Family Law Case Studies — The Casebook

How precedent works

Canadian courts follow earlier decisions of higher courts. When the Supreme Court of Canada or the BC Court of Appeal decides how a rule applies, every BC judge deciding a similar case afterwards applies that reasoning — which is why a handful of named cases decide thousands of everyday separations. Knowing the case that governs your issue tells you how a court is likely to approach it. It never replaces advice about your own facts: a free consultation is where the two meet.