Our office
Civil litigation lawyers in Surrey, BC
We act for Surrey owners, tenants and small businesses in strata, contract, construction, debt and property disputes, from our office on 120 Street.
Surrey’s building boom means many disputes involve new townhouses and homes in Clayton, Grandview Heights and Fleetwood: deficiencies, delayed completions, contractors who left the job and strata corporations that will not repair. The first step is always what the contract or the bylaws actually say.
How we help Surrey clients
- Strata DisputesDisputes between owners, tenants and strata corporations over bylaws, fines, repairs and governance.
- Contract DisputesClaims for breach of contract between individuals, contractors and businesses.
- Debt RecoveryRecovering money you are owed and enforcing judgments, or defending a debt claim.
- Construction DisputesRenovations and builds that go wrong, unpaid trades, deficiencies and builders liens.
- Property DisputesDeals that fall apart, deposits in dispute, and disagreements between co-owners or neighbours.
Courts that hear Surrey matters
- Surrey Provincial Court, 14340 57 Avenue: Provincial Court family matters and small claims for Surrey.
- New Westminster Law Courts, 651 Carnarvon Street: Supreme Court matters for the area, including divorce and family property.
- Civil Resolution Tribunal (online): small claims up to $5,000 and most strata disputes.
Questions from Surrey clients
My contractor walked off the job in Surrey. What can I do?
Start by gathering the contract, the payments made and photos of the work. Depending on the amount, the claim belongs at the Civil Resolution Tribunal, Small Claims Court or BC Supreme Court, and builders lien deadlines may apply. A demand letter often resolves it before a claim is filed.
Should I try to settle?
It is almost always worth exploring. Most civil cases settle before trial. A settlement gives you certainty and control over the result, and a sensible offer made early can also affect who pays legal costs later.
Who pays legal costs if I win?
In BC Supreme Court the successful party is usually awarded costs, but those are set by a tariff and typically cover only part of the actual legal fees. In small claims and at the Civil Resolution Tribunal, the costs you can recover are more limited.
How long does a lawsuit take?
A small claim can be resolved in months. A contested Supreme Court action commonly takes one to three years to reach trial, although most settle well before that.
Civil Litigation in other communities
Book a consultation
Tell us what has happened. We will tell you where you stand.
The first consultation is free, at our Surrey office on 120 Street.