Evidence is material that supports your side of the claim, or disproves someone else’s side. You should only give evidence that is relevant. Keep it focused on the facts of the dispute.

The CRT Rules say that you must give all relevant evidence, even if it might hurt your case.

It’s an offence under the Civil Resolution Tribunal Act to give the CRT false or misleading information such as evidence created or altered by an artificial intelligence tool (AI). See Can I use AI tools in evidence and arguments? to learn more.

Learn about what kind of evidence you could submit.

For some claims, you may also want to consider getting expert evidence. This is a neutral opinion from an expert, based on their experience and qualifications.

What happens if I don’t submit evidence?

Evidence supports your side of the claim. If you don’t submit evidence, you might not get the decision you want or feel you deserve.

Does evidence have to be in English?

All information and evidence given to the CRT must be in English or translated to English. Generally, evidence submitted without an English translation will not be considered.

When do I submit evidence?

The CRT will tell you when to submit your evidence. There’s a deadline to submit it once you’re notified.

If you’re a participant in a CRT claim, you may want to start gathering your evidence early, so you’re ready when it’s time to upload it.

How should I organize my evidence?

• Put all your files in one folder or place on your computer or mobile device.
• Keep each piece of evidence in a separate file. Don’t put all the evidence in one pdf file.
• Give each file a short, meaningful name of no more than 20 characters including spaces such as “Plumbing Inv May”. Files with longer names won’t upload.

The name of the file helps the CRT and the participants understand what the evidence is. In your arguments, refer to the evidence by the file name to tell the tribunal member what evidence you are talking about.

How do I submit evidence?

You may find it easier to upload evidence from a laptop or computer. If you are using a mobile device, make sure you know where the files are stored on your device.

Follow the steps below for each piece of evidence you want to submit. For best results submit only one piece of evidence at a time.

Why can’t I upload all my evidence at once? Uploading more than one file at a time may cause a technical issue. If any file is rejected, none of the files will upload.

Once the CRT notifies you it’s time to submit evidence:

1. Log in to your CRT Account.
2. After you’re logged in, click the Dispute Number. This will take you to the Summary page for your dispute.
3. Click the “Decision Information” tab.
4. Select “Evidence” from the drop-down list.
5. If another participant submitted evidence, review the evidence already uploaded. Click and select download to save each file to your device and open the files to view them.
6. Don’t add the same evidence again.
7. To add your evidence, scroll to the bottom of the page and click the “+Add files” button.
8. Click the “Select Files” button and choose one file on your device.
9. In the box for “What does the evidence show?” describe the evidence (max 100 characters, including spaces) such as “Contract for the repair work”.
10. (Optional) Select the type of file (such as photo) and enter the date it was created (such as the date the photo was taken).
11. Don’t click “Select Additional Files”.
12. Check the “Please Confirm” boxes.
13. Click “Save”.
14. The evidence you added is now at the top of the list of evidence.
15. Repeat these steps to upload another file.

Can someone be ordered to give evidence?

You can ask a person or organization who isn’t a participant in your claim to give you evidence or records that you think are relevant or important. If they refuse or ignore your written request, after 2 weeks you can try sending them a Summons. Talk to your CRT case manager about the process and how to complete an official Summons form. If they still refuse to give the evidence, a tribunal member may be able to order them to provide it. You might have to pay them a fee for the records. Or we might ask you to obtain the records a different way. See the CRT Rules for details.

Can the CRT help me get evidence?

If you’re not sure what evidence you should submit for your claim, you may want to get legal advice. The CRT can’t give legal advice, tell you what kind of evidence would help your case, or help you get evidence.

Can I alter something in my evidence?

You can’t give the CRT false or fake evidence such as evidence created or altered by an AI tool. See Can I use AI tools in evidence and arguments?

The CRT Rules don’t prevent you from changing your evidence. For example, you could highlight or circle something that you want to bring attention to. Or you could redact (blur or black out) something you don’t want to share, such as personal information.

If you change your evidence, you must describe the changes in your arguments. You can’t change evidence and present it as if your changes were part of the original.

There are risks if you change your evidence. For example:

• If you redact something, a tribunal member might decide that you blacked it out because it’s not helpful for your side of the claim.
• If you give fake evidence, you might be ordered to pay a participant for the extra time spent dealing with the CRT claim, and their legal expenses.

What if I have privacy concerns about evidence?

Only CRT staff, tribunal members, and the participants in a claim can view the evidence that’s been submitted. We don’t share evidence with non-participants, the public, or the media. Learn more about information access and privacy.

A tribunal member may mention or describe evidence to explain their decision. We may decide not to release some information publicly. This depends on the potential harm to the affected person. For example, our decisions usually refer to non-participants and minors by their initials only, not their full name.

If you have privacy concerns about your evidence, talk to your CRT case manager before you submit it.

Can participants use the evidence for another reason?

Evidence that you received during the CRT process can usually only be used to resolve the claim or related claims at the CRT or court. The evidence could be used for another purpose if:

• The person who gave the evidence gives you permission
• Or the CRT or court orders that it can be used