Courthouses
COVID-19 - Increased Access to Remote and Desk Processes
Further to the Court's Announcement of May 5, 2021 and its Master Order of May 7, 2021, Counsel and parties should be aware that the Court is directing additional judicial resources to desk applications and remote hearings. Counsel and parties are encouraged to utilize the increased access to remote and desk processes in civil, family, and surrogate matters. Read more >>
COVID-19: MASTER ORDER #5
Further to the Court's Announcement of May 5, 2021, the Court is taking additional steps to reduce in-person attendance at courthouses for the period of May 10 to May 28, 2021, per Master Order #5 (May 7, 2021). Read more >>
COVID-19: Additional Measures to Limit Traffic At Court Facilities
On May 4, 2021, the Alberta Government announced Province-wide restrictions to protect the health system and slow the spread of COVID-19. In response, the Court of King's Bench has introduced additional measures. (May 5, 2021) Read more >>
NOTICE TO THE PROFESSION AND PUBLIC
In light of the ongoing public health crisis caused by the pandemic, access to all courthouses in Alberta continues to be restricted in accordance with the attached Notice dated November 27, 2020. Masks must be worn by anyone entering a courthouse in accordance with the attached Notice dated July 3, 2020 subject to the exceptions noted therein. (May 7, 2021) Read more >>
Calgary Review and Assessment Office - Staff Shortage
Effective immediately and until further notice, due to staffing shortages, all inquiries relating to the Calgary Review and Assessment Office should be directed to the Edmonton Office at ReviewOffice.Edmonton@albertacourts.ca. As a result of this shortage, you may experience a delay in response time and we thank you for your patience in advance. (May 4, 2021)
Submission of Draft Orders in Word Format
In order to facilitate the more timely processing of draft Orders submitted to the Court via email, counsel and parties are asked to send draft Orders in .doc or docx (ie., Microsoft Word) format, where possible. [Feb 4, 2021] Read more >>
Extension Of The Cap On Email Filing Fees
Court of King's Bench Administration has extended the cap on email filing fees until June 30, 2021. [Jan 22, 2021] Read more >>
Alberta Debtor Support Project
It is anticipated that there will be an increase in Court applications related to mortgage defaults and consumer debts in the coming months. A group of lawyers, assisted by the Legal Education Society of Alberta, the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta, Pro Bono Law Alberta, Calgary Legal Guidance, the University of Calgary Public Interest Law Clinic, the Law Society of Alberta, the Justice Sector Constellation and the ADR Institute of Alberta, have launched the Alberta Debtor Support Project. [Jan 14, 2021] Read more >>
Mandatory Email Filing – Civil and Family Proceedings
From the date the Court first modified its operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, on March 16, 2020, the Court and Resolution and Court Administration Services (RCAS), have dedicated significant resources to the development and implementation of electronic processes for filing in all civil and family proceedings. On July 27, 2020, RCAS announced new email filing procedures and naming conventions to be used by law firms, lawyers and court runners. On December 11, 2020, that Announcement, with modifications to the naming conventions, was updated, and is posted here. [December 17, 2020] Read more >>
Fax Filing Changes
Effective September 1, 2020, the Clerk of the Court will only accept filing by electronic mail (email), and will no longer accept filing by fax, as an authorized means. Read more >>
Non-Binding Judicial Dispute Resolutions (JDRs) / Family Early Intervention Case Conferences (EICCs) - Edmonton & Calgary
From June to August, the Court will hear non-binding JDRs and Family EICCs. For JDRs, all parties must be represented by Counsel and all Counsel must agree to proceed with the JDR remotely via Webex video and audio. For Family EICCs, all parties must agree to proceed with the EICC remotely via Webex video and audio. Read more >>
Without Notice Applications
The Court is also processing electronic Without Notice Applications before a Master in Chambers province-wide. [May 11] Read more >>
Electronic Criminal Summary Conviction Appeals
In cases where the accused is represented by Counsel and where Crown and Defence Counsel agree, Summary Conviction Appeals involving Criminal Code offences may now be submitted to the Court with written argument to be considered by way of desk application. All written arguments for all Counsel must be submitted together in accordance with the procedures outlined on the court's Email Filing announcement. [May 22] Read more>>
Additional Updates
Family Law Dispute Resolution Processes
COVID-19 Court Measures Update
The Provincial Court of Alberta has determined it has become necessary to respond further to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In light of increasing case counts, the rise in variants, the ongoing risk to all Justice participants and the increased difficulty in having counsel, parties and witnesses attend in Court, further restrictions on Court operations are now required.
Effective Monday, May 10, 2021 up to and including Friday, May 28, 2021 all trials, preliminary inquiries and other hearings requiring viva voce evidence, except where an accused person is in custody or where the matter is urgent, will be adjourned and new dates will be scheduled. (May 5, 2021) Read more >>
Bar Admissions Update
To help contain the spread of COVID-19, effective immediately and until further notice, all bar admission ceremonies in the Provincial Court of Alberta will be conducted remotely. (May 5, 2021) Read more >>
Edmonton Region Courthouses Increase COVID Precautions
In keeping with the Provincial Court of Alberta's COVID-19 protocols, the courthouses in the Edmonton region will be operating with stricter COVID-19 precautions in response to rising case counts in the region. (Apr 27, 2021) Read more >>
Chateh Circuit Court Closure
As a result of a high number of COVID-19 cases, Chateh Nation has closed its borders. Court sittings and services in Chateh are affected. (Feb 24, 2021) Read more >>
Masks Required
Effective July 6, 2020, all persons entering a courthouse in Alberta are required to wear a face mask while in any public area of the courthouse subject to exceptions detailed in the attached Notice to the Profession and the Public.
Limited Attendance
As of March 17, 2020, those with family, civil, criminal court or a Provincial Offences/traffic court appearance in the Alberta Provincial Court, do not need to attend unless the matter is an in-custody or urgent criminal matter, or an urgent family or child protection matter. Read more >>
The Provincial Court is also limiting attendance at Bar Admission ceremonies and implementing social distancing measures in court proceedings. Read more >>
Provincial Court Conduct Guide for Remote Appearances
The provincial court is conducting certain proceedings remotely by online video or over the phone. Guidelines on conduct during proceedings were released on Oct 1, 2020. Read more >>
Access to Courthouses Restricted
As of November 27. 2020, access to all courthouses in the province of Alberta continues to be restricted until further notice. Read more >>
Temporary Closure of Edmonton Civil Counters
As of November 24, 2020, in-person service at the Provincial Court Civil counters of the Edmonton Law Courts has been suspended. Although civil court matters currently scheduled are proceeding as planned, non-emergency filing of documents will be done through the drop boxes located at the entrances to the Edmonton Law Courts. Read more >>
Camrose and Killam Courts Re-opened
Normal business operations, including counter services and scheduled court matters, will resume in Camrose and Killam Provincial Court on Monday, December 7, 2020. Read more >>
Cancellation of Sittings Due to the prevalence of COVID-19 in cities where the Tax Court of Canada is scheduled to hold proceedings, the Chief Justice has cancelled all in-person Court sittings scheduled between January 18, 2021 and February 12, 2021, inclusively. Read more >>
Federal Court of Appeal’s suspension period until Friday May 29, 2020 adjourns hearings scheduled from mid-April and for the duration of the suspension period while announcing additional measure in response to the current and evolving situation. Cases that are selected to progress may be determined on the basis of written material or by teleconference or video conference. Read more >>
The Alberta Court of Appeal continues to hear all matters but, as of March 23, 2020, not in-person; case materials are able to be sent via email and fax. [May 6] Read more >>
In alignment with the Provincial Public Health Emergency Order to close libraries, all Alberta Law Libraries (ALL) courthouse library locations will be temporarily closed until further notice as of end of day, Friday, December 11 to help limit the spread of COVID-19.
While the doors may be physically closed, ALL will continue providing services remotely. Read more >>
