Court of King's Bench of Alberta
The Court of King's Bench is the Superior Trial Court for the Province, hearing trials in civil and criminal matters and appeals from decisions of the Court of Justice. The Chief Justice and other Justices of the Court are also judges of Surrogate Matters, which has jurisdiction over probate and administration of estate matters.
In response to the State of Public Health Emergency declared by the Government on November 24, 2020, the increase in active COVID-19 cases in the Province of Alberta, and the current and anticipated numbers of legal system participants, including Court staff, who may be unable to participate for COVID-19 related reasons, the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta is announcing the following modifications to its schedule for the week of January 4 and 11, 2021. Further announcements in respect of the subsequent weeks may follow.
1. Applications Without Notice (Ex Parte) in Civil and Family Chambers
The Court will not hear any non-urgent ex parte matter, at any location, except by way of desk application. The Court will put any non-urgent ex parte matter that is brought in person in Civil and Family Chambers over to a date in February, 2021, or later.
2. Booking of Urgent Matters
Counsel and self-represented litigants may continue to book urgent matters using the processes which are in place through the Clerks’ Office. Urgent Family Law matters may be directed, in Edmonton, to Patricia Copeman at patricia.copeman@albertacourts.ca and in Calgary to Barbara Harris at barbara.harris@albertacourts.ca.
3. Regional Centres (all points outside Calgary and Edmonton):
All matters set for the weeks of January 4 and January 11, 2021, in the Regional Centres will proceed as scheduled. To the extent that matters can be conducted remotely, that is the default.
4. Calgary and Edmonton:
The following matters will proceed in each of Calgary and Edmonton during the weeks of January 4 and January 11, 2021:
In Calgary, the following specific matters will be adjourned:
For the week of January 4, 2021:
For the week of January 11, 2021
In Edmonton, the following specific matters will be adjourned:
For the week of January 11, 2021:
In addition to the specific matters adjourned as identified above, the following matters that require FTR recording will not proceed during the weeks of January 4 and January 11, 2021 (if scheduled to be heard):
5. Masters
There continue to be no changes to the scheduling of matters in Masters Chambers (including Bankruptcy and Specials) or how those matters are heard for the weeks of January 4 and January 11, 2021.
6. Suspension of Civil/Family/Commercial Trial Bookings
In order to allow for the rescheduling of cancelled matters, the booking of new civil, family and commercial trials and lengthy specials, unless deemed urgent by Chief Justice Moreau or Associate Chief Justice Nielsen will be suspended until January 12, 2021, subject to review. Once all cancelled matters have been accommodated in the Spring Term, booking will recommence.
Information on Case Management in civil, family & criminal matters
Civil claims that exceed $50,000 must be heard in the Court of King’s Bench
The Commercial List was established to deal with commercial insolvency law
Criminal law involves investigating and prosecuting people who may have broken the law
Family law governs the legal aspects of relationships between family members
Information on Judicial Dispute Resolution at the Court of King's Bench
Information on the process for requesting a review of lawyers' bills or assessment of court costs.
Information on Wills, Estates, & Trusteeships that are handled at the Court of King's Bench
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