Being prepared and organized helps you make the most of your time in court. Justices are very busy and rely on you to share with them the most important information about your case.
As well, knowing what to expect and how to behave when you get to court can help lower your stress and make you feel more in control of your situation.
Need to know
- Court is a serious and formal place, and you should behave accordingly.
- Read your court documents to find out when and where you must be in court.
- Spend time before your court date preparing by reviewing your case and making notes of what you want to say.
- If you attend court in person, know where to go, how to behave and when it’s your turn to speak.
- If you attend court online or by phone, know how to connect to court, how to behave and when it’s your turn to speak.
Get started
Learn the basics about family courts and laws in Alberta before you go to court.
Next, if you feel safe and comfortable doing so, you and the other person should try to resolve your issues before your court date. Going to court takes time and money. It should be a last resort.
Ways to resolve your disputes include working together to come to an agreement or getting help from a professional. In fact, usually the court likes to see you have at least tried to resolve the issue before coming to court.
If you and the other person come to an agreement, you can make a consent order to present to the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta., rather than asking them to make a decision. If you and the other person cannot resolve your issues, you can still go to court and ask the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. to make a decision.
Prepare to go to court
Court is a formal process that you must take seriously. Whether you are going to court in person or appearing online or by phone, how you behave leaves an impression on the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. and everyone else in attendance. It is important you take time to prepare before you go.
Review your case
Before your court date, review your documents, including all filed court forms and any financial documents you and the other person have shared with each other.
Make notes about the important facts. Think about what the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. needs to know to make a good decision. Do not share your opinions or emotions.
When in court, have your documents organized and with you. You should also have paper and a pen to take notes about what the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. or the other person says in court.
Prepare a script
If you are representing yourself, it is a good idea to prepare a script. Use bullet points to note what facts you want to share with the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. to support your position. Make sure your notes are clear, organized and concise.
The justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. decides how long each person can speak for. Notes help you not ramble and remind you to share the most important information. They can also help you feel less stressed and more confident about going to court.
If you want to refer to a document in court, make a note in your script about where the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. can find this document in the court forms. For example, you may want to refer to a document which is Exhibit A in your affidavit. This way, the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. can quickly locate the document you are talking about in their file.
Example
Parent A is going through a divorce and has one child with Parent B. Parent A has applied for a court order about child support in the Court of King’s Bench. Parent A and Parent B have already shared financial information with each other. This is the first time they have been in court.
Parent A’s script could look like:
- Good morning, Justice
- My name is Parent A, and I am the applicantapplicant The person who applies for a court order..
- I am applying for child support, both Section 3 and Section 7.
- Parent B and I have one child together, named Child.
- Child is 6 years old and has been living mostly with me since Parent B and I separated on November 16, 2023.
- We do not have any orders or agreements about child support.
- My gross incomegross income Income before taxes are deducted. is $40,533 – see Exhibit A of my affidavit.
- Parent B’s gross incomegross income Income before taxes are deducted. is $67,000 – see Exhibit B of my affidavit.
- I am asking for a child support order that says Parent B must pay Section 3 child support according to the Federal Child Support Guidelines.
- Parent B and I do not agree on the amount of Section 3 child support because they claim their income is now less than $67,000 but they have not given me anything to confirm this.
- I am also asking for Parent B to pay their proportionate share of Section 7 expenses.
- Child’s current Section 7 expenses are listed at paragraph 24 of my affidavit, which I filed with the court on January 4, 2024.
- Section 7 expenses average $350/month.
- Parent B and I do not agree whether Child’s soccer and guitar lessons are fair Section 7 expenses and how we should split them.
Know where to go
Your court document will say when to attend court and which courthouse to go to or connect to.
If you are attending court in person, make sure you know how to get to the courthouse, including how long it will take you to get there. It is important to arrive early, so give yourself enough time for delays, such as road conditions, construction and rush hour traffic.
If you are attending court online or phone, make sure you know how to accessaccess A term previously used in Canada’s Divorce Act to describe the time a divorced parent without custody or a non-parent had with a child. The correct terms are “parenting time” (if the person is the child’s parent) or “contact” (if the person is not the child’s guardian). Learn more on the Being a parent or guardian page. court. Also make sure you have a good internet or phone connection and a reliable device. Find a quiet space that is free of distractions, including children and loud noises, and where you won’t be interrupted.
Plan your outfit
Court is a formal place, even if you are appearing online. You do not have to wear a suit, but you should dress as if you were going to a job interview. Do not wear hats, sunglasses, casual sandals or shirts with inappropriate text or images.
Hot tip
If you are representing yourself, a good way to prepare is to observe court before it’s your turn so you know what to expect. You could go to court on a different day and find a courtroom to observe. If you cannot go to court earlier, be sure to pay attention to the people who speak before you on your day in court.
Attend court in person
Be sure to know where to go, how to behave and when it’s your turn to speak.
Download a diagram of the inside of a courtroom (PDF) to know what to expect to find in a courtroom.
Give yourself lots of time to get to the courthouse and get inside before your court time. For example, if you are supposed to be in court at 9am, make sure you are in the courtroom by 8:45am. This means arriving at the courthouse even earlier so you have time to find parking, go through security and find your courtroom.
Make sure you do not have illegal substances, pocketknives or other sharp objects, or weapons in your pockets or bags as these are not allowed in the courthouse.
To find your courtroom, look for electronic boards in the courthouse. They will have a courtroom number and a list of cases to be heard in that courtroom. If there is no board, ask a court clerk or at the information desk.
If you are appearing without noticewithout notice A court appearance where the applicant does not have to serve court documents or give notice about the court date beforehand to the respondent., your name will not be on the boards. Ask a court clerk or at the information desk which courtroom to go to for ChambersChambers Courtrooms that are open to the public with many people present where a justice can hear many cases and grant court orders. The people in a case have 20 minutes or less to speak with the justice and ask for a court order..
Some courthouses are for both the Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench. Make sure you go to the right part of the courthouse for your case.
Once you are in the courtroom, talk to the court clerk. Tell them your name, whether you are representing yourself or have a lawyer, and what case is yours. If you are appearing without noticewithout notice A court appearance where the applicant does not have to serve court documents or give notice about the court date beforehand to the respondent., tell the clerk. Then, take a seat in any of the pews behind the railing.
When the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. enters the courtroom, the clerk will ask everyone to stand. When the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. sits down, you can sit down. Court is in session while the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. is present.
Usually, the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. will deal with without noticewithout notice A court appearance where the applicant does not have to serve court documents or give notice about the court date beforehand to the respondent., or ex parteex parte A court appearance where the applicant does not have to serve court documents or give notice about the court date beforehand to the respondent., applications first. These are applications where only one person appears in court without notifying the other person, such as to get an order for substitutional service. If this is you, you can rise when you feel comfortable and go to the podium. It is good etiquette to allow lawyers to speak first, but it is also hard to know who is waiting.
Next the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. will start dealing with cases scheduled for that day, which are on a list. The justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. can choose to hear cases in the order on the list or to go out of order. Do not leave the courtroom until after the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. hears from you. If you are not in the courtroom when the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. calls your case, the court will consider you a “no-show.”
While you are waiting, sit quietly. Court sessions are recorded and the microphones can pick up people speaking anywhere in the courtroom.
There is usually at least one sheriff in every courtroom. Their job is to make sure everyone behaves themselves. They can remove anyone who is not behaving appropriately.
When it is your turn to speak with the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta., stand up and go to one of the tables near the front of the courtroom. You and the other person should be at different tables. While you are speaking, stand at the podium. While the other person is speaking, sit quietly in the chair at your table.
Address the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. as “Justice.” Some justices prefer “Ma’am/Sir” while others prefer being called “Justice” plus their last name. If you pay attention to those who speak before you, you can get an idea about what the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. prefers.
First, each person introduces themselves – the applicantapplicant The person who applies for a court order. then the respondentrespondent The person who responds to the applicant’s request for an order.. Tell the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. your name and briefly why you are there. For example, “My name is Jane Doe, and I am the applicantapplicant The person who applies for a court order. in this child support applicationapplication A court appearance where the applicant asks the court for an order to resolve some or all of their legal issues..”
After introductions, the applicantapplicant The person who applies for a court order. tells their side of the story. The respondentrespondent The person who responds to the applicant’s request for an order. speaks next. The justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. may ask you questions while you speak. Remember to only share what is necessary as the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. has less than 20 minutes to hear about your case.
You can take notes about what the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. or other person says. It is a good idea to make notes about any decisions the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. makes. When the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. finishes with your case, go back to your seat or leave the courtroom.
If you enter or exit the courtroom while court is in session, meaning the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. is still in the courtroom, you must bow slightly at the door. Do so quietly and when the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. is between cases.
If you stay until the end of the court session, wait for the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. to leave first. When the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. leaves the courtroom, the clerk will ask everyone to stand again. You can leave without bowing after the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. has left.
Attend court online or by phone
Be sure to know how to connect to court, how to behave and when it’s your turn to speak.
Whether you appear online or by phone, use earphones or a headset with a microphone to reduce background noise and allow you to hear better.
Do not use speakerphone as it often distorts the quality of the call, making it difficult for you and the court to hear everything each other is saying.
If you are appearing online, disconnect other devices from the internet to avoid bandwidth issues. For example, if someone else in your home is streaming video, it may cause your connection to lag. Be sure to also stay in one spot and keep your camera steady as it is distracting if you or your camera is moving around.
The Court of King’s Bench has tips for troubleshooting your connection if you have issues.
If you are attending online, check your background. Make sure there is nothing embarrassing or uncomfortable around you that will appear on the screen. An inappropriate background may lead to the court negatively judging your credibility or character.
The court will give you login or call-in information. Make sure you log into the video platform or are on the phone at least 15 minutes before the start time. This will give you time to deal with any unexpected technology or login issues you may face.
Once you are in the virtual courtroom, talk to the court clerk. Tell them your name, whether you are representing yourself or have a lawyer, and what case is yours. If you are appearing without noticewithout notice A court appearance where the applicant does not have to serve court documents or give notice about the court date beforehand to the respondent., tell the clerk. Then, mute your microphone. You may also turn off your camera.
Usually, the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. will deal with without noticewithout notice A court appearance where the applicant does not have to serve court documents or give notice about the court date beforehand to the respondent., or ex parteex parte A court appearance where the applicant does not have to serve court documents or give notice about the court date beforehand to the respondent., applications first. These are applications where only one person appears in court without notifying the other person, such as to get an order for substitutional service. If this is you, the court clerk will call out your name when it is your turn.
Next the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. will start dealing with cases scheduled for that day, which are on a list. The justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. can choose to hear cases in the order on the list or to go out of order. Do not disconnect or walk away from your device until after the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. hears from you.
While you are waiting, sit quietly with your microphone muted and pay attention. Do not do other things while you wait. For example, do not check your email or social media or play with your children. If your children are usually at home with you, get childcare. If you are not available when the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. calls your case, the court will consider you a “no-show.”
When it is your turn to speak with the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta., unmute your microphone and turn on your camera. When the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. or the other person is speaking, mute your microphone but leave your camera on.
Address the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. as “Justice.” Some Justices prefer “Ma’am/Sir” while others prefer being called “Justice” plus their last name. If you pay attention to those who speak before you, you can get an idea about what the Justice prefers.
First, each person introduces themselves – the applicantapplicant The person who applies for a court order. then the respondentrespondent The person who responds to the applicant’s request for an order.. Tell the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. your name and briefly why you are there. For example, “My name is Jane Doe, and I am the applicantapplicant The person who applies for a court order. in this child support applicationapplication A court appearance where the applicant asks the court for an order to resolve some or all of their legal issues..”
After introductions, the applicantapplicant The person who applies for a court order. tells their side of the story. The respondentrespondent The person who responds to the applicant’s request for an order. speaks next. The justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. may ask you questions while you speak. Remember to only share what is necessary. The justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. has less than 20 minutes to hear from both of you and ask you questions.
You can take notes about what the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. or other person says. It is a good idea to make notes about any decisions the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. makes. When the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. finishes with you, you may disconnect or hang up the call.
Did you know?
You cannot record anything that happens in court unless you have permission from the court to do so. This includes when you appear in court online or by phone.
You can request permission to use a camera or other video or audio recording device to the local court administrator before your court date. You must have a good reason for wanting to record court.
If you want a transcript of what happened in court, you can order one for a fee. Follow the steps on the Government of Alberta’s website.
Tips for speaking to the justice
- Be polite, honest and concise.
- Be respectful to the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta., other person and others in the courtroom.
- Don’t argue with the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta..
- Don’t talk when it’s not your turn or over someone else.
- Turn off all electronic devices.
- Don’t bring children.
- Don’t eat or chew gum, though drinking water is okay.
Potential issues
One person misses the court date.
The justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. will decide whether to proceed without the person being present. If the applicantapplicant The person who applies for a court order. does not show up, the justicejustice The title for judges in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. can decide to reschedule or cancel the applicationapplication A court appearance where the applicant asks the court for an order to resolve some or all of their legal issues..
You do not have a lawyer and want help in court.
Duty counsel are lawyers at some courthouses that help people on their day in court. They can give you brief legal advice and guide you through next steps to deal with your case. At the courthouse, ask a court clerk or the information desk where to find duty counsel. You can also get legal support before your court date.