According to the court’s release, regulations require self-represented individuals seeking to file an application to meet with a family court counsellor. If an individual wishes to commence a matter in the provincial court, or wishes to have an ongoing matter brought into court, they must contact a counsellor at one of the phone numbers listed here. The counsellor will provide the individual with assistance in preparing documents and determining whether or not the matter is urgent.
For support matters involving payors registered with the maintenance enforcement program (MEP), parties must contact that program to see if alternate payment arrangements can be made prior to contacting a family court counsellor.
For files that utilize the caseflow conference program, the court notes that in Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer, conference matters will be automatically adjourned for 10 weeks to the same time as the scheduled caseflow conference date. Grande Prairie is continuing to deliver service by telephone as scheduled. For additional information, parties are advised to contact the family court counsellor or resolution services in their area.
The court has also developed a warrant protocol which addresses how warrants and other judicial authorization applications in Edmonton and Calgary will be handled while the plan is implemented. More information can be found here.