What is Family Docket Court in Alberta and what happens there?
This answer covers the law of Alberta.
Family Docket Court is an early court appearance where a judge looks at your family matter and works out what help and process fit it. In the Court of King's Bench, it launched in May 2020 in Calgary and Edmonton, and family matters are first scheduled there to assess which services and court processes suit the family. The judge first explores a consent order and, if needed, schedules a more formal process such as chambers.
The Court of Justice (Provincial Court) also uses a docket court. The judge asks whether the parties have reached agreement, and if so the judge hears it and the Judicial Court Clerk may incorporate some or all of it into a court order. Outcomes include adjournment, an interim order, a final order if everything is settled, or dismissal. If you do not attend a parenting claim hearing, the judge may make an order in your absence.
To prepare, think about what you and the other person agree on and what you do not, and bring any agreement you have reached. Which court you are in and which steps apply to you depend on your situation, so a lawyer can confirm what to expect.
Key takeaways
- In the Court of King's Bench, family matters are first scheduled in Family Docket Court to assess which services and court processes suit the family.
- The judge first explores a consent order and, if needed, schedules a more formal process such as chambers.
- In Provincial Court docket court, outcomes include adjournment, an interim order, a final order if everything is settled, or dismissal.
- Which court and which requirements apply depend on your situation, so confirm with a lawyer before your date.