Self-represented litigant (SRL)

Self-represented litigants may file by email or in person at the counter. Payment may be made via the Government of Alberta Payment Application Service (GPAS) if they have an email address, internet access, and a credit card.

Table of Contents:

Civil 

Criminal

Family/Divorce

Surrogate

Urgent

CIVIL

Self-represented litigants may file in person at the counter of the Court of King’s Bench in their jurisdiction or via email.

Civil forms may be found here: https://albertacourts.ca/kb/areas-of-law/civil/forms

To obtain assistance while filling out forms and/or general information, you may visit the Court and Justice Services webpage Support in preparing court forms | Alberta.ca or call toll free 1-855-738-4747, 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays). If you wish to receive service in French or any other language, please request telephone interpretation services.

If you are filing by email, please note the following items when sending your documents: 

1. Naming conventions for emails and documents must be followed as outlined below. For clarity, with regard to the naming convention, please ensure that no space precedes or follows dashes.

2. If your email is a follow up, please indicate FOLLOW UP at the beginning of the subject line. If your email is for a supervisor to FOLLOW UP on, please indicate ATTN SUPERVISOR at the beginning of the subject line and ensure to forward your original submission.

3. Once you file a document, through email or at a courthouse, you cannot change it. You may need to take legal steps to make any changes or corrections. Retracting your email will not work.

4. If you would like to add any identifying indicators for your file number, please include them at the end, enclosed in square brackets [  ].

5. If your document is rejected, please resubmit your filing with all documentation again, this includes your email request form. Your resubmitted document(s) will be filed on the date that they are processed and stamped by King’s Bench Operations.

6. Documents filed via email will be considered filed on the date that they are processed and stamped by King’s Bench Operations.  For more information on email filing and information related to urgent and limitation period submissions, click here.  

7. Please ensure affidavits are properly commissioned and sworn prior to submitting for filing.

Document Formats:

Please ensure that all documents are attached to the email separately. For example, if you are sending an application and affidavit, your application and affidavit must all be sent in separate attachments. If your documents are sent as one large scan, your document will be rejected and you will be required to send a new email, with separated documents. You will be required to re-attach all documents you wish to be filed.

Additionally, the Court has posted Guidelines for Documents filed by email or digital upload.

Expected Timelines:

Documents will be filed in the order they are received and are filed on the date that they are processed and stamped by King’s Bench Operations. King’s Bench Operation’s processing times may vary and can be found by sending in an email to the appropriate filing email address with the subject line “test”. The autoreply you receive will include the lead times as of the first day of the week for all areas.

Orders for Justice or Applications Judge signature will be processed as the Judiciary sign them. Processing times may vary.

Document Submission:

Documents must only be submitted one way (e.g. email or in-person) please do not send your document multiple ways as this will result in duplications of documents and duplication of fees. Refunds will not be issued for documents submitted multiple times. For example, if a Statement of Defence is submitted both by email and in person, a $100.00 filing charge and any applicable filing fees will be assigned.

If you have any further questions, please contact your local Courthouse. Contact emails for questions can be found below.

Please note that due to high call volumes in some jurisdictions, phone lines may be rerouted to the CJS Contact Centre. If you wish to receive service in French or any other language, please request telephone interpretation services. The Contact Centre will transfer calls to the appropriate location if a matter is urgent or if they are unable to assist directly.

For more information on court locations, sittings and contact info, please visit:

https://albertacourts.ca/kb/about/locations-and-sittings

Preferred Method of Contact for Inquiries and Follow-ups

Email is the preferred method of communication, as it allows for more efficient tracking and response. Most emails are responded to within 24–48 business hours.

If you haven’t received a response within that timeframe, please forward your concerns to: KBA.Leadershipteam@just.gov.ab.ca  Be sure to include specific details about the issue you are trying to resolve.

King’s Bench Operations strives to provide consistent messaging and assistance regarding process and procedures. We may also redirect inquiries to:

Rules of Court

Procedures and policy documents

Appropriate departments, when necessary.

Guidelines for Follow-Up Inquiries

To ensure your submission is processed efficiently:

Include “FOLLOW UP” at the beginning of the subject line for follow-up emails.

Include “ATTN SUPERVISOR” at the beginning of the subject line if the matter requires supervisor attention and forward your original submission.

Where to send your filing:

Email filing requests should be sent to the following email addresses for each judicial center:

Documents in French must be sent to: depotenfrancais.KB@just.gov.ab.ca

The filing instructions in French may be found here.

Naming Convention for Attached Documents

A designated naming convention must be followed for all documents sent to the Court of King’s Bench for filing. If the naming convention as outlined below is not followed, your documents will be sent back to you unfiled, advising you did not use the proper naming convention for the document. Should this happen, you will be required to send a new email, with the proper naming convention and will be required to re-submit all documents you wish to be filed. The purpose of the designated naming convention allows for consistent document file names.

Naming Convention for Email Subject Submissions

A designated naming convention must be followed for all emails sent to the Court of King’s Bench which contain documents for filing. If the naming convention as outlined below is not followed, your documents will be sent back to you unfiled, advising you did not use the proper naming convention for the covering email. Should this happen, you will be required to send a new email, with the proper naming convention and will be required to re-attach all documents you wish to be filed. The purpose of the designated naming convention allows for the immediate distribution of your email and its documents to the designated filing area, and this will ensure faster processing of your filing request. The naming conventions are as follows:

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CRIMINAL

Self-represented litigants may file in person at the counter of the Court of King’s Bench in their jurisdiction or via email.

Criminal forms may be found here: https://albertacourts.ca/kb/areas-of-law/criminal/forms

To obtain assistance will filling out forms and/or general information, you may visit the Court and Justice Service webpage Support in preparing court forms | Alberta.ca or call toll free 1-855-738-4747, 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays).

If you are filing by email, please note the following items when sending your documents: 

1. Naming conventions for emails and documents must be followed as outlined below. For clarity, with regard to the naming convention, please ensure that no space precedes or follows dashes.

2. If your email is a follow up, please indicate FOLLOW UP at the beginning of the subject line. If your email is for a supervisor to FOLLOW UP on, please indicate ATTN SUPERVISOR at the beginning of the subject line and ensure to forward your original submission.

3. Once you file a document, through email or at a courthouse, you cannot change it. You may need to take legal steps to make any changes or corrections. Retracting your email will not work.

4. If you would like to add any identifying indicators for your file number, please include them at the end, enclosed in square brackets [  ].

5. If your document is rejected, please resubmit your filing with all documentation again, this includes your email request form. Your resubmitted document(s) will be filed on the date that they are processed and stamped by King’s Bench Operations.

6. Documents filed via email will be considered filed on the date that they are processed and stamped by King’s Bench Operations.  For more information on email filing and information related to urgent and limitation period submissions, click here.  

7. Please ensure affidavits are properly commissioned and sworn prior to submitting for filing.

Document Formats:

Please ensure that all documents are attached to the email separately. For example, if you are sending an application and affidavit, your application and affidavit must all be sent in separate attachments. If your documents are sent as one large scan, your document will be rejected and you will be required to send a new email, with separated documents. You will be required to re-attach all documents you wish to be filed.

Additionally, the Court has posted Guidelines for Documents filed by email or digital upload.

Expected Timelines:

Documents will be filed in the order they are received and are filed on the date that they are processed and stamped by King’s Bench Operations. King’s Bench Operation’s processing times may vary and can be found by sending in an email to the appropriate filing email address with the subject line “test”. The autoreply you receive will include the lead times as of the first day of the week for all areas. 

Orders for Justice or Applications Judge signature will be processed as the Judiciary sign them. Processing times may vary.

Orders for Justice or Applications Judge signature will be processed as the Judiciary sign them. Processing times may vary.

Document Submission:

Documents must only be submitted one way (e.g. email or in-person) please do not send your document multiple ways as this will result in duplications of documents.

If you have any further questions, please contact your local Courthouse. Contact emails for questions can be found below.

Please note that due to high call volumes in some jurisdictions, phone lines may be rerouted to the CJS Contact Centre. The Contact Centre will transfer calls to the appropriate location if a matter is urgent or if they are unable to assist directly.

For more information on court locations, sittings and contact info, please visit:

https://albertacourts.ca/kb/about/locations-and-sittings

Preferred Method of Contact for Inquiries and Follow-ups

Email is the preferred method of communication, as it allows for more efficient tracking and response. Most emails are responded to within 24–48 business hours.

If you haven’t received a response within that timeframe, please forward your concerns to: KBA.Leadershipteam@just.gov.ab.ca  Be sure to include specific details about the issue you are trying to resolve.

King’s Bench Operations strives to provide consistent messaging and assistance regarding process and procedures. We may also redirect inquiries to:

Rules of Court (Volume II)

Procedures and policy documents

Appropriate departments, when necessary.

Guidelines for Follow-Up Inquiries

To ensure your submission is processed efficiently:

Include “FOLLOW UP” at the beginning of the subject line for follow-up emails.

Include “ATTN SUPERVISOR” at the beginning of the subject line if the matter requires supervisor attention and forward your original submission.

Where to send your filing:

Email filing requests should be sent to the following email addresses for each judicial center:

Documents in French must be sent to: depotenfrancais.KB@just.gov.ab.ca

The filing instructions in French may be found here

Naming Convention for Attached Documents

A designated naming convention must be followed for all documents sent to the Court of King’s Bench for filing. If the naming convention as outlined below is not followed, your documents will be sent back to you unfiled, advising you did not use the proper naming convention for the document. Should this happen, you will be required to send a new email, with the proper naming convention and will be required to re-submit all documents you wish to be filed. The purpose of the designated naming convention allows for consistent document file names.

Naming Convention for Email Subject Submissions

A designated naming convention must be followed for all emails sent to the Court of King’s Bench which contain documents for filing. If the naming convention as outlined below is not followed, your documents will be sent back to you unfiled, advising you did not use the proper naming convention for the covering email. Should this happen, you will be required to send a new email, with the proper naming convention and will be required to re-attach all documents you wish to be filed. The purpose of the designated naming convention allows for the immediate distribution of your email and its documents to the designated filing area, and this will ensure faster processing of your filing request. The naming conventions are as follows:

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FAMILY/DIVORCE

GENERAL FILING REQUIREMENTS

Self-represented litigants may file in person at the counter of the Court of King’s Bench in their jurisdiction or via email.

Family law forms may be found here: https://albertacourts.ca/kb/areas-of-law/family/family-law-forms

To obtain assistance will filling out forms and/or general information, you may visit the Court and Justice Service webpage Support in preparing court forms | Alberta.ca or call toll free 1-855-738-4747, 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays).

The new Family Focused Protocol (FFP) is explained in more detail here: https://albertacourts.ca/kb/resources/announcements/notice-to-the-profession---public---new-processes-in-family-law---family-focused-protocol

The Alberta Family Resolution Hub is a tool to help guide Albertans in resolving family matters. To access and use this tool follow this link: https://familyresolution.alberta.ca/getting-started

If you are filing by email, please note the following items when sending your documents: 

1. Naming conventions for emails and documents must be followed as outlined below. For clarity, with regard to the naming convention, please ensure that no space precedes or follows dashes.

2. If your email is a follow up, please indicate FOLLOW UP at the beginning of the subject line. If your email is for a supervisor to FOLLOW UP on, please indicate ATTN SUPERVISOR at the beginning of the subject line and ensure to forward your original submission.

3. Once you file a document, through email or at a courthouse, you cannot change it. You may need to take legal steps to make any changes or corrections. Retracting your email will not work.

4. If you would like to add any identifying indicators for your file number, please include them at the end, enclosed in square brackets [  ].

5. If your document is rejected, please resubmit your filing with all documentation again, this includes your email request form. Your resubmitted document(s) will be filed on the date that they are processed and stamped by King’s Bench Operations.

6. Documents filed via email will be considered filed on the date that they are processed and stamped by King’s Bench Operations.  For more information on email filing and information related to urgent and limitation period submissions, click here.  

7. Please ensure affidavits are properly commissioned and sworn prior to submitting for filing.

Document Formats:

Please ensure that all documents are attached to the email separately. For example, if you are sending an application and affidavit, your application and affidavit must all be sent in separate attachments. If your documents are sent as one large scan, your document will be rejected and you will be required to send a new email, with separated documents. You will be required to re-attach all documents you wish to be filed.

Additionally, the Court has posted Guidelines for Documents filed by email or digital upload.

Expected Timelines:

Documents will be filed in the order they are received and are filed on the date that they are processed and stamped by King’s Bench Operations. King’s Bench Operation’s processing times may vary and can be found by sending in an email to the appropriate filing email address with the subject line “test”. The autoreply you receive will include the lead times as of the first day of the week for all areas.

Orders for Justice or Applications Judge signature will be processed as the Judiciary sign them. Processing times may vary.

Document Submission:

Documents must only be submitted one way (e.g. email or in-person) please do not send your document multiple ways as this will result in duplications of documents and duplication of fees. Refunds will not be issued for documents submitted multiple times. For example, if a Statement of Defence is submitted by both email and in person, a $100.00 filing charge and any applicable filing fees will be assigned.

If you have any further questions, please contact your local Courthouse. Contact emails for questions can be found below.

Please note that due to high call volumes in some jurisdictions, phone lines may be rerouted to the CJS Contact Centre. The Contact Centre will transfer calls to the appropriate location if a matter is urgent or if they are unable to assist directly.

For more information on court locations, sittings and contact info, please visit:

https://albertacourts.ca/kb/about/locations-and-sittings

Preferred Method of Contact for Inquiries and Follow-ups

Email is the preferred method of communication, as it allows for more efficient tracking and response. Most emails are responded to within 24–48 business hours.

If you haven’t received a response within that timeframe, please forward your concerns to: KBA.Leadershipteam@just.gov.ab.ca  Be sure to include specific details about the issue you are trying to resolve.

King’s Bench Operations strives to provide consistent messaging and assistance regarding process and procedures. We may also redirect inquiries to:

Rules of Court

Procedures and policy documents

Appropriate departments, when necessary.

Guidelines for Follow-Up Inquiries

To ensure your submission is processed efficiently:

Include “FOLLOW UP” at the beginning of the subject line for follow-up emails.

Include “ATTN SUPERVISOR” at the beginning of the subject line if the matter requires supervisor attention and forward your original submission.

Where to send your filing:

Email filing requests should be sent to the following email addresses for each judicial center:

Documents in French must be sent to: depotenfrancais.KB@just.gov.ab.ca

The filing instructions in French may be found here.

Naming Convention for Attached Documents

A designated naming convention must be followed for all documents sent to the Court of King’s Bench for filing. If the naming convention as outlined below is not followed, your documents will be sent back to you unfiled, advising you did not use the proper naming convention for the document. Should this happen, you will be required to send a new email, with the proper naming convention and will be required to re-submit all documents you wish to be filed. The purpose of the designated naming convention allows for consistent document file names.

Naming Convention for Email Subject Submissions

A designated naming convention must be followed for all emails sent to the Court of King’s Bench which contain documents for filing. If the naming convention as outlined below is not followed, your documents will be sent back to you unfiled, advising you did not use the proper naming convention for the covering email. Should this happen, you will be required to send a new email, with the proper naming convention and will be required to re-attach all documents you wish to be filed. The purpose of the designated naming convention allows for the immediate distribution of your email and its documents to the designated filing area, and this will ensure faster processing of your filing request. The naming conventions are as follows:

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SURROGATE

Self-represented litigants may file in person at the counter of the Court of King’s Bench in their jurisdiction, or via email. In some circumstances you may be eligible to file via the Surrogate Digital Service (SDS), click here for more information.

Surrogate forms may be found here: https://www.alberta.ca/surrogate-forms-non-contentious-matters

To obtain assistance will filling out forms and/or general information, you may visit the Court and Justice Service webpage Support in preparing court forms | Alberta.ca or call toll free 1-855-738-4747, 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays).

If you are filing by email, please note the following items when sending your documents: 

1. Naming conventions for emails and documents must be followed as outlined below. For clarity, with regard to the naming convention, please ensure that no space precedes or follows dashes.

2. If your email is a follow up, please indicate FOLLOW UP at the beginning of the subject line. If your email is for a supervisor to FOLLOW UP on, please indicate ATTN SUPERVISOR at the beginning of the subject line and ensure to forward your original submission.

3. Once you file a document, through email or at a courthouse, you cannot change it. You may need to take legal steps to make any changes or corrections. Retracting your email will not work.

4. If you would like to add any identifying indicators for your file number, please include them at the end, enclosed in square brackets [  ].

5. If your document is rejected, please resubmit your filing with all documentation again, this includes your email request form. Your resubmitted document(s) will be filed on the date that they are processed and stamped by King’s Bench Operations.

6. Documents filed via email will be considered filed on the date that they are processed and stamped by King’s Bench Operations.  For more information on email filing and information related to urgent and limitation period submissions, click here.  

7. Please ensure affidavits are properly commissioned and sworn prior to submitting for filing.

Document Formats:

Please ensure that all documents are attached to the email separately. For example, if you are sending an application and affidavit, your application and affidavit must all be sent in separate attachments. If your documents are sent as one large scan, your document will be rejected and you will be required to send a new email, with separated documents. You will be required to re-attach all documents you wish to be filed.

Additionally, the Court has posted Guidelines for Documents filed by email or digital upload.

Expected Timelines:

Documents will be filed in the order they are received and are filed on the date that they are processed and stamped by King’s Bench Operations. King’s Bench Operation’s processing times may vary and can be found by sending in an email to the appropriate filing email address with the subject line “test”. The autoreply you receive will include the lead times as of the first day of the week for all areas. 

Orders for Justice or Applications Judge signature will be processed as the Judiciary sign them. Processing times may vary.

Document Submission:

Documents must only be submitted one way (e.g. email or in-person) please do not send your document multiple ways as this will result in duplications of documents and duplication of fees. Refunds will not be issued for documents submitted multiple times. For example, if a Statement of Defence is submitted by both email and in person, a $100.00 filing charge and any applicable filing fees will be assigned.

If you have any further questions, please contact your local Courthouse. Contact emails for questions can be found below.

Please note that due to high call volumes in some jurisdictions, phone lines may be rerouted to the CJS Contact Centre. The Contact Centre will transfer calls to the appropriate location if a matter is urgent or if they are unable to assist directly.

For more information on court locations, sittings and contact info, please visit:

https://albertacourts.ca/kb/about/locations-and-sittings

Preferred Method of Contact for Inquiries and Follow-ups

Email is the preferred method of communication, as it allows for more efficient tracking and response. Most emails are responded to within 24–48 business hours.

If you haven’t received a response within that timeframe, please forward your concerns to: KBA.Leadershipteam@just.gov.ab.ca  Be sure to include specific details about the issue you are trying to resolve.

King’s Bench Operations strives to provide consistent messaging and assistance regarding process and procedures. We may also redirect inquiries to:

Rules of Court (Volume II)

Procedures and policy documents

Appropriate departments, when necessary.

Guidelines for Follow-Up Inquiries

To ensure your submission is processed efficiently:

Include “FOLLOW UP” at the beginning of the subject line for follow-up emails.

Include “ATTN SUPERVISOR” at the beginning of the subject line if the matter requires supervisor attention and forward your original submission.

Where to send your filing:

Email filing requests should be sent to the following email addresses for each judicial center:

Naming Convention for Attached Documents

A designated naming convention must be followed for all documents sent to the Court of King’s Bench for filing. If the naming convention as outlined below is not followed, your documents will be sent back to you unfiled, advising you did not use the proper naming convention for the document. Should this happen, you will be required to send a new email, with the proper naming convention and will be required to re-submit all documents you wish to be filed. The purpose of the designated naming convention allows for consistent document file names.

Naming Convention for Email Subject Submissions

A designated naming convention must be followed for all emails sent to the Court of King’s Bench which contain documents for filing. If the naming convention as outlined below is not followed, your documents will be sent back to you unfiled, advising you did not use the proper naming convention for the covering email. Should this happen, you will be required to send a new email, with the proper naming convention and will be required to re-attach all documents you wish to be filed. The purpose of the designated naming convention allows for the immediate distribution of your email and its documents to the designated filing area, and this will ensure faster processing of your filing request. The naming conventions are as follows:

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URGENT

The urgent matters process is detailed here: https://albertacourts.ca/kb/court-operations-schedules/urgent

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