How to Book

Expedited Hearing:

  • Both parties fill out Form A and provide it to the Coordinator
  • When filling out Form A the parties choose:
    • attending with or without lawyers;
    • 1 hour or ½ day;
    • providing legal documents (affidavits) or not; and
    • the issues and the result they are seeking
  • The parties should both agree to the issues prior to booking
  • The Coordinator may reject your application if it is deemed not appropriate for the process
  • The Coordinator provides the parties with an Arbitration Agreement and the amount of the retainer. Please see Fee Schedule.
  • The parties sign the Arbitration Agreement and provide it to the Coordinator with the required retainer
  • Once all 3 requirements are complete (Form A, Arbitration Agreement and retainer) the parties choose an available date from the on-line calendar and book a hearing with the Coordinator
  • If the no legal documents (Affidavits) option is chosen: book as early as 3 days prior to hearing
    • Parties are allowed to bring supporting information as set out in “What Do I Need to Bring” (e.g. income tax returns, report cards)
    • All supporting information that you will be presenting at the hearing (not more than 30 pages) should be provided to the other party and Coordinator 48 hours prior to the hearing. If one party receives this information and wants to present information in response, it must be provided to the other party and the Coordinator 24 hours prior to the hearing (not more than 30 pages)
    • The Arbitrator has the right to decide what supporting information will be considered at the hearing. Some information may be inadmissible for various reasons
  • If the legal document (affidavit) option is chosen: book as early as 5 days prior to hearing
    • Both “Initial Affidavits” due 4 days from hearing and both “Response Affidavits” due 2 days before hearing
  • All affidavits are limited to 5 pages and exhibits are limited to 30 pages. Pages over the limit will not be read.
  • The Arbitrator reads all Affidavits prior to the hearing
  • No additional witnesses allowed other than the 2 parties involved
  • The hearing occurs at WK Family Lawyers in a boardroom. The parties are under oath during the hearing.
  • Equal time is given to each party (and their lawyers if present) to discuss/present their case to the Arbitrator.
  • The decision (Arbitration Award) is emailed within 48 hours of the hearing. A draft Consent Order is provided so that the parties can take it to court and seek a court approved Order. WK Family Lawyers can arrange for a lawyer to take your Order to court if requested
  • Appeals are in accordance with the Arbitration Act of Alberta

Regular Hearing

  • Both parties fill out Form B and provide it to the Coordinator
  • When filling out Form B the parties choose:
    • Attending with lawyer or without lawyer with special permission granted by Coordinator;
    • ½ day or full day;
    • Providing legal documents (affidavits, legal brief and cases) or no legal documents with special permission granted by Coordinator
  • The parties should both agree to the issues prior to booking
  • The Coordinator may reject your application if it is deemed not appropriate for the process
  • The Coordinator provides the parties with an Arbitration Agreement and the amount of the retainer. Please see Fee Schedule.
  • The parties sign the Arbitration Agreement and provide it to the Coordinator with the required retainer
  • Once all 3 requirements are complete (Form B, Arbitration Agreement and retainer) the parties choose an available date from the on-line calendar and book a hearing with the Coordinator
  • Book as early as 25 days prior to the hearing
  • Both parties submit “Initial Affidavits” 21 days prior to the hearing; both parties submit “Response Affidavits” 14 days prior to the hearing; Both parties submit a legal brief and cases 7 days prior to the hearing
  • All Affidavits are limited to 10 pages. Exhibits limited to 40 pages. Legal briefs limited to 10 pages. Pages over the limit will not be read.
  • Legal briefs should include relief/result requested, summary of evidence, and legal argument.
  • No legal documents (Affidavits, legal brief, cases) needed if special permission given by the Coordinator
  • The Arbitrator reads all materials prior to the hearing
  • The hearing occurs at WK Family Lawyers in a boardroom. The parties will be under oath
  • Equal time is given to each party (and their lawyers) to discuss/present their case to the Arbitrator.
  • No additional witnesses will be allowed other than the parties involved
  • The arbitration decision/award is emailed within 7 days of the hearing. A draft Consent Order is provided so that the parties can take it to court and seek a court approved order. WK Family Lawyers can arrange for a lawyer to take your Order to court if requested
  • Appeals in accordance with the Arbitration Act of Alberta.