1. Alberta’s Court Procedure Booklets
Family Law Information Centre

3. History May 1st 1997 – Child Support Guidelines
Child Support Centres – Edmonton and Calgary
July 1st Family Law Information Centres
New mandate

4. FLIC’s Mandate – Services to the Public
General legal information
Court forms
Written material
Court Procedure Booklets
Child Support Calculations
Help fill out forms
Procedural advice

5. FLIC’s Mandate – Services to the Judiciary
Review divorce files
Child support / spousal support calculations
Research assistance
Friend of the Court

6. FLIC’s Mandate - other
Dispute Resolution Office / Child Support Resolution Office
Court Generated Orders
Stats Collection
Liaise with outside agencies

7. The Court Procedure Booklets

8. IN THE COURT OF QUEEN’S BENCH
JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF _______________
BETWEEN:
(YOUR NAME)
APPLICANT
-and-
(EX/SPOUSE’S NAME)
RESPONDENT
AFFIDAVIT
I, (YOUR NAME), of the City of _________________ in the Province of Alberta, MAKE OATH AND SAY:
1. THAT I am the applicant herein and as such have personal knowledge of the matters hereinafter deposed to except where stated to be based on information and belief and whereso stated I do verily believe.
2. (SET OUT FACTS ON WHICH YOU ARE BASING YOUR APPLICATION)
3. (EACH PARAGRAPH IS TO BE NUMBERED)
4. THAT I make this Affidavit in support of an application for:
(SET OUT WHAT YOU ARE ASKING FOR IN APPLICATION)
Sworn before me at the City of )
______________ in the Province )
of _______________, this ) ______________________________
________ day of _____________ ) Applicant
AD 199___ )
________________________________
A Commissioner for Oaths in and for
the Province of Alberta

9. Plain Language Project - Objectives
To improve Albertan’s understanding of family law matters within the Alberta Justice system
To increase access for unrepresented litigants in family law matters by providing plain language materials that will assist them in representing themselves
To help Albertans wishing to represent themselves in family law matters to do so correctly and efficiently
To demonstrate to Albertans the government’s responsiveness to feedback received from the Justice Summit

10. Steps Three prototypes Field test Re-writes More re-writes
Incorporate prototypes into other 23 booklets

11. CHILD SUPPORT/MAINTENANCE COURT PROCEDURE #
For Staff Use Only
CHILD SUPPORT/MAINTENANCE
COURT
PROCEDURE #
MARRIED/SEPARATED/ DIVORCED
[Note: For the following procedures, a Divorce Action must already be started in QB; if no Order has been made for child support in QB, application may be referred to Provincial Court - booklets do not apply]
NON-MARRIED
Initial Application
* 2 3
Obtaining Income Information from the Other Party
*Note: Booklet #2 should be completed (this may take more than a month) prior to commencing Booklet #3.
Applying for an Order for Child Support 7
Applying for an Order for Child Support under the Parentage and Maintenance Act
Note: Booklet #7 includes the Notice to Disclose
Changing an Existing Order 4
*Note: Booklet #2 should be completed (may take 1 month) prior to commencing Booklet #4.
Changing an Existing Order for Child Support
Consent of
Both Parties 8
*Note: Booklet #2 is optional. May be required if either party is uncertain as to other partys income.
Applying for a Consent Order that Includes Child Support
Opposing
an Application 9
Opposing an Application that involves Child Support
Please note that all procedures are for both parties residing in Alberta. See Provisional Applications if the other party lives outside of Alberta, but within Canada.

12. What I learned Men don’t read instructions
Women ask too many questions

13. What I learned (con’t) Just the facts Keep it simple
You can’t avoid legal terms – provide a glossary
You can’t sell these in a vending machine
People really, really don’t like lawyers

14. Target Audience Age Income level Education level Literacy level
Canadian born v. Immigrant
Gender

15. Plain Languaging Avoid jargon Grammar rules may not apply
 Fill in the name of the person to whom you served the Claim
 Fill in the name of the person you handed the documents to.

16. Plain Languaging (con’t)
Active voice
 The court application was brought by Mr. Smith.
 Mr. Smith started the court application.
Don’t turn verbs into nouns
 It is necessary for you to serve the claim.
 You must serve the claim.

17. Plain languaging (con’t)
Use the same word every time
Keep sentences and paragraphs short
Don’t capitalize unless necessary
Keep information organized
Leave lots of white space

18. Thank you!