The Court has set out the presumptive method for any given matter in all its areas of responsibility – Civil, Family, Criminal, Divisional Court and Small Claims Court.

Each of the Court’s Provincial Practice Directions include Presumptive Guidelines for the Mode of Proceeding for Civil, Family, Criminal and Divisional Court. The guidelines are also accompanied by over-arching principles. These overarching principles assist in determining whether the Court should exercise its discretion to deviate from the presumptive hearing method and they include factors such as access to justice issues and the special position of self-represented litigants.

You can find the presumptive method of appearance in each of the Court’s Provincial Practice Directions, however, litigants and counsel should also consult the Regional Practice Directions for any variation to the Provincial Practice Directions. You can find the presumptive method of appearance for Small Claims Court in the presumptive guidelines for the mode of proceedings in Small Claims Court