Representing yourself: a short glossary of the basics
The essentials
- The court clerk’s office : the court office where you file documents.
- First, everything has to be proven : keep a record of what you send and what you receive.
In short, from this page. Every statement is sourced below.
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When you represent yourself, half the stress comes from the words. Here is a short glossary of the basics, in plain language. This is general information: every court has its own particularities, to be checked on its website.
The words you run into everywhere
- The court clerk’s office : the court office where you file documents.
- An exhibit : a document or a photo filed as evidence, usually numbered (P-1, P-2 for the plaintiff; D-1, D-2 for the defendant).
- Serve / notify : to officially deliver a document to the other party, in a way you can prove afterward.
- A bailiff : the officer who can serve documents and enforce certain decisions.
- A demand letter : a formal letter asking someone to do (or stop doing) something, often before taking legal action.
Two useful habits
First, everything has to be proven : keep a record of what you send and what you receive. Second, the court’s silence is not neutrality : if a decision isn’t respected, no one will notice it for you — you have to document and act.
Official sources (consulted July 18, 2026)
Every statement in this guide is backed by an official source. How we verify and correct.
- Fondation du Barreau du Québec, “Seul devant la cour” (information guides for self-represented litigants)
- The websites of the courts concerned (Superior Court, Court of Québec, TAL, TAT) for the rules specific to each
Found an error in this guide? Report it: corrected within 72 hours, and the correction log is public.
Reminder: this is general information; it is not information for anyone in particular. For advice on your situation: legal aid (eligibility based on income), a community justice centre, Juripop, or the Barreau referral service.