Can I represent myself in family court?
Short answer
Yes. In Quebec, you can act on your own before the court in family matters, but a person who represents themselves has to follow the same rules of procedure and evidence as a lawyer, and has to present their own evidence to the judge.
In detail
JuridiQC devotes an entire section to people who act on their own, precisely because it is demanding. You have to gather and organize all the evidence you want to put before the judge, and JuridiQC acknowledges that obtaining certain documents can be complex and that information on how to proceed is sometimes hard to find.
One practical tip from the site: to avoid additional delays, you can attach all the necessary documents, including the evidence you want to present to the judge, at the time you file your application.
The protocole de l'instance (case protocol), notifying documents and meeting deadlines are among the steps you will have to master. Public resources exist to support you: JuridiQC, the centres de justice de proximité (community justice centres) and, depending on your income, legal aid.
What to document
A structured, paginated file: a chronology of the facts, numbered exhibits, a copy of everything you file and proof that it was notified to the other party. Note every hearing date, every deadline and every document the court asks for. When you represent yourself, it is organization, more than eloquence, that sets a well-run file apart.
Put your facts in writing, free. Writing your version down early, keeping your documents dated and preparing your questions for a lawyer: the tool is there to document, never to advise.
Open the application Up to 3 files, no card · see the plans
Official sources
- JuridiQC — Separating or divorcing without a lawyer: what does it involve?
- JuridiQC — The case protocol: how it works
Related questions
- Am I eligible for legal aid for a custody case?
- What happens when the DPJ receives a report?
- What are my rights as a parent dealing with the DPJ?
- What is the difference between a voluntary measures agreement and going to court with the DPJ?
- Do grandparents have the right to see their grandchildren?
See all the answers · the full guide collection · Lire en français
What this page is not
This is general legal information about the law of Quebec and Canada, dated and sourced. It is not legal advice, not a strategy, and not a prediction about the outcome of a case. In Quebec, only lawyers and notaries may give legal advice (Act respecting the Barreau du Québec, ss. 128 and 133). Laws and amounts change: the official source always prevails over us.