November 6, 2020 – Elimination of Probate Charges
“The Law Fees and Probate Charge Act (C.C.S.M. c. L80) has been amended as of November 6, 2020. Effective immediately, the Act is now titled The Court Services Fees Act and charges relating to applications for probate or administration have been eliminated.”
All three levels of court have released notices regarding new measures due to the new spread of cases in Winnipeg.
Notice – All Hearings of the Court of Appeal will be conducted remotely until further Notice (November 2, 2020) – starting on Tuesday, November 3, 2020 all appeals will be heard remotely by videoconferencing; and all motions or applications will be heard remotely by teleconferencing. Instructions for accessing teleconference and videoconference are included.
Additionally, “precautions will be put in place by Sheriff Services, which includes enhanced COVID screening questions and temperature screening for all members of the public and court stakeholders, including counsel,upon entry to the Law Courts Building.”
Notice – Additional Measures in respect of attendance at the Law Courts Complex (November 2, 2020) – Details and clarifies the measures that the Queen’s Bench has been taking to reduce transmission of COVID. Also explains the additional measures by Sheriff Services upon entering the Law Courts Buildings.
Notice – COVID-19 – Update (November 2, 2020) – Explains new precautions by Sheriff Services. “will continue to hear both in custody and out of custody matters in all of the major court centres and the circuits which remain open. All existing protocols remain in force.” It will also be reassessing protocols on a weekly basis.
For a list of all notices and practice directions related to COVID-19 visit manitobacourts.mb.ca/covid-19/.
Re: Covid-19 Suspension and Re-Opening Of Additional Courts (September 28, 2020)
Following a previous notice, courts will not be re-opening in God’s Lake Narrows in October. They will also not be re-opening in Garden Hill for local reasons.
The courts will re-turn to sitting in Altona, Arborg, Ashern and Lundar, and is sitting in Easterville. There is no confirmed date for Pukatawagan.
Beginning October 1, 2020, the Provincial Court of Manitoba will hear in-custody and out of custody trials and out of custody dispositions in the communities of: Altona, Arborg, Ashern, and Lundar.
Health protocols are in effect in these areas and the courts are asking any one with symptoms to not come to court. More details and updates are included in the full notice.
Notice to the Profession (September 28, 2020)
Under the new Manitoba Health protocol, those that have come into contact with an individual diagnosed with COVID-19 while in the courts will now be notified. Members of the profession will not be informed of every potential exposure in the courthouse. A reminder that masks are required at all time while in the courthouse, except, when in a courtroom, the presiding judge stipulates otherwise.
For a list of all notices and practice directions related to COVID-19 visit manitobacourts.mb.ca/covid-19/
COVID – Use of Masks – Province wide (September 8, 2020) – Due to challenges of social distancing in smaller courthouses, the Use of Masks policy set out in the September 7th notice will apply province wide starting September 10, 2020.
COVID – Use of Masks (September 7, 2020) – Due to a positive test of COVID-19 in the law courts building, starting September 8, 2020 masks will be mandatory in certain areas of the courthouse. Details of these areas and further information can be found in the notice.
Court of Queens Bench Notice
Amendments to the Law Fees and Probate Charge Regulation (322/87 R) have updated the filing fees for documents in the Court of Queen’s Bench Family Division.
Effective immediately, a Notice of Opposition to Variation has a filing fee of $35.00.
The amended regulation also clarifies the fee for filing a Request for Triage Conference as $35.00.
All Notices and Practice Directives for the Queen’s Bench can be found here.
On August 19, 2020, health orders were issued which rated the Prairie Mountain Health Region a Code Orange – or a restricted designation which indicates community transmission of COVID19 is occurring. Given this, the Manitoba Courts are issuing this Notice, now requiring all persons who enter any court facility where a Code Orange is in place to wear a mask. This currently includes only the Prairie Mountain Health Region. Masks may be non-medical masks and will be available as required at all affected court facilities as of Monday August 31, 2020.
Full notice available here.
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