The email gives you a date, a courtroom number and about an hour of a Justice's time, and suddenly it feels very real. Edmonton family lawyers are often asked what that hour is actually for. Most people walk into a mandatory intake triage conference without a clear answer. It is not a trial, but it is a real court appearance, and preparation changes how the hour goes.
Short answer
A Mandatory Intake Triage Conference is a one hour hearing before an assigned MIT Justice of the Court of King's Bench of Alberta, held in a courtroom and on the record, and it is the gateway step in the Family Focused Protocol that has applied to King's Bench family files since January 2, 2026.
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It is a real court appearance. Treat it like one.
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Attending remotely requires advance approval through a Hearing Mode Request Form.
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The full package must be filed first, including proof you met the Mandatory Requirements.
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Book within 30 days of the compliance approval email or resubmit your materials.
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After the MIT, further interim applications are permitted only in exceptional circumstances.
What is a Mandatory Intake Triage Conference?
A Mandatory Intake Triage (MIT) Conference is the first appearance in a Court of King's Bench of Alberta family file under the Family Focused Protocol. It runs about one hour, in a courtroom, before a Justice assigned to your file, and is recorded.
That last point matters. The MIT is less formal than a trial, and the Justice will usually try to move the parties toward agreement, but everything said is on the record. Attending by video or phone requires approval through a Hearing Mode Request Form.
Where does the MIT Conference fit in the Family Focused Protocol?
The Family Focused Protocol took effect on January 2, 2026 and replaced Family Docket Court in Edmonton and Calgary. It applies in the Court of King's Bench of Alberta, and not to family matters in the Alberta Court of Justice. Alberta's family legislation is summarized at alberta.ca.
Before filing, parties generally have to meet the Mandatory Requirements: the Parenting After Separation seminar, an attempt at alternative dispute resolution such as mediation, an exchange of financial disclosure, and, for self-represented parties where available, a meeting with a Family Court Counsellor. Our guide to Alberta's Family Focused Protocol sets out the streams and waivers, and our guide to getting a divorce in Alberta covers the wider process.
What has to be filed before you can book an MIT Conference?
The MIT conference Alberta families now attend is booked only after a complete package clears intake. It generally includes:
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Proof that the Mandatory Requirements were met, plus the Applicant's Disclosure Package
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The commencement document, such as a Statement of Claim, a Family Law Claim (Form FL-10) or an Originating Application
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A Request for Mandatory Intake Triage (MIT) Conference Form
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An MIT Summary Form
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A Form FL-18 Application with a supporting affidavit, if you are asking for relief
Then watch the calendar. Remember, you must book the conference within 30 days of receiving the compliance approval email, or the materials must be resubmitted, which adds weeks, as our article on how long a divorce takes in Alberta explains.
What can the MIT Justice do?
The MIT Justice has broad powers for a one hour appearance, but the format sets limits.
| The MIT Justice can | The MIT Justice generally will not |
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| Grant interim relief that is properly applied for | Conduct a trial or resolve contested facts on a full record |
| Make procedural orders and set the next steps | Hear a long account of the relationship history |
| Order reports | Give legal advice to either party |
| Appoint Child's Counsel | Decide every issue in the file in one hour |
| Engage in mediation with the parties | Take further interim applications later, absent exceptional circumstances |
| Give any other appropriate direction | Reopen settled matters |
Why does the MIT Conference matter so much?
Under the Family Focused Protocol, further interim applications after the MIT Conference are permitted only in exceptional circumstances. That is why the conference matters: it shapes the file, and an issue you leave out is one you may not easily bring back.
If something urgent comes up afterwards, the route is a Request for Meeting with Case Conference Justice, not a fresh application. That is a narrower door, by design.
What should you do in the two weeks before your MIT Conference?
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Read your MIT Summary Form and affidavit again, out loud. You will be held to what is in them.
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Confirm the date, time, courtroom and whether you have approval to appear remotely.
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Reduce your position to the three or four issues that need deciding now.
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Write one sentence per issue saying what you want and why.
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Update anything financial that has changed, including pay or child care costs.
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Gather proof of the Mandatory Requirements in case it is questioned.
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Draft a parenting schedule you could live with, not just the one you want.
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Arrange childcare, time off work and parking so the morning is calm.
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Ask counsel which points to concede. Conceding small ones makes the big ones land.
What should you bring to the courtroom?
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A copy of every document you filed, tabbed and in order
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Your one page list of issues and what you are asking for
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A short chronology with dates, in case you are asked
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Current income information, including recent pay statements
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A pen, a notepad and the file number
How should you present yourself?
Feeling nervous before a first court appearance is completely normal. Arrive early and dress as you would for a job interview. Address the Justice as "Justice" and stand when you speak unless told otherwise. Do not interrupt the other party, their counsel, or the Justice, because interruptions cost credibility you will want later.
Keep your language about the children rather than your former partner. A parent who can describe a workable schedule is easier to help than one who arrives with grievances. Turn your phone off before entering the Court of King's Bench courtroom.
What should you not expect?
Do not expect to tell your whole story. An hour split between two parties is short, and the Justice has read the materials.
Do not expect a final result either. Interim relief and directions are common, but resolving parenting, support and property in one appearance is not. Property questions usually need more work, as our guide to dividing family property in Alberta shows.
Frequently asked questions
What happens at a Mandatory Intake Triage Conference?
The assigned MIT Justice reviews the filed materials, identifies the real issues, and directs how the file will proceed. The Justice may grant interim relief properly applied for, make procedural orders, order reports, appoint Child's Counsel, or work with the parties toward agreement. It runs about an hour, on the record.
Can I attend my MIT Conference by video?
Only with advance approval. A Mandatory Intake Triage Conference is attended in person, in a courtroom at the Court of King's Bench. To appear by video or telephone you must request it in advance through a Hearing Mode Request Form, and wait for approval before assuming you can call in.
Do I need a lawyer for an MIT Conference?
You are not required to have counsel, and self-represented parties appear regularly. The conference moves quickly, the Justice will expect you to know your own materials, and the limits on later interim applications make the appearance more consequential than it looks. Many people at least get advice beforehand.
What if I miss the 30 day booking deadline?
If you do not book the conference within 30 days of receiving the compliance approval email, your materials generally have to be resubmitted and reviewed again. Nothing is lost permanently, but the delay can be significant. Diarize the deadline the day the approval email arrives.
Can I bring a new application after my MIT Conference?
Generally not. Under the Family Focused Protocol, further interim applications after the Mandatory Intake Triage Conference are permitted only in exceptional circumstances. If something urgent arises, the route is a Request for Meeting with Case Conference Justice. That is why raising every issue at the MIT matters.
Talk to an Edmonton family lawyer
A court date has a way of taking over your thoughts, and steady preparation is the surest antidote to that worry. If you have an MIT date coming up, or you are trying to get a package through intake, a meeting with an Edmonton family lawyer can save weeks. The team at Demas Schaefer focuses exclusively on family law and appears in family matters at the Court of King's Bench Edmonton judicial centre. We offer a free 15-minute telephone or video consultation so you can see how we can help. Call 780-423-2643 or set up an appointment with one of our family lawyers.
About the author
Kristin Plester is a lawyer at Demas Schaefer LLP in Edmonton. Her work includes preparing clients for court appearances under the Family Focused Protocol. More is on her lawyer profile.
Last reviewed: October 5, 2026.
This article provides general information about family law in Alberta and is current as of October 5, 2026. It is not legal advice and does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Family law outcomes depend on the specific facts of each case. If you need advice about your own situation, speak with a lawyer.