What happens if I have to appear in Chambers?

If you are asked to appear in Chambers, you and the other party will have to go to court to speak to the judge/master directly. Speak to the court registry staff about how to arrange this court appearance. Bring along the note you received when you go to talk to the registry staff.

To prepare, you may want to go to Chambers before your court date so you can see how things happen. Ask the court registry staff which courtroom to go to and watch the proceedings.

In Supreme Court, a female judge is called "My Lady" or "Your Ladyship," while a male judge is called "My Lord" or "Your Lordship." Your application may also be heard by a master, who is called "Your Honour" in court. On your court date, look at the list of cases posted on the bulletin board in the courthouse to find out what room to go to and the name of the judge/master who will hear your application.

On your court date, you will need to take the morning off work. Arrive early, take all your documents — including any Affidavit of Personal Service and your notes — with you, and let the court clerk know that you are present and that your application is going ahead by consent. The court clerk sits at the front of the courtroom.

When your case is called, stand up and go in front of the judge/master. Stand behind the desk at the front of the courtroom. Tell the judge/master your name and say that you are not represented by a lawyer. Then tell the judge/master that you want an order as set out in the draft Consent Order on file. The judge/master may not have read the file in advance. He or she may ask you questions about the order or your Affidavit, and may also want to ask the other party to confirm that the draft Consent Order sets out your agreement.

If you are not sure about something the judge/master or other party has said, ask questions. Try to give your information as clearly as possible. Always limit your statements to the facts that are contained in your Affidavits and attachments and the financial statements.

After that, the judge/master will make a decision. If he or she says, "You may take your order," he or she is granting the order as you have prepared it. If he or she wants some changes made to the order, write down what the judge/master says because you will need this information to make the changes to the order later. You will then have to file the changed order at the registry and pick up the "entered" order later.