Office of the Sheriff – Civil Enforcement

Civil enforcement agencies employ bailiffs to collect on people’s outstanding debts. These include child and spousal support, court orders, parking fines, rent and taxes.

To pay for outstanding debts, bailiffs take away and sell people’s property, such as vehicles, homes, cash, luxury items and jointly-owned possessions.

When bailiffs are working, they may be accompanied by sheriffs or police officers as a safety measure.

To become a bailiff

Apply at one of the civil enforcement agencies above.

Suspensions and cancellations

We may suspend or cancel a bailiff’s appointment if they:

are convicted of an indictable offence (for example, murder or treason)
are sentenced to serve 2 or more years in prison
are convicted for an offence under
- the Civil Enforcement Act
- any law that concerns fraud, breach of trust or intentionally injuring someone
fail, in our opinion, to comply with the Code of Conduct for Civil Enforcement Bailiffs (page 8 in application form)
do not pay a court order for damages they caused while performing their work duties
make an untrue statement in their bailiff application form
fail to comply with a written notice from our office
do not, in our opinion, have the appropriate character
fail to take ongoing, required training

Responding to complaints

We respond to complaints from the public about civil enforcement agencies and their employees. Our response often includes an investigation, which may result in us:

sending a compliance notice to an agency employee
suspending or cancelling the appointment of an agency bailiff

Investigation procedures

During an investigation, we have the right to:

enter an agency’s premises and inspect them, including any records and items they contain
interview any person about the
- records and items in the agency’s premises
- actions taken by an agency and its employees

If an agency does not allow us to enter their premises, we will get a court order that authorizes us to do that.

Written notices

After our investigation, we may send one or more of an agency’s employees a written notice to comply with the applicable laws and regulations. This notice will direct an employee to do any of the following:

abide by the terms of the agency’s agreement with us
adopt certain practices or procedures
stop carrying out certain practices or procedures

If an employee does not comply with the notice, we may apply for a court order to enforce it.

Procedure manual

You can find more information about the procedures, legislation and information needed to operate a civil enforcement agency or act as a bailiff, by purchasing the Civil Enforcement Procedure Manual.

Activity and complaint reports

Contact

Connect with Civil Enforcement:

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-422-2481
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Fax: 587-759-5355
Email: [email protected]

Mailing address:
Office of the Sheriff - Civil Enforcement
9th Floor NW, J. E. Brownlee Building
10365 97 Street NW
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3W7

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