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Overview
To file an appeal at the Court of Appeal, the person filing the appeal – called the appellant – must order and file the appeal record.
There are three ways to create an appeal record:
- Create it yourself
- Have a commercial preparer create it
- Have Transcript Management Services create it
The steps for each method are outlined below.
Creating your own appeal record
Step 1. Order your court transcript
All transcripts must be ordered online.
The order a courtroom transcript webpage explains how to order a transcript.
Step 2. File your electronic transcript
After you’ve received your transcript, file an electronic copy with the Court of Appeal.
Step 3. Gather your documents
Civil appeals and criminal appeals need different documents.
Civil appeal documents
For civil appeals, find out which documents you must include with your appeal record in the Alberta Rules of Court: Sections 14.18 to 14.20.
Criminal appeal documents
For criminal appeals, find out which documents you must include with your appeal record in the Alberta Rules of Court: Sections 16.13 to 16.14.
Step 4. Finish your appeal record
Civil appeals and criminal appeals must have their appeal records prepared differently.
Consult the appeal record requirements to find out how to correctly prepare the appeal record for your situation.
Civil appeals
For civil appeals, review important information about your appeal record in the Alberta Rules of Court: Sections 14.15 to 14.22.
Criminal appeals
For criminal appeals, review important information about your appeal record in the Alberta Rules of Court: rules 16.12 to 16. 15.
Step 5. File and serve your documents
The appellant is responsible for:
• filing all copies of the appeal record with the Registrar of the Court of Appeal
• serving a copy of the appeal record to all other parties
Consult the deadlines for filing an appeal record.
Having a commercial preparer create your appeal record
You may have a commercial preparer create your appeal record. A commercial preparer will charge a fee for their services.
Having Transcript Management Services create your appeal record
Transcript Management Services (TMS) is a Government of Alberta service. There is a fee for having TMS create your appeal record.
Access to justice is a key consideration. TMS prioritizes requests from self-represented appellants, incarcerated individuals, and Legal Aid files. TMS also creates appeal records for internal legal counsel at Alberta Justice. The capacity of TMS to prepare appeal records for external lawyers and law firms is dependent on TMS workload.
Step 1. Order your court transcript
All transcripts must be ordered online.
The order a courtroom transcript webpage explains how to order a transcript.
Remember to note the transcript order number(s). You will need the order number(s) so that TMS can create your appeal record.
Note: If you have Legal Aid coverage, refer to the NOTICE on the Request for Appeal Record form (linked in Step 2). You do not have to order your own court transcript if you wish TMS to bill Legal Aid directly for the cost of transcripts and preparation of the appeal record.
Step 2. Fill out the Request for Appeal Record form
Download and complete the Request for Appeal Record form.
Fillable PDF forms may not open properly on some mobile devices and web browsers. See the step-by-step guide or contact PDF form technical support.
Step 3. Provide your documents
Refer to the NOTICE on the Request for Appeal Record form.
Send an email to TMS at [email protected] with the subject line “Appeal Record Request – Appeal [appeal number].”
Include the following documents as attachments to your email:
- Request for Appeal Record form
- filed Notice of Appeal
- table of contents (civil cases only)
- copies of documents that you must include with your appeal record according to the Alberta Rules of Court:
- Civil appeals – Alberta Rules of Court: rules 14.18 to 14.20
- Criminal appeals – Alberta Rules of Court: rules 16.12 to 16.15
If you do not have an email account, call TMS at 403-297-7392 to make different arrangements.
Step 4. Get and pay for your appeal record
TMS will email you an electronic copy of the appeal record so that you can proceed to Step 5.
When the appeal record is ready, TMS will contact you and:
- tell you how to pay for it
- tell you where to pick it up
- provide an invoice, if required
As of May 2025, TMS charges $40 per hour to prepare appeal records.
If you pay at a court location, make sure you bring a copy of your TMS invoice. All court locations accept these payment methods:
- Visa, MasterCard, American Express
- direct debit
- cash
- money order or bank draft
There is no GST.
TMS accepts cheques from law firms.
Table 1. Preparation times for appeal records
| Type of appeal | Appeal record preparation time |
| Fast track appeal | Up to 3 weeks |
| Sentence appeal – sentence of 6 months or less | Up to 4 weeks |
| Sentence appeal | Up to 8 weeks |
| Conviction appeal | Up to 8 weeks |
| Standard appeal | Up to 8 weeks |
Step 5. File and serve your appeal record
The appellant is responsible for:
- filing all copies of the appeal record with the Registrar of the Court of Appeal
- serving a copy of the appeal record to all other parties
Consult deadlines for filing an appeal record for more information.
Contact
Court of Appeal
Contact the Court of Appeal for questions about:
- contents of the appeal record
- Court of Appeal rules
Hours: 8:15 am to 4:00 pm (Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 855-738-4747
Email for Calgary appeals: [email protected]
Email for Edmonton appeals: [email protected]
Transcript Management Services
Contact TMS for questions about:
- getting an appeal record from TMS
- paying for your appeal record
Email: [email protected] (preferred)
Hours: 8:15 am to 4:00 pm (Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 403-297-7392 (to leave a voice message on an automated reception line)
Mailing address
Transcript Management Services (TMS has no public-facing counters.)
Suite 1901-N, Calgary Courts Centre
601 5 Street SW
Calgary, Alberta T2P 5P7