# Can I find Alberta Family Court decisions online? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 26, 2010, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-find-alberta-family-court-decisions-online/558362 "2010-10-26T00:41:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-find-alberta-family-court-decisions-online/558362/1 "2010-10-26T00:41:15Z")
I have found [this search site](http://www.albertacourts.ab.ca/ProvincialCourt/Judgments/tabid/101/Default.aspx), but I can’t find the decision I’m looking for. The site states they post within 48 hours, and the decision I’m looking for occurred on the 18th or 19th, in Family Court. I know it’s a long shot! ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-find-alberta-family-court-decisions-online/558362/2 "2010-10-26T03:42:02Z")
If it’s not on the Provincial Court (Family Division) judgments page, you might try the [Queen’s Bench (Family Division)](http://www.albertacourts.ab.ca/CourtofQueensBench/Judgments/tabid/91/Default.aspx). Some family law matters can only be heard in the QB, so depending on what type of case it was, a reference to Family Court may actually be a reference to the QB Family Division. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-find-alberta-family-court-decisions-online/558362/3 "2010-10-26T06:05:23Z")
I’ve never found that the Alberta Courts site posts decisions as quickly as they claim to post decisions. In addition, it’s awkward for the layperson with little if any experience in searching legal databases; and often doesn’t return results that should be there. I’d suggest using [Canlii](http://www.canlii.org/en/advancedsearch.html)’s advanced search. In spite of being advanced, it’s actually pretty simple. Plug the last names of the parties in the “full text” field, deselect all provinces but Alberta, and click “Search.” You can refine results further by specifying dates, or by selecting “None” under Boards and Tribunals. The downside is that Canlii gets decisions later than the Alberta Courts site does, but given the track record of the Alberta Courts website, that’s not much of an inconvenience. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-find-alberta-family-court-decisions-online/558362/4 "2010-10-26T12:19:02Z")
Thanks guys! I actually ended up finding it last night after some general searching. It was in the Criminal Case section, not in Family Court like I thought. I’m not sure what made me think it would be in Family Court (they are posted), but either way, found it!