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The Appeals Process

In Person Hearings

You may be required to appear in person.

  • You must appear at the address of the Appeals Tribunal hearing location indicated on your notice.
  • You should take the notice with you.
  • Please arrive before the time for your hearing.
  • If you are not there on time, the hearing officer will wait fifteen (15) minutes before starting the hearing.
  • If you don’t participate in a hearing, the hearing officer may decide against you.

    • An attorney or other representative of your choosing may represent you. If you cannot afford an attorney, free or low cost assistance may be available to you through your local legal services organization or Bar Association. The Appeals Tribunal does not provide attorneys or representatives.

    Be prepared to testify about the issue(s) stated on the Notice of Hearing. All testimony must be given under oath or affirmation. You will be allowed to question or "cross examine" testimony offered by the opposing party. The hearing officer will also ask questions.

    You may bring one or more witnesses, however, your witness(es) should have actual, direct, personal knowledge of the facts. Generally, that means an "eye-witness." Testimony by a witness with second-hand knowledge may be permitted, but the hearing officer’s decision cannot be based on second-hand evidence. Signed statements, even if notarized, may be submitted, but such evidence is not as good at the testimony of a witness with direct knowledge.

    If you have documents that you intend to offer as evidence, please bring two (2) copies, one for the hearing officer’s file and one for the other party.

    If you want to subpoena a witness, a document, or an object to be present at the hearing, you must send or fax a written request to the Appeals Tribunal stating why the witness or item is important to your case. You must provide the name and complete address of the witness or the person holding the document. Subpoena requests must not be abusive or oppressive and they must not delay the proceedings unnecessarily. Subpoena requests must be reasonable in number and must be received in time to be processed and served before the hearing. Please allow seven (7) days for subpoena requests to be processed and served.