Alberta civil procedure
When may an Alberta third party plaintiff reply to a defence?
10 days after service on the plaintiff. File Form 20 and serve the third party defendant and each other party. The optional reply uses the plaintiff’s service event even when a third party plaintiff files it. All prescribed recipients must receive the reply.
- Period
- 10 days after service on the plaintiff
- Trigger
- Service of the third party defence on the plaintiff
- Rule
- Alberta Rules of Court, Alta Reg 124/2010, r 3.54(2)(c)
Official Rules of Court volume current June 2026, including AR 79/2026. The official 2026 regulation index was checked for subsequent amendments.
Source guide · No automated date
Check the applicable procedure
The optional reply uses the plaintiff’s service event even when a third party plaintiff files it. All prescribed recipients must receive the reply. The unresolved completion facts are service of the third party defence on the plaintiff and the source-qualified route to file Form 20 and serve the third party defendant and each other party.
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When may an Alberta third party plaintiff reply to a defence?
10 days after service on the plaintiff. File Form 20 and serve the third party defendant and each other party. The optional reply uses the plaintiff’s service event even when a third party plaintiff files it. All prescribed recipients must receive the reply.
Responsible actor. The plaintiff or third party plaintiff choosing a reply.
Service of the third party defence on the plaintiff.
The optional reply uses the plaintiff’s service event even when a third party plaintiff files it. All prescribed recipients must receive the reply.
The optional reply uses the plaintiff’s service event even when a third party plaintiff files it. All prescribed recipients must receive the reply.
Alberta Rules of Court, Alta Reg 124/2010, r 3.54(2)(c)How does this provision count time?
- Identify service of the third party defence on the plaintiff.
- File Form 20 and serve the third party defendant and each other party.
- For file Form 20 and serve the third party defendant and each other party, rule 13.3 excludes the actual event day and counts ordinary calendar days. The source states 10 days after service on the plaintiff. The optional reply uses the plaintiff’s service event even when a third party plaintiff files it. All prescribed recipients must receive the reply.
- Check the actual completion for file Form 20 and serve the third party defendant and each other party. Interpretation Act section 22 distinguishes a holiday from a closed office where an act must be completed. Verify the operative recipient, filing method and opening facts before applying an open-day carry to 10 days after service on the plaintiff.
For file Form 20 and serve the third party defendant and each other party, rule 13.3 excludes the actual event day and counts ordinary calendar days. The source states 10 days after service on the plaintiff. The optional reply uses the plaintiff’s service event even when a third party plaintiff files it. All prescribed recipients must receive the reply.
Check the actual completion for file Form 20 and serve the third party defendant and each other party. Interpretation Act section 22 distinguishes a holiday from a closed office where an act must be completed. Verify the operative recipient, filing method and opening facts before applying an open-day carry to 10 days after service on the plaintiff.
Alberta Rules of Court, Alta Reg 124/2010, r 3.54(2)(c)Which facts prevent one automatic date?
The optional reply uses the plaintiff’s service event even when a third party plaintiff files it. All prescribed recipients must receive the reply. The unresolved completion facts are service of the third party defence on the plaintiff and the source-qualified route to file Form 20 and serve the third party defendant and each other party.
The plaintiff or third party plaintiff choosing a reply establishes service of the third party defence on the plaintiff. The optional reply uses the plaintiff’s service event even when a third party plaintiff files it. All prescribed recipients must receive the reply. 10 days after service on the plaintiff. File Form 20 and serve the third party defendant and each other party. This source scenario does not calculate a final date.
The proposed boundary for file Form 20 and serve the third party defendant and each other party meets a holiday or closed office. Check the actual completion for file Form 20 and serve the third party defendant and each other party. Interpretation Act section 22 distinguishes a holiday from a closed office where an act must be completed. Verify the operative recipient, filing method and opening facts before applying an open-day carry to 10 days after service on the plaintiff. Establish the precise optional pleading and applicable closure facts. No moved final date is supplied.
The third party plaintiff substitutes its own receipt date for service on the plaintiff. The optional reply uses the plaintiff’s service event even when a third party plaintiff files it. All prescribed recipients must receive the reply. Review Alberta Rules of Court, Alta Reg 124/2010, r 3.54(2)(c) with the changed facts. 10 days after service on the plaintiff cannot resolve this branch by itself.
Which conditions and exceptions apply?
- Actual source branch
- The optional reply uses the plaintiff’s service event even when a third party plaintiff files it. All prescribed recipients must receive the reply.
- Source interval and calendar
- For file Form 20 and serve the third party defendant and each other party, rule 13.3 excludes the actual event day and counts ordinary calendar days. The source states 10 days after service on the plaintiff. The optional reply uses the plaintiff’s service event even when a third party plaintiff files it. All prescribed recipients must receive the reply.
- Actor and completion
- The plaintiff or third party plaintiff choosing a reply. File Form 20 and serve the third party defendant and each other party.
- The optional reply uses the plaintiff’s service event even when a third party plaintiff files it. All prescribed recipients must receive the reply.
- The actor is the plaintiff or third party plaintiff choosing a reply. The event is service of the third party defence on the plaintiff. The boundary is optional pleading. The optional reply uses the plaintiff’s service event even when a third party plaintiff files it. All prescribed recipients must receive the reply.
What must the responsible actor complete?
Questions about this procedure
When may an Alberta third party plaintiff reply to a defence?
Who may reply to a third party defence?
Rule 3.54(1) permits either a plaintiff or third party plaintiff to file the reply.
Alberta Rules of Court, Alta Reg 124/2010, r 3.54(2)(c)What form is required?
Rule 3.54(2)(a) specifies Form 20.
Alberta Rules of Court, Alta Reg 124/2010, r 3.54(2)(c)Whose receipt anchors the reply period?
Paragraph(2)(c) uses service of the third party defence on the plaintiff.
Alberta Rules of Court, Alta Reg 124/2010, r 3.54(2)(c)Must the third party defendant receive the reply?
Yes, together with each of the other parties.
Alberta Rules of Court, Alta Reg 124/2010, r 3.54(2)(c)Is the reply compulsory in every third party proceeding?
The provision gives a right to reply. Its filing and service requirements apply when that right is exercised.
Alberta Rules of Court, Alta Reg 124/2010, r 3.54(2)(c)Does ordinary defence reply Form 12 replace Form 20?
No. Rule 3.33 and rule 3.54 describe different pleadings with their own forms and recipients.
Alberta Rules of Court, Alta Reg 124/2010, r 3.54(2)(c)Official sources and review
Provisions used (3)
| Provision | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Alberta Rules of Court, Alta Reg 124/2010, r 3.54(2)(c) | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| Alberta Rules of Court, rules 13.2 to 13.5 | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| Alberta Interpretation Act, section 22 | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |