Application for Release From Seizure

Last update : March 10, 2025

Acceptance of the terms of use

1. Access to digital court services

2. Use of digital court services

3. Special conditions for the document filing service

3.1 If you are unable to complete your filing in Lexius during a single session, you may retrieve the incomplete filing for up to 60 days by logging into the portal and going to the “Dépôts en cours de rédaction ou transmis” (drafts and filings) section.

This feature is intended to prevent you from losing the information you have entered in the event of an unexpected interruption in the filing process (e.g., if you are unable to pay judicial fees or need to convert a file format for upload). It is your responsibility to use this feature responsibly and to assess whether it is appropriate to upload a document to Lexius without completing the filing.

3.2 Time of filing

If you file a document online outside of court office hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), the document will be considered filed at the beginning of the next business day.

However, if judicial fees are required, your filing will not be legally accepted until those fees are paid in full. If the court clerk determines the costs and fees after your filing, payment must be made within two days of receipt of a notification stating the amount (pursuant to section 107 of the Code of Civil Procedure and section 224 of the Courts of Justice Act).

3.3 Processing of filings

Online filings with the office of the Court of Québec are processed on a priority basis within 24 hours during office hours, excluding holidays.

Online filings with the office of the Superior Court are processed within 24 to 48 hours during office hours, excluding holidays.

You may designate a filing for expedited processing if the request is considered urgent by law or court instruction.

Documents will be processed in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

3.4 Document format and file size requirements

Pleadings may only be filed as PDF files. Exhibits and supporting documents may be filed as PDF, PNG, GIF or JPEG, MP3, DSS, M4A, MP4, WAV or WMA files.

Users can access tools designed to work with word processing software, making it easy to convert documents into formats compatible with Lexius.

PDF files must not exceed 100 MB. PNG, GIF, JPEG, MP3, DSS, M4A, MP4, WAV and WMA files must not exceed 10 MB.

If the file size exceeds these limits, you can reduce it by lowering the resolution, for example. However, you must keep the original file in its original format and on its original storage medium until the judgment becomes final or until the date of the pleading terminating the proceeding, as provided for in section 10 of the Regulation respecting the Pilot project relating to digital transformation of the administration of justice.

Files that exceed the size limits may be submitted to the court office by other means in exceptional cases.

3.5 Description, coding and date of exhibits and supporting documents

You must provide a detailed description of the exhibit or supporting document being filed in the space provided. For example, under “Description,” you might write: Letter from X to Z, stenographer’s notes, sworn statement, expert opinion, etc.

You must code your exhibits and supporting documents in accordance with the rules and instructions of the court.

You must include the relevant date of the exhibit or supporting document when uploading the file.

Typically, the relevant date is the date on the document itself, but this may vary depending on the nature of your request, the supporting facts or the conclusions sought. If you are filing a batch of similar documents, the relevant date is generally the date of the first document.

For example:

• For a birth certificate, two dates may be listed: the individual’s date of birth and the date the registrar of civil status issued the certificate. The relevant date may be one or the other, depending on why you are filing the birth certificate: either to prove the person’s date of birth or to show the date the registrar of civil status issued the certificate.
• For a formal notice, the relevant date is usually the date it was sent. For a contract, it is the date of final signature.
• A transcript of an examination has two dates: the date of the examination and the date the transcript was made by the stenographer. Generally, the relevant date is the date of the examination.

It is your responsibility to determine the relevant date for the exhibit or supporting document you are filing.

3.6 Batch filing

Each file you upload should contain only one document, with the following exceptions.

A file must contain only one pleading, unless the rules of civil procedure or established practice of the courts and partners indicate that a pleading may or must be accompanied by another document. For example, an originating application may include a summons or notice to appear. Proof of notification of a document may also be attached to that document or its extracts.

While a file should generally contain only one document, you can upload batches of similar documents in a single file. For example, you may include multiple invoices in the same file in a claim for payment for services rendered.

3.7 Discrepancies

If there is a discrepancy between the information you enter on the Lexius platform and the information in the uploaded document(s), your filing may not be processed. To avoid this, make sure you enter the correct information and upload the correct document.

3.8 Filing in an existing court record

Filing in an existing court record is limited to:

1. For non-contentious proceedings: court records opened since April 24, 2023;
2. For other matters: court records opened after the Lexius filing service became available for that particular matter (e.g., class actions or commercial proceedings).

3.9 Compliance with the terms of use

If you submit a document that does not comply with the terms of use, it may not be processed by Lexius or the court office, and therefore may not be included in the court record.

4.1 Any pleading, exhibit or other document filed through Lexius, including photographs of real evidence, may be included in the digital court record. This allows authorized persons to review the materials subject to any access restrictions imposed by law or court order.

By using Lexius, you authorize the MJQ and the offices of the Superior Court and the Court of Québec to reproduce, publish and make available by telecommunications to authorized persons the documents you file through Lexius for the purpose of maintaining digital court records, filing and remotely accessing the documents in those files. This authorization is granted with no territorial or time limit.

4.2 The Lexius platform and its content—including documents, texts, images and software—are protected by intellectual property rights, in particular under the Copyright Act. Any use of these rights, including reproduction, adaptation or public display, in whole or in part, is prohibited without the written authorization of the MJQ.

If you are authorized to access a digital court record, please note that some documents may be copyrighted by a third party, such as a party to the case.

You agree to respect the copyrights of the documents you access through Lexius, including not reproducing or publicly distributing them for commercial purposes. You must contact the copyright holder for information regarding reproduction restrictions on specific documents.

4.3 The Lexius name is an official trademark of the Gouvernement du Québec. Its use is prohibited without the authorization of the MJQ.

The Privacy Policy forms an integral part of the rules governing use of Lexius.

6.1 Limitation of liability for Lexius

By using Lexius, you acknowledge that the MJQ is not liable for any costs, losses or damages that you may incur:

a. because you did not comply with these terms of use, or
b. because you did not comply with the laws or regulations in effect in Québec or with a court order.

While the MJQ endeavours to develop Lexius, maintain its content and ensure secure navigation, it cannot guarantee:

a. that the content will always be complete, current or error-free;
b. that Lexius will always be accessible, secure or free from viruses or malware.

Although Lexius may contain legal information, it does not constitute legal advice or a legal opinion. Only a lawyer or notary can provide legal advice for your personal situation.

6.2 Limitation of liability for other sites

While using Lexius, you may be redirected to external websites, for example to make a payment. When this happens, you leave Lexius and the MJQ is not responsible for the security of these other sites, their content or your use of them. Each external site has its own terms of use and privacy policy, which you should review.

6.3 Legal system

Lexius’s use is governed by the laws applicable in Québec. Any dispute arising from these terms of use shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Québec.

7.1 Tariff of judicial fees

Applicable judicial fees are determined by the current Tariff of judicial fees in civil matters and the Bankruptcy and Insolvency General Rules.

7.2 Payment of judicial fees

If judicial fees are required, you will be redirected to a secure payment platform. No banking information is collected by the MJQ, the Superior Court or the Court of Québec.

Where applicable, judicial fees can be paid online at the time of filing or later using the invoice or filing number sent by the court office. Payments can only be made with Visa, MasterCard or American Express.