INFORMATION SHEET

SUPREME COURT CRIMINAL MATTERS

Render by Surety

Sureties are most times required on a Recognizance entered into by accused individuals whom are released by a judge pending a future hearing before the court.

The surety has certain obligations towards the court with respect to the conduct of the accused who is released on a Recognizance.

There are circumstances where the surety is not able to meet their obligations as set out in the Recognizance and they seek to be released from their obligations as surety. In order to be so released the surety must make an application to the Supreme Court and appear before a judge at Crownside.

The Application to Render by Surety form must be duly completed and filed with the court no later than 10:00 a.m. on the Wednesday preceding the Thursday 9:00 a.m. Crownside date selected by the Surety for the applications to be heard. (Crownside is held weekly on Thursday at 9:00 a.m.)

Three (3) copies of the Application to Render by Surety are required to be filed with the court when making such an application. A copy of the Recognizance must be attached to the Application to Render by Surety.

The court will keep the original and the Applicant must serve the other parties named in the application namely, the Provincial or the Federal Crown with a copy of the Notice of Application.

We do recommend that you seek legal advice regarding any court application and suggest that you contact either Nova Scotia Legal Aid in Halifax at 420-6538; 4206550 or 420-3450 or Nova Scotia Legal Aid in Dartmouth at 420-8815 or 420-8818 or Dalhousie Legal Aid at 423-8105 or the Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia at 455-3135.