Child support

Family Justice Services are a group of programs and services offered by Alberta Justice in collaboration with the courts of Alberta. This webpage provides general information for those who are representing themselves in a family matter in either Court of Queen’s Bench or The Provincial Court of Alberta. Family Law includes all of the legal issues that arise when couples separate or when parties are parenting children together. Family Law does not include criminal charges against a family member, or issues that arise when a family member dies. This site provides general information only.

How to change an order for child support if the other party lives outside Alberta.

Includes information on:

1. How to change or end an order if you are receiving payments
2. How to change an order if you are making payments
3. What happens after you apply and
4. Appealing the court’s decision

The guiding principle of Canada’s child support law is that children should continue to benefit from the financial means of both parents just as they would if the parents were still together. Therefore, if you are divorced or separated from the other parent, you are both responsible for supporting your children financially. This resource provides an explanation about child support orders and agreements.

Child Support Services is a free service through Alberta Works to help parents with limited incomes get child support agreements or court orders. Single parents and parents of blended families in the following programs are automatically eligible for help through Child Support Services: Income Support, Alberta Adult Health Benefit and Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH). From the left-side menu bar, users can access relevant publications and legislation.

Family Justice Services are a group of programs and services offered by Alberta Justice in collaboration with the courts of Alberta. Family Justice Services works directly with individuals and also with the judges of the Alberta Provincial Court and Court of Queen’s Bench to help people get appropriate solutions for their family law issues.

Family Mediation Services offers free information and assistance with: bringing applications in Provincial (Family) Court concerning custody, access and private guardianship of children; mediation services to assist families in resolving parenting issues, e.g. custody, access, private guardianship and child support; courses to improve parenting skills and communication between parents who are living apart; and other court-directed services intended to aid in resolving parenting disputes.

This booklet will give you general information about the law relating to guardianship, parenting, custody, access and contact, and the principles applied by the court when deciding matters relating to the care of children. If your application deals with these issues, you should read this booklet before starting to fill out your court forms. This information is general in nature, and is not intended to be an in-depth discussion of all legal issues relating to children.

The Alberta Maintenance Enforcement Program (MEP) is authorized by the Alberta Maintenance Enforcement Act to ensure that individuals meet their obligations to pay spousal and child support under the terms of their court orders and certain agreements. In cases of default (non-payment) by the debtor, MEP has the legislative authority to take steps to enforce the support owed. These enforcement tools include registrations at Land Titles and the Personal Property Registry, wage, non-wage and federal support deduction notices, federal licence (passport) denials, motor vehicle restrictions and driver’s licence suspensions. MEP also has access to a variety of databases to assist in locating a debtor or a debtor’s assets or income.

The Family Law Project provides basic legal information on the following topics:

• Divorce
• Separation
• Parenting Time
• Child and Spousal Support (also referred to as “maintenance”)
• Family property
• Adult interdependent partnerships (often referred to as “common-law relationships”)
• Where to go if you need more in-depth information or help

In addition, the Family Law Project assists people in obtaining uncomplicated child support orders and variations, as well as related applications.