Sometimes married couples and common-law spouses may want to consider a separation agreement when their relationship ends. An agreement will help outline:
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.
A series of videos that gives instructions to complete and file the paperwork required to get a divorce in Alberta.
Calgary Counselling Centre is a charitable organization committed to providing compassionate, professional, and affordable counselling services to Calgarians. They offer counselling and group programs for individuals, couples, parents, families, and youth to help them resolve emotional and social problems. In addition to its may group and individual program services the Centre also offers a Male Domestic Abuse Outreach Program which provides counselling, advocacy, social service referrals (housing, financial aid, legal guidance, support) to men and their families experiencing domestic abuse of all forms.
This resource is from the Student Legal Services and includes information about; Your Legal Name; Changing Your Own Name (including getting married or Adult Interdependent Relationship); Naming Your Child; and Changing Your Child’s Name and Referral Numbers (related to changing your name). This resource is also available to downloaded as a PDF.
The Collaborative Family Law Process is about cooperation, not confrontation where clients sign a contract agreeing not to go to court. It is mediation and problem solving with collaborative lawyers where clients try to understand each other. Each client is responsible for information gathering and solutions. This website features general information about collaborative law (definitions, process, resources) and a list of collaborative law professionals in Alberta.
Divorce 101 in Alberta is an informative and easy-to-understand animated video that guides the viewer through the divorce process. This video will inform people of the steps to take by self-representing themselves, utilizing a mediator, or when to hire a lawyer.
These links are provided by the Government of Alberta and are intended for those who are considering or are going through divorce. There are links related to: Mediation; Finding a Lawyer; Finding Your Own Legal Information; Filing for Divorce; Ordering a Divorce Certificate; Changing Your Name; Changing Your Address; Child Support; Government Financial Assistance Programs; Custody and Access; Counselling and Assistance; and Family Violence Help and Prevention Resources.
This Alberta court page providesaccess to forms and instructions to complete an uncontested divorce. An uncontested divorce is one where custody, access (parenting) and support have been settled. The forms do not deal with property division.
You may obtain the kit which contains the forms required, plus information on how to get the process started from most stationary stores and also the Queen’s Printer Bookstore located in Edmonton and Calgary. Note: The item must be ordered; it cannot be downloaded.
This website provides age-appropriate information to help kids, teens and parents deal with a family break up. Select jurisdiction (Alberta) from the drop down menu. The website was produced by the Justice Education Society in collaboration with Centre for Public Legal Education, Alberta.
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.
Information on getting a divorce in Alberta. Provides general information on how to apply, what forms are required, and how to request a Certificate of Divorce.
These video resources have been produced by Alberta Justice – Resolution Services to assist Albertans going through the divorce process. – There are four vidoes which provide information on the following:
On this webpage Service Alberta provides information on who is elgible, how to make a legal change of name, what are the costs involved, and what to do after you apply.
How is Your Legal Health? The goal of the Legal Health Checks is to encourage people to recognize legal problems early, and to take action when problems are identified. For lawyers, these materials are a way to start conversations with people about the law, how to get legal help and how to work effectively with a lawyer. Topics include:
Albertans now have the choice of taking Parenting After Separation in person or as an eCourse. This eCourse is a six hour seminar offering information to parents about separation and divorce process, the effects of separation and divorce on children, techniques for communication and legal information that affects parents and children. Separating or divorcing parents who live near a judicial centre and have issues concerning child support or parenting time may access this service.
This Alberta government webpage provides information for Albertans on how separation and annulment are defined and how they work in relation to ending a marriage. Information is provided on: adult interdependent relationships, separation agreements and annulment.
This page provides information for Albertans on the topic of separation and divorce. The purpose is to make Albertans aware of their legal rights and responsibilities.
The Family Law Project provides basic legal information on the following topics:
In addition, the Family Law Project assists people in obtaining uncomplicated child support orders and variations, as well as related applications.
The CBA Family Law Section has collaborated with Justice Canada, the Canada Revenue Agency and Finance Canada to develop the Tax Matters Toolkit. The Toolkit will help family law lawyers and their clients understand how tax rules might affect their future finances on separation or divorce. It explains the various credits, benefits and deductions, and will help you navigate and apply the often complex tax laws to the particular circumstances.
This online version of a booklet from the Department of Justice Canada can help children between the ages of nine and twelve to learn about family law, and can also help them realize it’s normal for them to have an emotional response to their parents’ separation. It is also available to download as a PDF.
This website has guides to separation and divorce for kids, for teens, and for parents. The information in the guides for kids and teens is delivered by drawn characters and the content is spoken and written in easily understood language. For parents, in addition to the guide, there are two online courses, Parenting After Separation, and Parenting After Separation: Finances. The kids’ and teens’ guides are also available in French.
