Family & Relationships

Read about the Myths about Chld Support, learn about taxes and child support, and stay up to date with changes to the laws surrounding child support in Alberta.

Get your questions about Adoption Records answered on CPLEA’s Family website.

Watch our informative video for new parents, and read about becoming a private guardian for a child.

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.

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.

A parenting plan is a written document that outlines how parents will raise their children after separation or divorce. This interactive tool will give you some options to develop a personalized parenting plan. This tool is a  resource developed by Justice Canada. It is not intended as legal advice.

Information covered includes: Making plans: A guide to parenting arrangements after separation or divorce – Learn about parenting after separation and divorce and how to decide on the best parenting arrangement for your children and a Parenting Plan Checklist – Read about some of the issues you need to think about when you develop your parenting plan

This activity sheet is a twist on the classic children’s game that helps players learn how to make smart privacy choices by climbing up a ladder when they make a good decision or sliding down a snake because they have shared a password with a friend, for example.

This resource helps parents walk through the steps of creating parenting plan. A parenting plan is a written document that outlines how parents will raise their children after separation or divorce. This interactive tool will give you some options to develop a personalized parenting plan. This tool is not intended as legal advice.

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.

A series of videos that gives instructions to complete and file the paperwork required to get a divorce in Alberta.

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.

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.

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

This brochure is designed as a resource to provide you with the information you need about cannabis along with some effective tools to help you set the stage for a conversation about cannabis and engage in productive discussions with your teen about cannabis and other substance use. The brochure was produced by Drug Free Kids Canada, in collaboration with Health Canada and the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction,

This guide was design for parents to prepare them for the conversations they may need to have with their kids when they first start using digital devices, as they grow and their online activities change, and when things go wrong. The guide is divided into three sections that each deal with a different aspect of digital citizenship:  Respect People’s Feelings, to Respect Privacy and to Respect Property online.

This Alberta government webpage provides information on how to apply to change an agreement or court order for spousal and partner support. You can apply for: an increase, if you’re the recipient of support or a decrease, if you’re the payor of support. Links to the forms required to apply and information on how to complete the forms.

This Alberta government webpage provides information on how to apply to change the conditions of your Custody and Access Order. The information provided includes how to apply if an order is from Alberta and how to apply if an order is from outside Alberta.

Custody is the rights and responsibilities of the children’s care and upbringing. This information is provided by Calgary Legal Guidance. It discusses custody, parenting, and contact of children after separation or divorce.

This Alberta government site provides informtation on how to apply for spousal or partner support if you or the other party lives outside Alberta. An Interjurisdictional Support Order (ISO) application can create, change or enforce a support order when the payor or recipient lives outside Alberta. Did you know you can prepare an ISO application if you: were divorced outside Canada, were never married, were married but a divorce action hasn’t been started, aren’t making a first-time application for support,  and haven’t started a divorce action in Alberta.

This information on how to apply for spousal and partner support in Alberta. You can apply for spousal or partner support as long as you have care and control over a child, even if you’re not their parent. Page provides information on getting started, documents needed, what forms to use, how to file a claim,  As well as information on how to file an interjurisdicational Support Order Applications if the other party lives outside Alberta.

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 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.

This series of plain language resources addresses the needs of individuals involved in the child welfare system. It includes a visual, low literacy guide to the child welfare court process as well as several “need to know” fact sheets. This special project was made possible by funding from the Alberta Law Foundation.

• Becoming a Private Guardian
• I Do Not Agree with a Decision Made by Children’s Services
• I Have Been Contacted by Children’s Service
• My Child is Abusing Drugs… What Can I Do?
• Someone is Trying to Become a Guardian of my Child
• Court Seating Chart – Tips for CYFEA Hearings
• What Happens if a Child is Apprehended?
• Parent or Guardian?

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 card, produced by BearPaw Legal provides information for students and parents on the School Act relating to their rights related to atending school in Alberta, as well as suspension and expulsion from school. See also their video that helps parents through a suspension or expulsion in Alberta schools.http://www.bearpaweducation.ca/videos/suspensions-and-expulsions-school-alberta

Sometimes married couples and common-law spouses may want to  consider a separation agreement when their relationship ends. An agreement will help outline:

• • Division of Property

• • Spousal Support

• • Understanding Assets and Liabilities

• • Custody and Guardianship

• • Child Support

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:

1. A guide to divorce where there are dependent children, one spouse prepares the paperwork, and the other spouse is served with that paperwork. This video tells you about: what an uncontested divorce is.
2. A guide to divorce without dependent children, one spouse prepares the paperwork, and the other spouse is served with that paperwork. This video tells you about: how to fill in the Statement of Claim for Divorce.
3. A guide to divorce where there are dependent children, both spouses do the paperwork together, and come to the courthouse together.
4. A guide to divorce where there are no dependent children, both spouses do the paperwork together, and come to the courthouse together.

This video explains the traditional role of Aboriginal grandparents, the historical significance of family members being severed from one another, and what a grandparent can do to maintain connection to their grandchild in government care in Alberta today. Grandparents will learn about Family Group Conferences, guardianship, kinship care, and visitation and feel empowered in their sacred family role.

These guidelines support the creation of welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environments that foster diversity and nurture a sense of belonging and a positive sense of self . Their purpose is to enable school authorities to use best practices in creating and supporting learning environments that respect diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions. (January 2016)

This web page prepared by the Canadian government has information about parental abduction both inside and outside Canada. It describes how to prevent parental abduction, and what Canadian officials in other countries can and can’t do to help if your child has been abducted.

Catholic Social Services is a multi-function social service agency that serves people of all faiths and cultures throughout central Alberta. Founded in 1961, the agency has grown to deliver more than 100 programs.CSS is divided into Service and Program areas offered in five distinct Regions throughout central and northeast Alberta

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.

This information on adult interdependent relationships is provided by Calgary Legal Guidance. This topic page discusses common-law relationships now called Adult Interdependent Relationships as set out in Alberta’s Adult Interdependent Relationships Act

Alberta Family Mediation Society (AFMS) advocates resolution of family conflict through the use of mediation by qualified professionals. AFMS offers a family-centered conflict resolution process in which an impartial third party (the mediator) helps the participants in negotiating a consensual, informed and fair agreement.

This booklet provides information on the Alberta Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act and explains what happens when someone calls Child and Family Services on their family.

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.

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.

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.

This booklet from Family Law Education for Women explains alternative dispute resolution and when to use it in dealing with family law issues. (PDF – 8 pages)

LawNow is a bi-monthly digital public legal education magazine which has been  published by the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta for almost 40 years.  Its articles  and columns are written in plain language and take a practical look at how the law relates to the every day lives of Canadians.In each issue, LawNow’s family law column takes a look at a specific topic in this area of law and explains it clearly and concisely.

These “How old do I have to be?” FAQs are provided by the Canadian Legal FAQs, a website of the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta. They provide answers for youth about age-related issues under various topics: family, criminal, medical and health related, legal and financial, activities (such as driving), school and work.

This online resource is from the Student Legal Services of Edmonton.  Includes information about what Marriage is and property within a Marriage. This resource is also available to download as a PDF.

This online resource is provided by Service Alberta. It contains information about: Before You Get Married; Contacting a Marriage Officiant; Marriage Ceremony Requirements; Civil Ceremonies; Religious Ceremonies; as well as information about: Marriage Documents; Married Last Name; Marriage Commissioner Listing; Marriage Licenses; Marriage Officiants; Ordering Marriage Certificates and Documents; Permanent Marriage Commissioner Appointments; Registration of Marriages; Religious Organizations and Clergy Registration; Temporary Marriage Commissioner Appointments; and a link to the Vital Statistics Office.

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.

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 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.

Provides information on the various kinds of custody arrangements and provides links to Justice Canada publications which may be of use to parents going through separation or divorce.

This online resource from Alberta Human Services relates to situations when an adult would like to become a guardian of a child to support or replace the parent. It explains private guardianship and the process of applying for a private guardianship order.

This booklet is for grandparents who want to know about their rights and options with respect to their grandchildren. For grandparents who are currently being, or are worried that they will be, denied access to their children, this booklet explains what is involved in obtaining access with your grandchildren through a “contact order”. For grandparents who are concerned about the safety and well-being of their grandchildren, this booklet outlines the various options that would enable those grandparents to care for those grandchildren.

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.

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.

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.

Separating from a spouse or partner can be stressful and overwhelming. This page provides practical and helpful tips to help you prepare for legal issues that may come up.

For adult interdependent partners and unmarried couples, their relationship ends after they separate. For married couples, their marriage legally ends when the court grants a divorce.

When a married couple separates or divorces, the spouse with the higher income sometimes pays money to the spouse with the lower income to balance the financial impact of the divorce so that the outcome is fair. This money is called “spousal support”. This resource provides basic explanations about spousal support agreements.

The act outlining the rights and responsibilities of people living in “common law” relationships (not marriages) or who have signed an interdependent relationship agreement.

The Adoption Council of Canada (ACC) is a national non-profit organization and registered charity and is the umbrella organization for adoption in Canada. By providing a library and clearinghouse on adoption issues,  publications and information about adoption news and resources as well as referrals to adoption inquiries, the ACC raises public awareness of adoption, promotes the placement of waiting children, stresses the importance of post-adoption services, and supports search, reunion, and unqualified access to identifying information for both adopted adults and their birth parents.

This online resource from the Government of Alberta provides information about the Alberta government adoption process and applications as well as private adoption options. Includes links to other adoption resources and a link to profiles of children available for adoption.

gThis section of the Government of Alberta: Family Violence website is dedicated to the prevention of family violence and bullying. The page provides activities and resources to help prevent family violence and domestic violence, and support healthy relationships.

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 of the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta (CPLEA) focuses on how Canadian law protects and affects older adults. Topic areas covered include elder abuse, planning for the future, personal and family relationships, and various other issues (e.g. consumer, travel).

This online resource is from the Student Legal Services of Edmonton. This information is for  non-married parents, Adult Interdependent Partners and married parents not seeking a divorce. Topics include: Who Is A Parent?; Who Is A Guardian?; Parenting Orders; Parenting Time; The “Best Interests” Of The Child; Contact Orders; Court Orders; Frequently Asked Questions. This resource is also available for download as a PDF.

This online resource is from the Student Legal Services of Edmonton. Includes information about: What is the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act?; General Information; Appeals; Frequently Asked Questions. This resource is also available for download as a PDF.

This publication explains the provisions of the Act as they apply to pregnancy, breastfeeding, maternity and parental leave, adoption, and childcare obligations. It also provides resources for finding more information about maternity leave and parental leave, which includes leave for adoptive parents.

The Adult Interdependent Relationships Act was passed during the fall 2002 sitting of the provincial Legislature and became law on June 1, 2003. This act amended several Alberta laws for people in unmarried relationships involving economic and emotional interdependency. These laws set out the financial and property benefits and responsibilities attached to these relationships. The act covers a range of personal relationships that fall outside of marriage, including committed platonic relationships where two people agree to share emotional and economic responsibilities.

This site of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) is provided by the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta. The law with regard to common law relationships in Alberta was changed in June 2003 with the introduction of the concept of ‘adult interdependent relationships’. This resource answers questions about how such a relationship is defined and the nature of adult interdependent partner agreements.

This section of the Government of Alberta: Children and Families website offers services, supports and resources to protect children and youth from harmful situations.

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.

The Office of the Child and Youth Advocate (OCYA) is an independent office of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, mandated to work with vulnerable young people. 

This includes young people receiving or attempting to access services under the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act and the Protection of Sexually Exploited Children Act; or who are involved with the youth justice system. 

This service is offered by the Government of Alberta, Family Violence Prevention Unit. Trained staff can help get you to safety and give you information on supports and financial aid. 

If you think someone you know is experiencing family violence, reach out by calling or texting the Family Violence Info Line at 310-1818, toll-free 24/7, or using the confidential online chat. Phone services are available in more than 170 languages.

This handbook from Alberta Civil Liberties Research Centre provides information on a range of legal subjects of interest to seniors (people who are 65 years of age and older). It is written in “plain English” and is intended as a basic resource for seniors, their friends, relatives and advocates. In a question-answer format, the handbook provides an overview of issues facing seniors, including abuse, mental health, guardianship and trusteeship, personal directives, powers of attorney and consumer protection. Includes a glossary and list of senior-serving agencies in Alberta. (PDF – 150 pages, 2010)

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.