Canada · Province guide
Separation and divorce inAlberta.
Family law is provincial. Here is how it works in Alberta: the property rules, support, how to file, what it costs, who enforces it, and every FairWell guide and tool set up for Alberta.
Official source: www.alberta.ca · Court forms: albertacourts.ca
Property division
The Family Property Act applies to married spouses and to adult interdependent partners. Property acquired during the relationship is divided equally unless that would be unjust; exempt property (pre-relationship, gifts, inheritances) is kept but its growth is divisible.
Child and spousal support
Federal Child Support Guidelines; Alberta runs a Child Support Recalculation Program that updates table amounts annually. Alberta Child Support Guidelines apply to unmarried parents. Divorce is federal under the Divorce Act: one year living separate and apart (or adultery or cruelty). Child support for divorcing parents follows the Federal Child Support Guidelines; spousal support is guided by the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines.
Filing for divorce
Court: Court of King's Bench of AlbertaDivorce is filed by Statement of Claim for Divorce (or joint claim) in the Court of King's Bench. Filing fees are in the low hundreds; waivers are available. Parents of minor children must complete the Parenting After Separation course before a divorce is granted.
Pensions
Pension division under the Employment Pension Plans Act and Family Property Act allows a matrimonial property order to direct the plan.
Deadlines
Family property claims should be brought within two years of divorce or, for adult interdependent partners, two years of separation.
Enforcement and legal aid
Support is enforced by the Maintenance Enforcement Program (MEP). Support orders and filed agreements can be registered with the provincial maintenance enforcement program, which collects through wage garnishment, licence suspension and federal interception. Legal aid: Legal Aid Alberta.
Read next
Guides for Alberta
Filing for an uncontested divorce in Canada
GuideWhat divorce costs in Canada
GuideChild support in Canada
GuideSpousal Support Advisory Guidelines explained
GuideProperty division across Canada
GuidePensions and CPP credit splitting
GuideSeparation and Canadian taxes
GuideIndependent legal advice
GuideCommon-law separation guide
GuideYour separation date controls everything
GuideHidden assets: warning signs
GuideJoint debt at separation
GuideWhen your ex won't pay
GuideSeparating when there is abuse
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Alberta
Documents built for Alberta
Separation agreements, parenting plans and financial disclosure structured to Alberta's requirements and linked to the legislation above, then reviewed by a local family lawyer.
Sources and further reading
This page is legal information, not legal advice. It summarises how the process works in Alberta so you can plan; the official sources above are where current fees, forms and deadlines live, and they are the final word if anything here differs. When you're ready, the assessment and the documents are built for Alberta and reviewed by a local lawyer before you sign.