- The Family Focused Protocol took effect January 2, 2026 and applies to Family and Divorce proceedings at all Court of King's Bench judicial centres.
- Unless a matter is urgent or a waiver has been obtained, you must complete the mandatory requirements before seeking relief.
- You must book your Mandatory Intake Triage Conference within 30 days of the Court's email.
If you are starting or responding to a family or divorce case in Alberta's Court of King's Bench, the rules changed in 2026. A new set of court steps, called the Family Focused Protocol, now shapes how your case moves through the court.
This guide explains the three streams, what counts as urgent, what you need to do first, and what happens at the intake conference. It is general information, not legal advice, and the details can change, so confirm the current steps before you file.
This article covers the law of Alberta.
What the Family Focused Protocol is
The Court of King's Bench Family Focused Protocol (FFP) took effect on January 2, 2026. It applies to Family and Divorce proceedings at all Court of King's Bench judicial centres.
The Court of King's Bench has sole jurisdiction over divorce and the division of property in Alberta. It also presides over child and spousal support and custody and access matters. Parenting, support and similar issues can also be heard in the Alberta Court of Justice, but divorce and property claims cannot.
The three streams
The FFP uses three streams.
| Stream | What to know |
|---|---|
| Regular Family Process | One of the three streams the FFP uses for Family and Divorce proceedings, alongside the Desk Process and the Urgent Process. |
| Desk Process | Includes Time-Sensitive Consent Orders, which can be filed by email and are referred to a designated Family Roster Justice. |
| Urgent Process | For urgent matters, which are exempt from the mandatory requirements. |
Which stream fits your situation depends on the facts, so it is worth confirming with a lawyer or the court if you are unsure.
What counts as urgent
Under the FFP, urgent matters include a risk of violence or immediate harm, a risk of removing a child from the jurisdiction, and Emergency Protection Order reviews.
Parenting time, contact or communication issues count only if they cannot reasonably be delayed. How this applies to other kinds of disagreements depends on your situation, so it is worth confirming with a lawyer. Urgent matters are exempt from the mandatory requirements.
If you have safety concerns, you can contact 211, which is available 24/7.
What to complete before you seek relief
The Family Justice Strategy applies in Greater Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer and Grande Prairie, and its four mandatory requirements must be met before family law applications are filed. In King's Bench, unless the matter is urgent or a waiver has been obtained, parties seeking relief in a family proceeding must complete these requirements. Rules differ by court and location, so confirm with a lawyer or the court what applies where you live.
- Parenting After Separation (PAS) seminar or course, which applies if children under 18 are affected. The certificate must be retaken if it is more than 2 years old.
- Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) if you disagree on any issue. It must have been attempted within the past 6 months, and all parties must file a Participation in ADR form.
- Financial disclosure. Anyone filing for child support, spousal support, adult interdependent partner support or family property division, and the respondent, must each file a Financial Disclosure Statement.
- A meeting with a family court counsellor, which applies to self-represented people with dependent children, where available. A self-represented person whose children live outside Calgary, Edmonton, Grande Prairie or Red Deer, or whose only claim is for child support, is not required to complete a Family Court Counsellor intake before filing a parenting-related application. The counsellor is not a lawyer and cannot give legal advice.
Respondents must file their PAS certificate within 14 days of being served court documents. ADR processes include screening for family violence.
The Mandatory Intake Triage Conference and after
Under the FFP, parties must use the booking link to schedule the Mandatory Intake Triage (MIT) Conference within 30 days of the Court's email.
After the MIT Conference, further interim applications are allowed only in exceptional circumstances. Pre-Trial Conferences must be scheduled 90 days or more before the trial date unless otherwise ordered. Because of this, it helps to raise everything you need at the early stage rather than expecting to apply repeatedly later.
Waivers and what to do next
Under the Alberta.ca Family Justice Strategy, a party who cannot complete a mandatory requirement files a Request to Waive/Defer Mandatory Requirements form. Listed reasons include concerns about family violence, technological barriers, language barriers and being unable to locate the other party. The King's Bench waiver process was revised during 2026, so check albertacourts.ca for the current steps and confirm with a lawyer how they apply to you.
- Decide whether your matter is truly urgent under the FFP.
- Book or complete the Parenting After Separation course if children are affected.
- Try ADR and keep your Participation in ADR form.
- Prepare your Financial Disclosure Statement if money issues are involved.
- Watch for the Court's email and book your MIT Conference within 30 days.
- Check albertacourts.ca for the current waiver steps if you cannot complete a requirement.
- Speak with a lawyer before filing if your situation is complicated.
Court forms information coordinators give free help finding court forms and understanding when to use them.
Frequently asked questions
When did the Family Focused Protocol start?
It took effect on January 2, 2026 and applies to Family and Divorce proceedings at all Court of King's Bench judicial centres.
Do I have to complete the mandatory requirements if my case is urgent?
No. Urgent matters are exempt from the mandatory requirements. Urgent matters include a risk of violence or immediate harm, a risk of removing a child from the jurisdiction, and Emergency Protection Order reviews.
How long do I have to book the Mandatory Intake Triage Conference?
You must use the booking link to schedule it within 30 days of the Court's email. Watch your email closely so you do not miss that window.
What if I cannot complete a requirement, for example because I cannot find the other party?
Under the Alberta.ca Family Justice Strategy, a party who cannot complete a requirement files a Request to Waive/Defer Mandatory Requirements form, and being unable to locate the other party is a listed reason. The King's Bench waiver process was revised in 2026, so check albertacourts.ca for current steps and confirm with a lawyer.
Sources
- Alberta.ca – Family Justice Strategy — alberta.ca
- Court of King's Bench – Family Focused Protocol notice — albertacourts.ca
- Alberta.ca – Support in preparing court forms — alberta.ca
- Court of King's Bench – Family — albertacourts.ca
- Alberta Court of Justice – Family — albertacourts.ca
Links go to official government, court and regulator pages. The law changes — confirm you are reading the current version.
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