Free and Low-Cost Family Law Help in Alberta: What to Know

Separation raises questions fast: where do the children live, what happens to the house, can you get support. Many people cannot pay for a lawyer at the start, and want to know what free help is available in Alberta before they decide anything.

This article walks through free or low-cost options such as family court counsellors, the Court and Justice Services Contact Centre and Legal Aid Alberta, and explains what each one can and cannot do. Services change, so treat it as a map, not a promise of what you will receive.

This article covers the law of Alberta.

Legal information is not the same as legal advice

Most free services give legal information. That means they explain how the process works, what a form is for, or what options exist. Legal advice is different: it applies the law to your exact facts and tells you what you should do. Which of the two a particular service gives depends on the service, so it is worth asking before you rely on it.

That limit matters in family law, because the right step depends on your facts, such as whether there are children, whether there is family violence, and how long you have been together. Use free services to get oriented, then get advice from a lawyer on the decisions that carry real consequences.

Family court counsellors

Family court counsellors are Government of Alberta staff who help self-represented people prepare for court, discuss issues, explore options and get referrals. For child-related disputes they can screen for family violence, negotiate agreements, prepare court applications, arrange court dates and refer you to other programs. The service is for people who do not have a lawyer.

Sometimes an intake appointment is required. It is required if a court orders it, if an application about parenting, guardianship, contact or enforcement of time is filed in the Court of Justice in Calgary or Edmonton, or if a self-represented litigant in Calgary files a Family Law Act application about parenting, guardianship, contact, enforcement of time, child support, declaration of parentage or exclusive possession.

Offices are open 8:15 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday. Examples include Calgary Courts Centre at 403-297-6981, Edmonton (John E. Brownlee Building) at 780-427-8343, Red Deer at 403-340-7187 and Lethbridge at 403-388-3102.

Other free or low-cost sources of help

• Court and Justice Services Contact Centre: 1.855.738.4747, 8:15 am to 4:30 pm Monday to Friday (closed statutory holidays); it offers programs at no cost or nominal charge and help with court forms and filing.
• Legal Aid Alberta: legal advice and representation to eligible people, with an information line at 1.866.845.3425. Whether you qualify depends on its own eligibility rules, so ask it directly.
• Family law resource guides for Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer and Lethbridge, court forms information coordinators, and Alberta Law Libraries.
• The Dispute Resolution Officer Program in Calgary, which helps with child support disputes.
• Canadian Judicial Council handbooks written for self-represented litigants.

Alberta's Family Justice Strategy also offers pre-court services such as counselling and mediation on parenting, child support and spousal support, plus an online Parenting After Separation course for parents with minor children. Availability varies by centre, so check what is offered where you live.

Phone lines and clinics: what to confirm first

Other phone lines and clinics may also be available, but what each one offers is worth confirming before you rely on it. Their hours, topics, income limits and whether they take family matters can change, and some serve only certain cities. Before you count on one, call or check its current information and ask these questions.

• Does it cover family law, and my kind of problem (divorce, parenting, support, property)?
• Does it give information only, or can someone give advice on my situation?
• Is there an income test, a location limit or a waiting list?
• Can it help with forms, or only explain the process?
• Does it represent people in court, or only advise?

What to do next

Start by writing down your main questions and the deadlines or court dates you already have. Gather your key documents, such as any court papers you were served with, income records and anything about the children's schedule.

If you are representing yourself, ask a family court counsellor or the Contact Centre about forms and the steps in your area. If a document has a deadline or you were served with an application, do not wait: a lawyer can confirm what applies to you and what kind of help fits your situation.

Frequently asked questions