What Does a Family Court Counsellor Do in Alberta, and Do You Have to See One?

If you are heading to family court in Alberta without a lawyer, you may have been told to meet a Family Court Counsellor first. It can sound like one more hurdle at a stressful time, and it is not always clear whether it applies to you.

This article explains what the counsellor does, who has to meet one, what the service cannot do, and the situations where the requirement does not apply. Court processes have changed recently, so it also points you to where to check current steps.

This article covers the law of Alberta.

What a Family Court Counsellor is

Family Court Counsellors are a free Court and Justice Services resource for self-represented people who are in parenting disputes. They help you choose and complete the right forms. They are not lawyers, and they cannot give legal advice.

They also do not advocate for either side. Think of them as guides to the paperwork and the process, not as someone who takes your side or tells you what outcome to aim for.

Who has to meet one before filing

The meeting is one of four mandatory requirements under Alberta's Family Justice Strategy. It applies to people with dependent children who do not have a lawyer. The strategy applies in Greater Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer and Grande Prairie, and the requirements must be met before family law applications are filed.

In the Court of King's Bench, the Family Focused Protocol took effect January 2, 2026 and applies at all judicial centres. It requires the mandatory requirements, including a Family Court Counsellor meeting for self-represented parties where available, unless the matter is urgent or a waiver has been obtained.

The other three requirements are worth knowing about, because the counsellor meeting sits alongside them:

• Alternative Dispute Resolution, attempted within the past 6 months if you disagree on any issue, with a Participation in ADR form filed.
• The Parenting After Separation course if children under 18 are affected.
• A Financial Disclosure Statement if you are filing for child support, spousal support, adult interdependent partner support or family property division.

What counsellors help with, and what they do not

If your issue is support, a different kind of help may suit you better. Court forms information coordinators are one option, covered below.

When you do not have to meet a counsellor

• Your children live outside Calgary, Edmonton, Grande Prairie or Red Deer, or your only claim is for child support. In those cases a self-represented person is not required to complete a counsellor intake before filing a parenting-related application.
• The matter is urgent under the Family Focused Protocol. 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.
• You cannot complete a requirement and file a Request to Waive/Defer Mandatory Requirements form. Listed reasons include family violence concerns, technological barriers, language barriers and being unable to locate the other party.

Waiver steps under the Family Focused Protocol have been revised during 2026, so check albertacourts.ca for the current process before you rely on it.

If safety is a concern, ADR processes under the Family Justice Strategy include screening for family violence, and you can contact 211 at any time of day.

Other free help and what to do next

Court forms information coordinators give free help finding court forms, understanding when to use them and how to fill them out. They are in Calgary, Grande Prairie, Edmonton and Red Deer for civil, criminal and family matters, and in Lethbridge and Medicine Hat for family matters only. They are open Monday to Friday, 8:15 am to 4 pm.

Court and Justice Services can be reached toll free at 1-855-738-4747.

• Work out where your children live and what you are asking the court for.
• Check whether the matter is urgent or whether you need a waiver.
• Complete the other mandatory requirements that apply to you.
• Contact Court and Justice Services or a court forms information coordinator.
• Check albertacourts.ca for current Family Focused Protocol steps.
• Consider a lawyer if your situation is complicated or safety is a concern.

A lawyer can confirm which requirements apply to your situation and whether an exception fits.

Frequently asked questions