- The counsellor meeting applies to people with dependent children who do not have a lawyer, as one of four mandatory requirements in Greater Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer and Grande Prairie.
- Family Court Counsellors give free help with forms but cannot give legal advice, help with support applications or advocate for either side.
- There are exceptions, including child-support-only claims, urgent matters and a Request to Waive/Defer Mandatory Requirements form.
If you are separating and have children, filing a parenting application on your own can feel like a maze of forms and steps. One step that surprises many people is a meeting with a Family Court Counsellor before you file.
Whether you need that meeting depends on where your children live, whether you have a lawyer, what you are asking the court for, and whether your situation is urgent. This article walks through each of those points in plain language.
This article covers the law of Alberta.
Who has to meet a Family Court Counsellor
Alberta's Family Justice Strategy applies in Greater Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer and Grande Prairie, and it sets four mandatory requirements that must be met before family law applications are filed. The meeting with a family court counsellor is the fourth one. It applies to people with dependent children who do not have a lawyer.
The Court of King's Bench Family Focused Protocol, which took effect January 2, 2026, applies to Family and Divorce proceedings at all King's Bench judicial centres. Under it, parties must complete the Family Justice Strategy 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 Alternative Dispute Resolution, the Parenting After Separation course, and financial disclosure. They have their own rules, so the counsellor meeting is only one piece of the process.
What a Family Court Counsellor does
Family Court Counsellors are a free Court and Justice Services resource for self-represented people in parenting disputes. They help you choose and complete forms for parenting, contact, guardianship and access-enforcement applications.
The counsellor is not a lawyer. Think of the meeting as practical help with paperwork and the process, not as a place to get a legal opinion on your case.
What a counsellor cannot do
- They cannot give legal advice.
- They do not help with child support or spousal support applications.
- They do not advocate for either side.
If you need advice about your rights, your options or how a court might view your situation, that is a question for a lawyer. A counsellor can help you choose and complete the right form, but cannot give you legal advice.
When you may not need to meet one
| Situation | What the rule says |
|---|---|
| Children live outside Calgary, Edmonton, Grande Prairie or Red Deer | Not required to complete a counsellor intake before a parenting-related application |
| Your only claim is for child support | Not required to complete a counsellor intake before a parenting-related application |
| Urgent matter in King's Bench | Exempt from the mandatory requirements |
| You cannot complete a requirement | File a Request to Waive/Defer Mandatory Requirements form |
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.
Listed reasons for a waiver or deferral include concerns about family violence, technological barriers, language barriers and being unable to locate the other party. The Family Focused Protocol waiver process has been revised since it began, so check albertacourts.ca for the current steps before you file.
Safety concerns
All ADR processes under the Family Justice Strategy include screening for family violence, and anyone with safety concerns is told to contact 211, which is available 24/7. If safety is your concern, say so early, because it may affect which requirements apply to you.
What to do next
- Confirm where your children live and whether your case falls in one of the four centres.
- Decide what you are asking for: parenting, contact, guardianship or access enforcement, or support only.
- Ask whether your situation is urgent or whether you need a waiver or deferral.
- Contact a court forms information coordinator for free help finding and understanding forms.
- Call Court and Justice Services at 1-855-738-4747 toll free.
- Check albertacourts.ca for the current waiver and deferral steps.
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.
If your situation is complicated, involves safety, or you are unsure which court or process applies, a lawyer can confirm your next steps.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to meet a Family Court Counsellor if I have a lawyer?
The counsellor requirement applies to people with dependent children who do not have a lawyer. If you have a lawyer, the requirement is aimed at self-represented people, but your lawyer can confirm how it applies to your file.
Can a Family Court Counsellor help me apply for child support?
No. Counsellors help with parenting, contact, guardianship and access-enforcement forms, but not child or spousal support applications. A person whose only claim is for child support is also not required to complete a counsellor intake before filing a parenting-related application.
What if I cannot safely meet or contact the other parent?
You can file a Request to Waive/Defer Mandatory Requirements form, and family violence concerns are one of the listed reasons. If you have safety concerns, you can also contact 211 at any time.
Is the counsellor on my side?
No. A Family Court Counsellor does not advocate for either side and cannot give legal advice. They are there to help you with forms and the process.
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
Links go to official government, court and regulator pages. The law changes — confirm you are reading the current version.
This is a family law question
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