Representing Yourself in Alberta Family Court: A Practical Guide

Not everyone can afford a lawyer for a separation or divorce. If you are heading to family court on your own, the process can feel unfamiliar, but there are set steps, standard forms and public services built for people in your position.

This guide walks through where your case is heard, what you must do before court, what filing costs, the risk of a costs award, and where to find help. Processes changed recently, so check current court instructions before you file.

This article covers the law of Alberta.

Where your case is heard and which rules apply

The Court of King's Bench has sole jurisdiction over divorce and property division in Alberta, and it also handles child and spousal support and parenting. The Alberta Rules of Court apply to you in the same way whether you are self-represented or have a lawyer.

The court's family page lists current practice items, including the Family Focused Protocol (NPP 2025-04), the revised Family Pre-Court Mandatory Requirements (NPP 2026-01), Family Streamlined Trials (NPP 2026-02), divorce forms and instructions, and an Urgent Application Process. Read the ones that fit your situation before you start.

Steps before you go to court

Self-represented parties must complete the Family Justice Strategy Mandatory Requirements before using the Family Focused Protocol. That includes, where available, a meeting with a Family Court Counsellor. The exceptions are urgent matters or where a waiver was obtained.

An intake appointment with a family court counsellor is required if a court orders it, or if a parenting, guardianship, contact or enforcement-of-time application is filed in the Court of Justice in Calgary or Edmonton. A self-represented person in Calgary who files certain Family Law Act applications also needs one. These cover parenting, guardianship, contact, enforcement of time, child support, declaration of parentage or exclusive possession.

• Alberta's Family Justice Strategy offers counselling and mediation on parenting, child support and spousal support.
• It also offers an online Parenting After Separation course for parents with minor children.
• Services vary by centre, so confirm what is offered where you live.

How the Family Focused Protocol works

The Court of King's Bench Family Focused Protocol took effect January 2, 2026. It has Regular Family Process, Desk Process and Urgent Process streams.

If you need interim relief, you must request it in the Commencement Document, using Form FL-18 with a supporting affidavit or statements. Otherwise the Mandatory Intake Triage package may be rejected.

The Mandatory Intake Triage is a one-hour on-the-record conference. A Justice assesses interim needs and can grant interim relief, make procedural orders, order reports, appoint Child's Counsel and direct mediation. It prepares you for a half-day Settlement Conference, and it must be booked within 30 days of the CMO's email.

After that conference, further interim applications are allowed only in exceptional circumstances, through a Request for Meeting with Case Conference Justice. Urgent matters follow the separate urgent process. If both parties are self-represented, the Court directs a Court Generated Orders Clerk to prepare the required orders.

Forms and court fees

The Alberta government's family law kits provide court forms for lawyers and self-represented people. They include affidavits, general applications, consent orders, applications about parenting and support, changes to orders, responses and enforcement. Support is available in preparing them, and fillable PDFs may not open properly on some mobile devices and browsers.

Fees can change, so confirm the current amount with the court before filing.

If you cannot afford the filing fees

You can apply for a fee waiver by completing the Application for Fee Waiver and Statement of Finances and submitting it at the court where you plan to file. Household gross income thresholds depend on household size. For example, they are $35,188 a year for 1 person, $43,807 for 2 and $53,857 for 3.

Your household includes relatives by blood or marriage, common-law or interdependent adult partners, and children by blood or adoption if you have at least 50% custody. Bring your latest tax return or notice of assessment, or 3 months of pay stubs or other proof of income, plus the same proof for a spouse or partner.

A waiver covers court filing fees only. You may still owe other costs such as search requests or photocopying. You cannot get one if you are representing a business or an estate.

Costs risks and where to get help

A successful party is generally entitled to a costs award against the unsuccessful party. That is subject to the Court's discretion, so costs in family cases are not automatic. The Court can consider each party's success, the importance and complexity of the issues, conduct that lengthened the case, and settlement offers.

If you represent yourself, the Court may in appropriate circumstances order a costs payment equal to all or part of the Schedule C fees, but you are not automatically entitled to it.

• Call the Court and Justice Services Contact Centre at 1.855.738.4747 for help with court forms and filing.
• Contact a family court counsellor, who can help you prepare for court and explore options. Offices are open 8:15 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday, such as Calgary at 403-297-6981 and Edmonton at 780-427-8343.
• Ask Legal Aid Alberta, whose information line is 1.866.845.3425, whether you are eligible.
• Use the family law resource guides for Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer and Lethbridge, and court forms information coordinators.
• Consider a lawyer for a one-time review of your documents or strategy, especially on property or urgent issues.

Frequently asked questions