Yes, divorce records are public in Alberta. Under the open court principle, the Court of King's Bench keeps civil and family court files open to public inspection unless a judge orders otherwise. A civil file search costs $10, and certified copies of filed documents cost $10 per document as of July 2026.
Alberta divorce proceedings fall under Canada's federal Divorce Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 3 (2nd Supp.), s. 3, which sets the one-year residency rule, while public access to the resulting court file is governed by the common-law open court principle. This means most people asking "are divorce records public Alberta" will find that the basic case details — party names, file numbers, and filed documents — are accessible to anyone willing to pay the $10 search fee. Privacy protections exist, but they are the exception and require a court order.
Key Facts: Alberta Divorce Records
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Court with jurisdiction | Court of King's Bench of Alberta |
| Civil file search fee | $10 per search (as of July 2026) |
| Certified copy fee | $10 per document (as of July 2026) |
| Filing fee (Statement of Claim for Divorce) | Approximately $260–$300 (includes $10 Central Registry fee) |
| Waiting period | 31 days after divorce judgment before it takes effect |
| Residency requirement | 1 year ordinarily resident in Alberta (Divorce Act s. 3(1)) |
| Grounds | Breakdown of marriage (Divorce Act s. 8) |
| Property division type | Equitable distribution under the Family Property Act |
| Records default status | Public (open court principle) |
Are Divorce Records Public in Alberta?
Divorce records are public in Alberta by default. The Court of King's Bench of Alberta values the open court principle, meaning that except where restricted by law or a judge's order, courtrooms are open and court records and exhibits are available to view or copy. Anyone can request a civil file search for $10, making Alberta divorce filings among the more accessible provincial court records in Canada.
The open court principle is a foundational rule of Canadian law, not a discretionary policy. Courts in every province except Quebec keep civil and family case documents open to public inspection. In practice, this means that everything filed and presented as evidence in an Alberta divorce — the Statement of Claim for Divorce, financial affidavits, and any court orders — can be inspected by members of the public and the media. The Divorce Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 3 (2nd Supp.) itself does not prohibit or restrict publication of divorce court files. If you want privacy, you must proactively apply for a sealing order, publication ban, or Restricted Access Application, because the burden always falls on the person seeking to close the record. Generalized concerns about embarrassment do not meet the legal test.
What Information Is Contained in a Public Divorce Record?
A public Alberta divorce record contains the party names, court file number, filing dates, the Statement of Claim for Divorce, and the final divorce judgment. Certified copies cost $10 per document. Sensitive financial affidavits and details about children may be filed but can be shielded through anonymization or a Restricted Access Application granted by a Court of King's Bench judge.
When you conduct a divorce records search in Alberta, the file typically discloses the full legal names of both spouses, the court action number, the date the divorce proceeding was commenced, the grounds relied upon, and the status of the case. The core documents in the file include the Statement of Claim for Divorce, any Statement of Defence or Counterclaim, affidavits, and the Divorce Judgment. Financial statements and parenting-related evidence are often the most sensitive materials. While these documents are technically part of the public file, Alberta courts allow parties to request that children be referred to only by initials and that identifying information be sanitized. These privacy measures must be requested before trial — they are not applied automatically to public divorce filings.
How to Search Divorce Records in Alberta
To search divorce records in Alberta, use the Court of King's Bench Civil Search through Alberta eServices. The search costs $10 and covers civil, family, divorce, bankruptcy, and appeals cases. You can search by party name or by court action/file number. Certified copies of specific documents cost an additional $10 per document. Contact the Alberta Courts Contact Centre at 1-855-738-4747 for assistance.
The Court of King's Bench Civil Search is the primary tool for a public divorce records search in Alberta. Requests are submitted through the provincial eServices portal, and court staff conduct the search of the Court's records. A few important limitations apply. First, the search covers only Court of King's Bench matters — it does not search the Alberta Court of Justice or Court of Appeal. Second, results are not guaranteed to be complete, because documents may be filed but not yet recorded in the system. Third, accuracy of the party name matters — if the name entered is inaccurate, the Court cannot guarantee the record will be located. For historical divorces filed anywhere in Canada from July 1968 forward, the federal Central Registry of Divorce Proceedings (CRDP) in Ottawa can identify the court, file number, and year, though it does not provide document copies.
How Much Does a Divorce Records Search Cost in Alberta?
A divorce records search at the Court of King's Bench of Alberta costs $10 per search as of July 2026. Certified copies of filed court documents cost an additional $10 per document. The Central Registry of Divorce Proceedings in Ottawa charges no fee to identify a case but does not release copies. As of July 2026, verify current amounts with your local Court of King's Bench registry.
The cost structure for accessing Alberta divorce records is straightforward and modest compared to litigation fees. A single civil file search request costs $10, which pays court staff to locate the matter. If you need official proof of a specific document — such as a Certificate of Divorce or the Divorce Judgment — each certified copy carries a separate $10 charge. These access fees are distinct from the fee to file for divorce, which is approximately $260 to $300 for a Statement of Claim for Divorce, inclusive of the mandatory $10 Central Registry of Divorce Proceedings fee that every Canadian divorce carries. As of July 2026, court fees can change; confirm current figures at your local Court of King's Bench registry or the official alberta.ca court fees page before submitting a request.
Divorce Records Access Fees: Comparison Table
The table below compares the common ways to access Alberta divorce information and their approximate costs as of July 2026. Verify all amounts with the Court of King's Bench before relying on them.
| Access Method | What You Get | Cost (as of July 2026) | Provider |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil File Search | Confirmation a case exists, file number | $10 per search | Court of King's Bench (eServices) |
| Certified Copy | Official copy of a filed document | $10 per document | Court of King's Bench registry |
| Certificate of Divorce | Proof the divorce is final | $10 per certificate | Court of King's Bench |
| Central Registry (CRDP) Search | Court, file number, year of a Canadian divorce | No fee (no copies provided) | Government of Canada, Ottawa |
| Restricted Access Application | Court order limiting public access | Application filing fees apply | Court of King's Bench (judge) |
Can You Seal or Restrict Access to Divorce Records in Alberta?
Yes, you can seal or restrict access to divorce records in Alberta, but only by court order. Parties may file a Restricted Access Application at the Court of King's Bench, generally at least five days before a hearing, or request a sealing order or publication ban. Alberta courts apply the demanding Dagenais/Mentuck test, requiring a serious risk to justice that alternatives cannot address.
Restricting public divorce filings in Alberta is possible but difficult, because the open court principle is presumed. The Court of King's Bench offers several tools. A Restricted Access Application asks the court to limit who can view your divorce records; it is typically filed at least five days before a scheduled hearing. A sealing order prevents specific documents from being viewed without court permission, and a publication ban stops the media from reporting particular information. To seal divorce records, the applicant must satisfy the Dagenais/Mentuck framework: the order must be necessary to prevent a serious risk to the proper administration of justice, reasonable alternatives must be inadequate, and the benefits must outweigh the harm to open-court and free-expression interests. Generalized assertions about privacy or embarrassment are not enough — courts require particularized grounds and specific evidence.
What Privacy Protections Exist Without Sealing the Whole File?
Alberta courts offer lighter privacy measures short of sealing an entire divorce file. Parties can ask to be referred to by their initials rather than full names, and identifying information about children can be sanitized or removed. Any such divorce records privacy protection must be requested before the beginning of trial. These measures preserve the open court principle while reducing personal exposure in public divorce filings.
Not every privacy concern requires a full sealing order. Alberta's Court of King's Bench recognizes proportionate measures that balance transparency against the legitimate interests of the parties and, especially, children. Anonymization — using initials instead of full legal names in the reported style of cause and documents — is the most common lighter protection. Courts will also permit the removal or redaction of identifying details about children, consistent with the family-law focus on children's best interests. The critical procedural point is timing: these protections must be requested before trial begins, because a court cannot retroactively anonymize a record that has already entered the public domain. The Court Information Access Guide for Alberta, published on the Alberta Courts website, sets out the categories of access restrictions in detail, including private hearings, publication bans, and sealed files.
Are Divorce Records Public in Alberta If the Divorce Was Uncontested?
Yes, uncontested and joint divorce records are public in Alberta just like contested ones. The open court principle applies regardless of whether spouses agreed. A joint or desk divorce still generates a public Statement of Claim for Divorce and Divorce Judgment searchable through the $10 Court of King's Bench Civil Search. Privacy requires a separate court order in every case, contested or not.
Many people assume that an amicable, paperwork-only divorce stays private, but that is not how Alberta's public-records system works. Whether spouses litigate for years or file a joint application processed without a hearing, the resulting documents are filed with the Court of King's Bench and become part of the public record. The searchable file will still show both spouses' names, the file number, and the final Divorce Judgment. The simplicity or cooperativeness of the divorce has no bearing on whether the record is a public divorce filing. If confidentiality matters to you, you must apply for a Restricted Access Application or another protective order — cooperation between spouses does not automatically confer privacy under Alberta law.
How Long Are Divorce Records Kept in Alberta?
Divorce records in Alberta are retained indefinitely as part of the permanent court record. The Court of King's Bench maintains active files, and older records may be transferred to the Provincial Archives of Alberta. Nationally, the Central Registry of Divorce Proceedings has recorded every Canadian divorce filed since July 1968, meaning divorce records remain searchable for decades after the judgment.
Alberta divorce records do not expire or automatically disappear. The court file — including the Statement of Claim for Divorce and the Divorce Judgment — is preserved as a permanent public record. Active and recently closed files remain accessible through the Court of King's Bench Civil Search, while older historical files may be housed at the Provincial Archives of Alberta. At the national level, the Central Registry of Divorce Proceedings in Ottawa has maintained a searchable index of every divorce filed in a Canadian court since July 1968. That registry can confirm the specific court, file number, and year of a divorce, which is useful for genealogical research or verifying a prior marriage's dissolution before remarrying. The long retention period reinforces why proactive privacy applications matter — a public divorce record can be located many years later.