Divorce Resources in Alberta: Court Forms, Legal Aid & Filing Guide

To file for divorce in Alberta, you must file a Statement of Claim for Divorce (Form FL-1) at the Court of King's Bench, which has sole jurisdiction over divorce in the province under Section 3(1) of the Divorce Act (Canada), R.S.C. 1985, c. 3 (2nd Supp.). You or your spouse must have been ordinarily resident in Alberta for at least one year immediately before filing, as required by Section 3(1)(a) of the Divorce Act. The filing fee is $310, which includes a $300 commencement fee plus a $10 Central Registry of Divorce Proceedings registration fee. You may file electronically through the King's Bench Filing Digital Service at qb-filing-family.alberta.ca or in person at any Court of King's Bench registry office.

Alberta's Family Focused Protocol requires completion of mandatory pre-filing requirements before the court will accept your documents. If children under 18 are affected by the proceeding, both parties must complete the free Parenting After Separation (PAS) eCourse, which takes approximately 3 hours, as mandated by the Alberta Courts in Edmonton, Calgary, and Red Deer. Both parties must also attempt an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process within six months before filing and complete the Participation in ADR form. Financial disclosure is mandatory for claims involving support or property division under Alberta Rules of Court, Rule 12.41.

For an uncontested desk divorce, you must file the complete desk divorce package including the Statement of Claim (Form FL-1), Affidavit of Applicant for Divorce (Form FL-23), Request for Divorce (Form FL-21), proposed Divorce Judgment (Form FL-25), proof of service on the respondent, and the mandatory Desk Divorce Package Checklist. Your spouse must have been served with the Statement of Claim and either filed a Statement of Defence or allowed the 20-day response period to expire under Alberta Rules of Court, Rule 11.2. The court reviews the package, which may take several weeks in larger centres like Calgary and Edmonton.

After the court grants the Divorce Judgment, the divorce becomes final 31 days later under Section 12(1) of the Divorce Act. You may then request a Certificate of Divorce, which serves as official proof that the marriage is dissolved. For a joint divorce where both spouses agree on all terms, file a Joint Statement of Claim (Form FL-3.1) and Joint Affidavit (Form FL-24) instead. Division of family property requires a separate Statement of Claim for Divorce and Division of Family Property under the Family Property Act, R.S.A. 2000, c. F-4.7, and the court will not address property matters in a standard desk divorce.

Alberta mandates that all parents with children under 18 affected by a divorce or separation complete the Parenting After Separation (PAS) eCourse before filing any court application. The course is free, available online at pas.albertacourts.ab.ca, and takes approximately 3 hours to complete at your own pace. The PAS course covers the effects of separation on children, communication techniques for co-parents, legal information about parenting arrangements and decision-making responsibility, and strategies to reduce toxic stress on children.

Upon completion, you receive a certificate that must be filed with the court. Without this certificate, the Court of King's Bench in Edmonton, Calgary, and Red Deer will not accept your application for relief. The court may also order parents to take the Parenting After Separation for High Conflict (PASHC) course in specific circumstances. These requirements are part of Alberta's Family Justice Strategy, established under the authority of the Alberta Rules of Court, AR 124/2010, Part 12 and the Family Law Act, S.A. 2003, c. F-4.5.

Alberta requires parties to attempt an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process within six months before filing any family court application involving disputed issues. This mandatory requirement applies to proceedings in the Court of King's Bench and Court of Justice in Edmonton, Calgary, and Red Deer. Acceptable ADR processes include family mediation, collaborative family law, arbitration, or any process delivered by a neutral third party experienced in parenting conflict and family violence, as outlined in Alberta's Family Law Mandatory Requirements Information Package (March 2025).

The Alberta Family Mediation Program, administered by Alberta Justice Resolution Services, offers free mediation for parents and guardians focusing on parenting plans, communication, and uncomplicated child support. Both parents must register within two weeks of each other at alberta.ca/family-mediation. After completing ADR, parties must file a Participation in ADR form with the court. All ADR processes must include screening for family violence. If ADR is inappropriate due to safety concerns, parties may apply for a waiver through a Family Court Counsellor by calling Court and Justice Services at 1-855-738-4747.

Financial disclosure is mandatory in all Alberta divorce proceedings involving child support, spousal support, adult interdependent partner support, or property division. Under Alberta Rules of Court, Rule 12.41, both parties must exchange sworn financial statements (Form FL-17) disclosing all income, assets, liabilities, and monthly expenses. Section 7.4 of the Divorce Act (Canada) requires parties to provide complete, accurate, and up-to-date financial information throughout the proceeding. Section 31 of the Family Property Act, R.S.A. 2000, c. F-4.7 additionally requires a sworn statement of all property owned, including property outside Alberta.

Required documentation includes three years of personal income tax returns with notices of assessment, recent pay stubs, bank and investment statements (including RRSPs and TFSAs), mortgage documents, credit card statements, and proof of income from all sources. Under Section 65(1) of the Family Law Act, S.A. 2003, c. F-4.5, either party may request further financial information from the other. Failure to provide complete disclosure may result in adverse cost orders, support orders based on imputed income, or the court setting aside a separation agreement, as affirmed by the Supreme Court of Canada in Rick v. Brandsema, 2009 SCC 10.