Marriage and Divorce

Are you going through a major life change? Here you will find information about marriage, separation, and divorce, including resources on dividing up family property and changing your name.

The resources on this page were hand-picked by the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta's staff as a good place to start.

Significant changes are coming to the Divorce Act on March 1, 2021.  Check CPLEA's publications page for updated resources on family law.

You may also find helpful resources listed under these legal topics: Marriage, and Divorce and separation


CPLEA Suggested Resources

Not sure where to begin finding answers to your questions. Get started with our suggested resources. See additional resources below for more information.

Alberta Resources

This page provides information for Albertans on the topic of separation and divorce. The purpose is to make Albertans aware of their legal rights and responsibilities.

Related legal topic(s): Divorce and separation

The Family Law Project provides basic legal information on the following topics:

  • Divorce
  • Separation
  • Parenting TIme
  • Child and Spousal Support (also referred to as "maintenance")
  • Family property
  • Adult interdependent partnerships (often referred to as "common-law relationships")
  • Where to go if you need more in-depth information or help

In addition, the Family Law Project assists people in obtaining uncomplicated child support orders and variations, as well as related applications. A volunteer from the Family Law Project may be able to assist you in court if you meet our eligibility criteria. Please call to determine whether we can help you with your issue. The Family Law Project also provides a monthly Do-Your-Own-Divorce Clinic. Please call to obtain more information and to determine whether we can help you with your divorce.

NOTE: Changes to Family Law in Alberta ... The laws about property division for unmarried couples changed on January 1, 2020. The new rules are similar to those that apply to married couples.

Related legal topic(s): Child support, Common law relationships, Divorce and separation, Family law general resources, Spousal support

This website is meant to make a traditionally complex area of knowledge easier to understand and more accessible. Many Albertan women will benefit from this resource, including those who are new to the English language, have no background in the law, those who cannot afford legal advice and those in remote communities without internet access. Although it is not meant to replace expert advice the resource is a starting place and a guide for women who don’t know where to look.

Related legal topic(s): Criminal law general resources, Custody and access, Family law general resources, Health issues, Landlord and tenant

Canada/Federal

This booklet from Family Law Education for Women explains alternative dispute resolution and when to use it in dealing with family law issues. (PDF - 8 pages)

Related legal topic(s): Family law general resources, Mediation and alternative dispute resolution

This web page prepared by the Canadian government has information about parental abduction both inside and outside Canada. It describes how to prevent parental abduction, and what Canadian officials in other countries can and can't do to help if your child has been abducted.

Related legal topic(s): Custody and access, Family law general resources, International law

The Collaborative Family Law Process is about cooperation, not confrontation where clients sign a contract agreeing not to go to court. It is mediation and problem solving with collaborative lawyers where clients try to understand each other. Each client is responsible for information gathering and solutions. This website features general information about collaborative law (definitions, process, resources) and a list of collaborative law professionals in Alberta.

Related legal topic(s): Divorce and separation, Lawyers, Mediation and alternative dispute resolution

A parenting plan is a written document that outlines how parents will raise their children after separation or divorce. This interactive tool will give you some options to develop a personalized parenting plan. This tool is a  resource developed by Justice Canada. It is not intended as legal advice.

Information covered includes: Making plans: A guide to parenting arrangements after separation or divorce - Learn about parenting after separation and divorce and how to decide on the best parenting arrangement for your children and a Parenting Plan Checklist - Read about some of the issues you need to think about when you develop your parenting plan

Related legal topic(s): Custody and access

The CBA Family Law Section has collaborated with Justice Canada, the Canada Revenue Agency and Finance Canada to develop the Tax Matters Toolkit. The Toolkit will help family law lawyers and their clients understand how tax rules might affect their future finances on separation or divorce. It explains the various credits, benefits and deductions, and will help you navigate and apply the often complex tax laws to the particular circumstances.

Related legal topic(s): Divorce and separation, Taxation

This online version of a booklet from the Department of Justice Canada can help children between the ages of nine and twelve to learn about family law, and can also help them realize it's normal for them to have an emotional response to their parents' separation. It is also available to download as a PDF.

Related legal topic(s): Divorce and separation

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