Family Focused Protocol: How the Alberta Court of King’s Bench has Overhauled the Family Law System
Written by: Grace Snider
Starting on January 2, 2026, the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta implemented a new family law process known as the Family Focused Protocol (“FFP”).
The FFP is based upon the understanding that putting families through the combative, argumentative process of litigation causes significant physical and psychological damage, especially to children.
The FFP is a structured process aimed at reducing conflict and minimizing harm to families and children who are navigating the divorce and separation process.
How does the FFP work?
The Three Swim Lanes
The FFP has three different paths depending on the nature of the matter, namely:
The Regular Family Process: For most family matters requiring court assistance.
The Desk Process: For matters that do not require an in-person hearing, such as consent orders or waivers.
The Urgent Process: For emergencies, such as risk of harm to one of the parties or a child or a party attempting to remove a child.
Do I need to enter the Regular Family Process under the FFP?
Parties only need to enter the Regular Family Process if they are seeking relief from the Court, such as an order for:
Parenting;
Spousal support;
Child support; or
Division of family property.
Parties only seeking to complete their divorce can proceed through the usual Desk Process.
Key Features of the New Regular Family Process
1) Completing Mandatory Requirements
The following mandatory requirements must be completed before parties are allowed access in the new system:
Parenting After Separation Course
Required for parents with children under 18 years old. The certificate of completion must have been obtained within the past two (2) years. If the certificate of completion is more than 2 years old, the parent will need to re-take and complete the course.
Financial Disclosure
Parties must have completed and served all relevant financial disclosure documents if seeking support or property division, prior to attending Alternative Dispute Resolution.
If one party does not provide their financial disclosure, the other party can seek a waiver to enter the process. This is done to prevent further delays that may be caused by a party who refuses or is negligent in producing their financial disclosure in a timely manner.
Visit our previous post here, which explains what financial disclosure is in family law.
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
Parties must have attempted ADR within the last six (6) months on all issues in dispute.
For example, if you were in dispute about child and spousal support, a 4-way meeting with yourself, your lawyer, your spouse, and their lawyer where you attempted to resolve child and spousal support issues would count as ADR.
Meeting with a Family Court Counsellor
Required for self-represented parties where available.
Waivers or deferrals of the Mandatory Requirements may be requested through the Desk Process if compliance is not possible, but these will only be granted in specific circumstances.
2) Step-by-Step Summary
Below is a summary of how a file goes through the Regular Family Process:
File and serve a commencement document, such as a Statement of Claim for Divorce or Statement of Claim for Divorce and Division of Family Property.
Submit a Mandatory Intake Triage Package ("MIT Package") including proof of the Mandatory Requirements, and proof that the MIT Package was served on the other party.
The MIT Package then undergoes review by a Case Management Officer ("CMO").
Once the CMO accepts the MIT package, parties attend a MIT Conference with a Family Roster Justice to address interim issues and set directions.
After the MIT Conference, parties proceed to a Settlement Conference after full disclosure and compliance with procedural orders.
Settlement Conferences are mandatory before trial and aim to resolve issues efficiently. Judicial guidance and accommodations (e.g., cultural considerations, child's voice) will be provided.
If matters are still unresolved after the Settlement Conference, parties finalize litigation plans and prepare for trial.
Both the MIT Conference and Settlement Conference will take place in person in a courtroom. If either party needs to attend the Conferences remotely, they must submit a request for permission from the Court to attend remotely.
How is it different than the previous system?
The FFP replaces Family Docket Court, Early Intervention Case Conferences, and most chambers applications. The goal is to streamline cases and encourage resolution without unnecessary delays and the litany of interim applications experienced under the old system.
For example, if one party, Jane, completes the Mandatory Requirements, but the other party, John, does not respond within the ordered deadlines, Jane is not prevented from moving forward with their application, despite no response being given by John.
The FFP is designed to move cases toward resolution within approximately eighteen (18) months of the Settlement Conference. This is significantly faster than the current family law court system.
Get Guidance from an Experienced Family Lawyer in Edmonton
Navigating changes like Alberta’s new Family Focused Protocol can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re already dealing with the stress of separation, parenting decisions, or financial matters. Having the right legal guidance ensures you understand your options, meet all requirements, and move forward with confidence.
At SB LLP, we specialize in Family Law and can assist clients with navigating the new Family Focused Protocol. Whether you’re just starting the process or need help navigating the new system, we provide clear, practical advice tailored to your situation. Feel free to contact our Family Law lawyers should you require further information or assistance.
*Disclaimer: This article provides legal information and is not intended nor to be construed to provide legal advice.
