Family Justice Services Alberta: Pre-Court Requirements for Guardianship

You're ready to file a guardianship application, and the court tells you there are mandatory steps you need to complete first. The Family Focused Protocol applies to family and divorce proceedings at every Court of King's Bench judicial centre. Its Family Justice Strategy pre-court requirements currently apply in Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, and Grande Prairie. The Alberta Court of Justice has separate regional directives, so the requirements depend on the court and location.

The Four Mandatory Steps

In King's Bench centres where the Family Justice Strategy requirements apply, parties seeking relief must complete the applicable requirements before filing an application for relief, unless the matter is urgent or the court grants a waiver or deferral:

Parenting After Separation (PAS) course. Required when children under 18 are affected. The course is free and online. The certificate is valid for two years; if yours is older, retake the course.

Meeting with a Family Court Counsellor (FCC). Required for self-represented parties with children under 18 or other dependent children. Counsellors can explain court processes, help define the issues, and connect you with relevant services. This isn't legal advice.

Financial disclosure. Required for applications involving child support, spousal or adult interdependent partner support, or division of property. A stand-alone guardianship application does not by itself require financial disclosure.

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). Before an application for relief, participate in an ADR process acceptable to the court within the previous six months, unless waived or deferred.

For the King's Bench Regular Family Process, file and serve an MIT package after completing applicable requirements. It includes proof of compliance, the commencement document, an MIT Conference request and summary, and—if you seek relief—Form FL-18 with supporting statements or affidavits. A Case Management Officer reviews the package before the MIT Conference can be scheduled.

When You Can Skip These Requirements

Not every guardianship application requires the full pre-court process. Standard exemptions include:

• Consent orders — Consent orders are exempt from the King's Bench Family Justice Strategy requirements.
• Emergency or urgent applications — The King's Bench FFP urgent process covers risk of violence or immediate harm, risk a child will be removed from the jurisdiction, Emergency Protection Order reviews, and parenting-time, contact, or communication matters that cannot reasonably be delayed.
• Protection order applications — Emergency Protection Orders or Civil Restraining Orders.
• Interjurisdictional matters — Applications where the applicant or respondent resides outside Alberta.

To request a waiver or deferral, complete Form CTS13474 (Request to Waive/Defer), Form KB233 (Desk Application), and Form KB234 (Notice to Respond). Serve the request and notice with Form KB235 (Response to Request); the respondent has five clear days to return it before you file the package. A Justice may grant a waiver for reasons including severe economic harm, a respondent who refuses to participate or cannot be located, or another sufficient circumstance.

Where to Access These Services

Resolution and Court Administration Services (RCAS) provides court forms information and access to services. Contact Court and Justice Services at 1-855-738-4747. RCAS also provides free Court Forms Information Coordinators who help with paperwork questions.

For Alternative Dispute Resolution, you can use court-connected mediation services or a private mediator. If cost is a concern, court-connected family mediation through Resolution Services is available at low or no cost depending on your income.

Planning Around the Timeline

The pre-court requirements can add several weeks to your timeline, so start them early. The PAS course alone is six hours, and booking a Family Court Counsellor meeting or mediation session may involve wait times depending on your judicial centre.

The Alberta Private Guardianship Court Process Guide maps these steps into a filing timeline so you can work through the pre-court requirements while preparing your forms — rather than doing them sequentially.

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