Alberta Guardianship Application Document Checklist: What You Need to File

The Filing Package Has Multiple Parts — Miss One and the Clerk Sends You Home

Alberta's guardianship application under the Family Law Act is not a single form. It is a package of documents that must be assembled, sworn, filed and served in the correct order. Court clerks at the Alberta Court of Justice and Court of King's Bench check for completeness at intake, and a missing piece means another trip.

Here is every document and supporting item you need, organised by the stage at which it becomes relevant.

Pre-Court Requirements (Complete Before Requesting an MIT Conference)

In a contested Court of King's Bench matter following the Family Focused Protocol, parties seeking relief must complete the applicable pre-court requirements and submit proof with the MIT package before the court schedules the conference. Even if you expect the parents to consent, having these ready prevents delays if the matter becomes contested.

• Parenting After Separation (PAS) course completion certificate — Free online course, roughly six hours. The certificate is valid for two years; an expired one must be retaken.
• Family Court Counsellor (FCC) meeting confirmation — Required for self-represented parties with dependent children. RCAS coordinates these meetings.
• Financial disclosure documents — Tax returns, Notices of Assessment, income statements and pay stubs exchanged with the other parties.
• Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) participation certificate — Proof of attending mediation, judicial dispute resolution, or another approved process within the past six months.

For a waiver or deferral in the King's Bench process, complete the Request to Waive/Defer Mandatory Requirements (Form CTS13474) and Desk Application (Form KB233). Serve the request, Notice to Respond (Form KB234), and blank Response form (Form KB235) on the respondent, who has five clear days to reply. Then file the request materials with the court along with the response or an affidavit of service. Urgent matters and consent orders follow their own court processes.

Core Filing Documents

These are the forms submitted to the court clerk to initiate the application:

• Form FL-10 (Claim — Family Law Act) — The initiating document that names the relief you are seeking (guardianship under Section 23 of the FLA).
• Form FL-34 (Adult's Statement — Guardianship of Child) — Your sworn affidavit detailing your care history, the child's circumstances and your suitability. This is the evidentiary heart of the application. See our guide to writing the FL-34 for detailed instructions.
• Form FL-35 (Child's Statement — Guardianship of Child) — A child who is 12 or older may use this form to express their views to the court. This is the child's own form, not yours to fill in on their behalf.

Filing fee: $100 at the Court of King's Bench, or $0 at the Alberta Court of Justice. If the Court of King's Bench fee is a hardship, submit a Fee Waiver Application with a sworn Financial Statement and income documentation at the same time you file.

Supporting Evidence (Exhibits to the FL-34)

Attach these as lettered exhibits to your sworn Adult's Statement:

• Proof of care duration — School enrolment records, medical appointment history, or a letter from the child's school confirming your address as the child's home address. The court needs evidence supporting the six-month continuous care threshold.
• Parent's status documentation — A certified death certificate if a parent has died. If a parent is incarcerated, documentation from the correctional facility. If a parent's whereabouts are unknown, your notes documenting search efforts.
• Income verification — Pay stubs, pension statements (CPP, OAS, GIS), AISH statements, or CRA Notice of Assessment.
• Housing documentation — Proof of your address (utility bill, lease agreement, property tax statement).
• Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC) — The FLA does not automatically require this, but proactively attaching a recent PVSC to the FL-34 demonstrates suitability. Costs $30–$75 through local police or RCMP, and processing takes 2–12 weeks depending on the detachment.
• Child Intervention Record Check (CIRC) — Not required by default under the FLA route, but judges can order one under Section 23(3). Having it ready avoids a return appearance. Request it through Alberta Children and Family Services.
• Letters of support — From teachers, family doctors, community workers, or other adults who can confirm the stability and quality of your care arrangement.

Service Documents (After Filing, Before Hearing)

Once the court accepts your filing, serve each living parent and current legal guardian. The child must also be served if 16 or older; serve the Director if the child is in the Director's care or involved in active child welfare proceedings:

• Copies of FL-10 and FL-34 — Serve each person entitled to notice through an adult who is not you (a friend, relative or process server over 18).
• Affidavit of Service (Form CTS3513) — The person who served the documents completes this sworn form confirming the date, time and location of service. Filed with the court as proof.

If a parent cannot be found:

• Affidavit of Attempted Service — Your sworn statement detailing every effort made to locate the parent (social media searches, contacting relatives, employment contacts, land title searches).
• Application for Substitutional Service or Dispensing with Service — Requesting the court allow service by alternative means (email, registered mail to a relative) or waive service entirely.

Consent Order Documents (If Parents Agree)

When parents consent to the guardianship, the package is simpler:

• Consent Order — Guardianship — A draft order signed by all parties (both parents and you) before a Commissioner for Oaths or lawyer.
• Form FL-10, Form FL-34, and the Consent Order — Submitted together for desk review by a justice. Usually no courtroom appearance needed.

Post-Order Documents (After the Order Is Granted)

Once you have the certified guardianship order in hand:

• CRA Form RC66 — Apply when the child starts living with you or the care arrangement changes. CRA assesses eligibility based on who is primarily responsible for the child's care and upbringing. A court order can support the application; if you claim a period that began more than 11 months ago, CRA requires additional supporting documents.
• Copies of the order for institutions — Schools, healthcare providers, insurance companies and any other organisation that needs proof of your authority over the child.

Keeping Track

The biggest risk is not a single missing document — it is losing track of which items are done, which are in progress, and which have expiration dates. A Police Vulnerable Sector Check is valid for 6–12 months. A PAS certificate expires after two years. Court dates have fixed filing deadlines.

Our Alberta Private Guardianship Court Process Guide includes a filing tracker that maps every document against the timeline of your application, so nothing expires while you are waiting on another piece.

See more Alberta guides →