Blogs
Practical, Alberta-focused articles from our family lawyers.
Kantor v Kantor, 2023 ABCA 329: the Alberta Court of Appeal's guidance on when a successful party may recover enhanced costs in a family law appeal.
By Thais Menezes
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Holiday parenting schedules, international travel consent letters and passport exchanges — how Calgary families can plan ahead for the 2026–2027 winter break.
By Adam Bukacel (Student-at-Law)
Read article →In Ahluwalia v. Ahluwalia, 2026 SCC 16, the Supreme Court of Canada recognized a new tort of intimate partner violence — what it means for survivors of coercive control.
By Jennifer Miller
Read article →Burns v Burns, 2023 ABKB 174: when an Alberta court will order the sale of the family home before divorce or property division is finalized.
By Jennifer Miller
Read article →Stoney v Easton, 2025 ABCA 130: when Alberta courts may order interim spousal support despite a disputed waiver in a separation agreement.
By Thais Menezes
Read article →Wilkinson v Pettis, 2026 ABKB 122: how an Alberta court enforced terms reached at family mediation even without a signed separation agreement.
By Austin Ferguson
Read article →A practical look at when reducing the value of family property amounts to dissipation under Alberta's Family Property Act.
By Adam Bukacel
Read article →JDL v HAL, 2022 ABQB 427: why Alberta courts focus on children's best interests today rather than a parent's past mistakes alone.
By Misturah (Misty) Oshodi
Read article →The three grounds for divorce under the Divorce Act, and why Alberta practitioners usually rely on one-year separation instead of adultery or cruelty.
By Adam Bukacel (Student-at-Law)
Read article →How Alberta's 2026 Family Focused Protocol aims to reduce conflict, streamline family matters and encourage alternative resolution.
By Adam Bukacel (Student-at-Law)
Read article →Singh v Smith, 2025 ABKB 715 confirms that under Alberta law, companion animals are treated as property — not as children — after separation.
By Stokes Law LLP
Read article →Grummett v Warholik confirms Alberta courts will award substantial civil damages for the non-consensual disclosure of intimate images.
By Jennifer Miller
Read article →How DCE v DE clarified when courts will appoint independent counsel for a child and the framework Alberta judges now apply.
By Adam Bukacel
Read article →Bilous v Bilous reinforces that Rule 5.18 is a narrow exception — third-party questioning is reserved for truly exceptional circumstances.
By Adam Bukacel
Read article →The SCC recognizes a standalone tort of Intimate Partner Violence, giving survivors of coercive control a distinct civil remedy.
By Misturah (Misty) Oshodi
Read article →If your former spouse stayed in the family home after separation, can you charge them rent? In Alberta, occupation rent is discretionary — not automatic.
By Stokes Law LLP
Read article →How Alberta courts consider family violence allegations within the best-interests-of-the-child analysis in parenting disputes.
By Stokes Law LLP
Read article →Not every serious family-law problem qualifies for urgent court intervention. What "urgent" means in Alberta family law.
By Stokes Law LLP
Read article →What Alberta courts can do when there is a genuine risk that family assets will be hidden, transferred, or dissipated before division.
By Stokes Law LLP
Read article →When a spouse earns income through a corporation, a personal tax return may only tell part of the story. Corporate disclosure obligations in Alberta support claims.
By Stokes Law LLP
Read article →Courts are not always limited to the income on a tax return. When Alberta courts may impute income for child and spousal support.
By Stokes Law LLP
Read article →Peters v Atchooay, 2022 ABCA 347 changed how Alberta courts impute income — bad faith is no longer the focus.
By Stokes Law LLP
Read article →Separation and divorce are not the same thing — and you can be separated while living under the same roof. What separation means in Alberta.
By Stokes Law LLP
Read article →Federal surrogacy rules, Alberta parentage law, and planning considerations for same-sex intended parents.
By Stokes Law LLP
Read article →How pensions are divided after separation in Alberta — defined contribution vs. defined benefit plans, and why timing matters.
By Stokes Law LLP
Read article →Signing a Will is not enough by itself. What testamentary capacity means and why it matters in Alberta estate planning.
By Stokes Law LLP
Read article →A Will can leave a legacy. Practical considerations for Alberta residents incorporating charitable gifts into an estate plan.
By Stokes Law LLP
Read article →Mediation involving family violence cannot be approached like an ordinary dispute. How mediation can be structured to be safe and meaningful.
By Stokes Law LLP
Read article →Will a court enforce your separation agreement years later? What Miglin v Miglin and Anderson v Anderson tell separating couples.
By Stokes Law LLP
Read article →When paying Guideline child support would cause severe financial difficulty, a parent may ask the court to consider undue hardship. Here is how the claim works in Alberta.
By Stokes Law LLP
Read article →When one spouse or partner misspends family assets before or after separation, Alberta courts may take that dissipation into account when dividing property.
By Stokes Law LLP
Read article →Practical steps to protect your passwords, devices, accounts and communications while you go through a separation or divorce.
By Stokes Law LLP
Read article →Cryptocurrency is divided like other family property, but its digital nature creates special risks when it comes to disclosure, valuation and division.
By Stokes Law LLP
Read article →An overview of how Alberta family law recognizes and protects LGBTQ+ couples and families, from marriage and partnerships to parenting.
By Stokes Law LLP
Read article →How Alberta's property division rules apply to adult interdependent partners who separate without having married.
By Stokes Law LLP
Read article →When can a grandparent apply for a Contact Order in Alberta, and what must they prove? A look at the Family Law Act test and recent cases.
By Stokes Law LLP
Read article →A will is not a one-time task. These life changes are common reasons to review and update your will in Alberta.
By Stokes Law LLP
Read article →When someone dies without a will in Alberta, they are considered to have died intestate. Here is what that means for their estate and loved ones.
By Stokes Law LLP
Read article →Family law in Alberta sits at the intersection of two regimes: the federal Divorce Act when parties are married, and the provincial Family Law Act for unmarried parents and adult interdependent partners. Property division for married spouses runs through the Family Property Act, while child support is governed by the Federal Child Support Guidelines and section 7 expense principles. Spousal support is shaped by the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines (SSAG) — non-binding but consistently applied by Alberta judges.
Our insights are written by practising Calgary family lawyers and are designed to help separating couples, co-parents, and unmarried partners understand how these rules apply in everyday situations. These articles are general information about Alberta law, not legal advice for your specific situation. If anything you read here applies to you, book a free 30-minute consultation and we'll talk through it.
