Alberta
Alberta Child Support Laws (2026): Guidelines & MEP
Alberta follows the Federal Child Support Guidelines (SOR/97-175) to set monthly child support amounts for both divorce and non-divorce cases. The payor parent's gross annual income, the number of children, and the Alberta column of the federal tables determine the basic amount, which courts can supplement with section 7 special expenses. Enforcement runs through the Alberta Maintenance Enforcement Program (MEP).
Jurisdiction scope: This article addresses child support law in Alberta, Canada. It covers the Federal Child Support Guidelines (SOR/97-175) as applied in Alberta, Alberta's Family Law Act (RSA 2000, c F-4.5), and the Alberta Maintenance Enforcement Act (RSA 2000, c M-1). It does not address child support in other Canadian provinces; for a national overview, see the Canada child support laws hub.
For the national framework shared by all non-designated provinces, see Canada child support laws.
Which guidelines apply in Alberta?
Alberta is not one of Canada's three designated provinces (Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Quebec), so the Federal Child Support Guidelines (SOR/97-175) govern all child support proceedings in Alberta. This includes both divorce cases brought under the Divorce Act (RSC 1985, c 3 (2nd Supp.)) and non-divorce cases brought under Alberta's provincial Family Law Act (SA 2003, c F-4.5), in which the Alberta Child Support Guidelines (Alta. Reg. 147/2005) apply. For non-divorce cases, Alberta applies its own provincial child support guidelines, the Alberta Child Support Guidelines (Alta. Reg. 147/2005), which adopt the federal child support tables, so the table amounts match the federal figures. The practical result is that the basic monthly table amount is identical whether parents are divorcing under the Divorce Act or separating under the provincial Family Law Act. The guidelines were made under subsection 26.1(1) of the Divorce Act and are set out in SOR/97-175.
Alberta's Family Law Act (SA 2003, c F-4.5) governs support for children of parents who were never married or who separate without commencing divorce proceedings, with amounts set under the Alberta Child Support Guidelines (Alta. Reg. 147/2005). Section 51 of the Family Law Act directs courts to make child support orders in accordance with the prescribed guidelines (the Alberta Child Support Guidelines), which adopt the federal income tables, section 7 add-ons, shared-parenting provisions, and imputed-income rules, so the same calculation applies in provincial as well as federal proceedings. This unified approach simplifies the framework for Alberta families considerably compared to designated provinces.
How the Alberta child support table works
The Federal Child Support Tables (Schedule I to SOR/97-175) set out the monthly basic child support amount for each province and territory. For Alberta, the table amount depends on three factors: the payor's province of residence (Alberta), the payor's annual gross income, and the number of children requiring support. Because provincial income-tax rates differ across Canada, separate tables exist for each of the 13 jurisdictions; the Alberta column reflects Alberta's provincial tax rates as of the 2023 CRA tax year.
Income for child support purposes is the payor's total income at line 15000 of their most recent CRA T1 General return or Notice of Assessment, adjusted as required by Schedule III of SOR/97-175. Schedule III adjustments cover items such as employment expenses, union dues, and certain business deductions. The table amounts are already calibrated for taxes, so income is used on a gross pre-tax basis; the tables build in the tax treatment.
The federal tables were updated on October 1, 2025 to reflect 2023 CRA tax rules, replacing the prior 2017 tables. Payors earning at or below $16,000 annually now have a basic table amount of zero. Income is stated in $1,000 increments; the monthly amount equals a base figure plus a percentage of income above the lower band for that bracket. The Justice Canada 2025 Child Support Table Look-up tool at justice.gc.ca allows anyone to calculate the applicable amount for a given income, number of children, and province without charge.
A 2025 table update does not automatically change existing court orders made before October 1, 2025. A party seeking to update an existing order must apply to court or use the Alberta Child Support Recalculation Program. For retroactive support covering any period between November 22, 2017 and September 30, 2025, the 2017 tables apply.
Income determination and imputation in Alberta
Alberta courts begin with the payor's line 15000 total income and apply Schedule III adjustments. Where a payor's stated income does not accurately reflect their available resources, a court may impute income under section 19 of SOR/97-175. Grounds for imputation include intentional under-employment or unemployment without a legitimate reason (such as a medical condition or reasonable child-care arrangement), residence in a country with significantly lower tax rates, receipt of income primarily through dividends or capital gains taxed at lower rates, undisclosed trust income, and failure to comply with income-disclosure requirements.
Both parents must provide three years of CRA T1 returns and Notices of Assessment, along with business financial statements, employment letters, or trust documents as applicable. Where income fluctuates significantly from year to year, such as commission sales or oil-and-gas employment common in Alberta, courts may average income over the preceding three years rather than rely solely on the most recent return.
Under section 10 of SOR/97-175, either party may also apply for a different amount on grounds of undue hardship. Undue hardship may arise from unusually high debts reasonably incurred to support the family before separation, unusually high parenting-time travel costs, or a legal obligation to support another child or person. Even when undue hardship is established, no variation is made unless the applicant's household would have a lower standard of living than the respondent's household.
Section 7: special and extraordinary expenses
Section 7 of SOR/97-175 provides for special or extraordinary expenses above the basic table amount. Six categories qualify:
- Child care costs arising from the requesting parent's employment, illness, disability, or education or training.
- Medical and dental insurance premiums attributable to the child.
- Uninsured health-related expenses exceeding $100 annually, including orthodontics, physiotherapy, speech therapy, prescription drugs, hearing aids, and eyeglasses.
- Extraordinary primary or secondary school expenses, including private school tuition where it meets the child's particular educational needs.
- Post-secondary education expenses such as tuition, books, and residence.
- Extraordinary extracurricular activity expenses, meaning costs that exceed what the requesting parent can reasonably cover given their income and the support already received, or that the court otherwise finds extraordinary.
An expense is extraordinary under section 7(1.1) if it exceeds what the requesting parent can reasonably cover having regard to their income and any support already received, or if the court considers it extraordinary after weighing: the amount of the expense relative to the requesting parent's income; the nature and number of programmes; the child's special needs or talents; the overall cost of the programme; and any other relevant factor.
Special and extraordinary expenses are shared between the parents in proportion to their respective incomes after deducting any contribution from the child. Courts must account for subsidies, tax credits, and insurance reimbursements available to either parent with respect to the expense. The Canada Child Benefit and any provincial child benefit equivalent are excluded from the income-apportionment calculation.
Shared parenting and split custody
Shared parenting (section 9 of SOR/97-175): Where each parent exercises not less than 40% of parenting time with the child over the course of the year, the basic table amount does not apply directly. Instead, the court must consider: (a) the table amounts for each parent as if each were the payor for the number of children they share; (b) the increased costs of maintaining two households that each child can call home; and (c) the conditions, means, needs, and circumstances of each parent and each child. The set-off of the two table amounts is the starting point, but courts may award more than the set-off to account for the higher real costs of shared parenting. Alberta courts have consistently held that the set-off alone is not determinative; the second and third factors require independent analysis.
Split custody (section 8 of SOR/97-175): Where one or more children reside primarily with each parent (that is, different children are split between the two parents), the child support order is the difference between what each parent would owe if the other were seeking an order against them. This statutory set-off method applies when siblings are allocated between parents, not when a single child divides time between households.
Duration: age of majority and adult children
The age of majority in Alberta is 18. Child support under both the Divorce Act and the Alberta Family Law Act generally continues until the child reaches 18 and has not withdrawn from the parents' charge.
Support may continue past 18 in two situations. First, section 2(1)(b) of the Divorce Act extends entitlement where a child who has reached the age of majority is unable, by reason of illness, disability, or other cause, to withdraw from the parents' charge or to obtain the necessaries of life. Section 37(2) of the Alberta Family Law Act contains a parallel provision for provincial proceedings. Second, Alberta courts, following the Supreme Court of Canada's guidance, have consistently held that pursuit of reasonable full-time post-secondary education constitutes an "other cause" under both statutes. A child who leaves full-time studies, withdraws from the parents' charge voluntarily, or becomes self-supporting loses entitlement.
When an adult child is in post-secondary education, courts in Alberta assess the support amount differently from the standard table approach. Relevant factors include the child's own financial resources (scholarships, employment income, student loans), the child's contribution to their own education costs, both parents' incomes, and whether the proposed education programme is reasonable given the child's abilities and career goals.
Changing an existing Alberta child support order
An existing child support order can be varied by returning to court or by using the Alberta Child Support Recalculation Program (administered by Alberta Justice; contact recalculation@gov.ab.ca, 780-401-1111).
Through the courts: Either parent may apply to vary a child support order under section 17 of the Divorce Act or section 39 of the Family Law Act on the basis of a change in circumstances. A material change in the payor's income, a change in the child's needs, a change in the parenting-time arrangement, or the 2025 update to the federal tables may each constitute a change in circumstances.
Through the Alberta Child Support Recalculation Program: Alberta operates an administrative recalculation service that updates basic child support amounts based on current income information without requiring either parent to return to court. The programme applies the federal tables to updated income documents and issues a new administrative recalculation order. Not all orders are eligible; the order must already include a provision making it subject to recalculation. Parents who enrolled in the programme when their original order was made are covered automatically. This route is faster and less expensive than a court variation, and Justice Canada lists Alberta's programme in its national directory of administrative recalculation services.
Alberta Maintenance Enforcement Program (MEP)
The Maintenance Enforcement Program (MEP Alberta) is the province's primary enforcement body for court-ordered child support and spousal or partner support. MEP is administered by Alberta Justice and operates under the Maintenance Enforcement Act (RSA 2000, c M-1).
Either the payor or the recipient can register an existing support order with MEP; only one party needs to enroll. Once an order is registered, MEP collects payments from the payor and disburses them to the recipient, creating an auditable payment record. MEP does not require a default before registration; families often enroll proactively to avoid informal payment disputes.
Where a payor falls behind, MEP has broad enforcement powers under the Maintenance Enforcement Act:
- Wage garnishment: MEP can garnish a payor's wages or salary directly from their employer without a separate court order.
- Bank account garnishment: MEP can intercept funds held in financial institutions.
- Driver's licence suspension: MEP can notify the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to suspend the payor's Alberta driver's licence.
- Vehicle registration denial: Renewal of vehicle registration can be withheld from defaulting payors.
- Credit bureau reporting: Defaults can be reported, affecting the payor's credit rating.
- Contempt proceedings: A court can find a payor in contempt for wilful non-payment.
In addition to MEP's provincial tools, the federal Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act (FOAEA, RSC 1985, c 4 (2nd Supp.); key amendments in force November 15, 2023) supplements enforcement nationally. Where a payor is more than three months or $3,000 in arrears, the federal government can: (1) trace the payor's address and employer through federal data banks; (2) intercept federal payments under the Garnishment, Attachment and Pension Diversion Act (GAPDA), including income-tax refunds, Employment Insurance benefits, and Old Age Security payments; and (3) deny or refuse to renew the payor's Canadian passport and certain federal licences. MEP Alberta coordinates with the federal FOAEA mechanisms and with maintenance enforcement programmes in every other Canadian province and territory through reciprocal enforcement arrangements.
MEP accounts can be accessed online at the MEP Accounts portal (mims.gov.ab.ca). Payors who face genuine hardship may apply to MEP to temporarily suspend enforcement of arrears debt while maintaining ongoing payments; this option is available under the Maintenance Enforcement Act and does not extinguish the debt.
Where to get help in Alberta
Parents navigating a child support application or enforcement issue in Alberta can access the following government resources:
- Alberta Child Support Resolution Programme: Helps parents in certain areas reach a child support agreement outside court.
- Alberta Family Resolution Hub: Province-wide dispute-resolution resource for family matters.
- Alberta Maintenance Enforcement Program: 310-0000 (toll-free within Alberta); online portal at mims.gov.ab.ca.
- Alberta Child Support Recalculation Program: 780-401-1111 or recalculation@gov.ab.ca.
- Justice Canada 2025 Child Support Table Look-up: justice.gc.ca/eng/fl-df/child-enfant/2025/look-rech.aspx.
A lawyer licensed with the Law Society of Alberta can advise on the specific facts of your situation, help you complete the required financial disclosure, and represent you in court if needed.
Watch out: The 2025 federal table update does not automatically change your existing court order. If your order was made before October 1, 2025 and the new tables would produce a different amount, you must either apply to court or enrol in the Alberta Child Support Recalculation Programme to get an updated order. Continuing to pay (or accept) the pre-2025 table amount without a formal amendment keeps the old amount legally binding.
This article is general legal information, not legal advice. Child support law in Alberta turns on the specific facts of your family, including your income, the child's needs, and the parenting arrangement in place. For advice about your situation, consult a family law lawyer licensed with the Law Society of Alberta.
More Alberta Laws
Authorities cited
- Federal Child Support Guidelines, SOR/97-175, ss. 7, 8, 9, 10, 16, 19 (full text). https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/sor-97-175/page-1.html
- Federal Child Support Guidelines, SOR/97-175, s. 7 (special expenses). https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-97-175/section-7.html
- Federal Child Support Guidelines, SOR/97-175, s. 9 (shared parenting). https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-97-175/section-9.html
- Divorce Act, RSC 1985, c 3 (2nd Supp.), ss. 2(1), 17, 26.1(1). https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/d-3.4/page-1.html
- Alberta Family Law Act, SA 2003, c F-4.5, ss. 37, 39, 51; Alberta Child Support Guidelines, Alta. Reg. 147/2005. https://www.alberta.ca/family-law-legislation
- Alberta Maintenance Enforcement Act, RSA 2000, c M-1. https://www.alberta.ca/maintenance-enforcement-program
- Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act, RSC 1985, c 4 (2nd Supp.) (FOAEA, key amendments in force November 15, 2023). https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/f-1.4/index.html
- Justice Canada, Step 1: Determine which guidelines apply (Step-by-Step Guide; confirms Alberta is not a designated province). https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/fl-lf/child-enfant/guide/step1-etap1.html
- Justice Canada, Step 4: Find the right table (Step-by-Step Guide). https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/fl-lf/child-enfant/guide/step4-etap4.html
- Justice Canada, Step 5: Calculate annual income (Step-by-Step Guide). https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/fl-lf/child-enfant/guide/step5-etap5.html
- Justice Canada, Frequently Asked Questions: 2025 Update to the Federal Child Support Tables. https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fl-df/child-enfant/faq.html
- Justice Canada, 2025 Child Support Table Look-up. https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fl-df/child-enfant/2025/look-rech.aspx
- Justice Canada, Services to calculate or update child support amounts out-of-court (listing Alberta Child Support Recalculation Program). https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fl-df/fjs-sjf/bfjs-sjfb/fsao-oasf.html
- Justice Canada, Helping with Family Obligations (enforcement overview including FOAEA). https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fl-df/enforce-execution/index.html
- Justice Canada, Provincial and Territorial Maintenance Enforcement Programs (MEP Alberta listed). https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fl-df/enforce-execution/provpro.html
Related
- Canada child support laws (national hub)
- Ontario child support laws
- British Columbia child support laws
Last updated: 2026-06-07. Statutes and federal tables cited reflect their in-force version as of 2026-06-07. The Federal Child Support Tables were updated October 1, 2025 (SOR/97-175, Schedule I, 2025 version).
Related Canadian Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Which child support guidelines apply in Alberta?
The Federal Child Support Guidelines (SOR/97-175) apply in Alberta for both divorce cases under the Divorce Act and non-divorce cases under the provincial Family Law Act (RSA 2000, c F-4.5). Alberta is not a designated province, so it uses the federal tables rather than separate provincial guidelines. The result is that the same federal table, the same income rules, and the same section 7 add-on framework apply regardless of whether the parents were ever married.
How is the basic child support amount calculated in Alberta?
The basic monthly amount is taken from the federal child support table for Alberta in Schedule I to SOR/97-175. Three factors determine it: the payor parent's province of residence (Alberta), their annual gross income from CRA line 15000 (adjusted per Schedule III), and the number of children. The federal tables were updated on October 1, 2025 to reflect 2023 CRA tax rules. Justice Canada provides a free 2025 Child Support Table Look-up tool at justice.gc.ca to calculate the applicable amount.
Until what age does child support last in Alberta?
Child support generally continues until the child turns 18, which is the age of majority in Alberta. It can continue past 18 if the child is unable to become self-supporting due to illness, disability, or 'other cause' under section 2(1)(b) of the Divorce Act or section 37(2) of the Alberta Family Law Act. Alberta courts have consistently held that full-time, reasonable post-secondary education qualifies as an 'other cause,' so a child attending university or college full-time may retain entitlement past 18.
What are section 7 special expenses and who pays them in Alberta?
Section 7 of SOR/97-175 allows courts to add special or extraordinary expenses on top of the basic table amount. Qualifying expenses include child care costs, uninsured health costs over $100 per year (orthodontics, physiotherapy, prescriptions, glasses), extraordinary schooling or extracurricular costs, and post-secondary education costs. These are shared between the parents in proportion to their respective incomes after accounting for any contribution from the child, and after deducting available subsidies, tax credits, and insurance reimbursements.
What happens if a parent refuses to pay child support in Alberta?
The Alberta Maintenance Enforcement Program (MEP) can enforce a registered support order using wage garnishment, bank account garnishment, driver's licence suspension, vehicle registration denial, and credit bureau reporting under the Maintenance Enforcement Act (RSA 2000, c M-1). The federal Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act (FOAEA) adds interception of federal payments (tax refunds, EI, OAS) and passport denial when a payor is more than three months or $3,000 in arrears.
How do I change a child support order in Alberta?
There are two routes. You can apply to court under section 17 of the Divorce Act or section 39 of the Family Law Act and demonstrate a change in circumstances, such as a significant income change or new parenting-time arrangement. Alternatively, if your original order is enrolled in the Alberta Child Support Recalculation Programme, the programme will administratively update the amount based on current income documents without requiring a court application. Contact the programme at recalculation@gov.ab.ca or 780-401-1111.
How does shared parenting (50/50) affect child support in Alberta?
Under section 9 of SOR/97-175, where each parent has the child at least 40% of the time over the course of the year, the court does not simply apply one table amount. Instead, it calculates the table amount for each parent, sets those off against each other, and then adjusts upward to account for the higher costs of maintaining two households. The set-off alone is not determinative; courts must also weigh each family's financial circumstances and the child's needs.
What is the Alberta Maintenance Enforcement Program (MEP)?
MEP Alberta is the province's child support collection and enforcement body, administered by Alberta Justice under the Maintenance Enforcement Act (RSA 2000, c M-1). Once a court order is registered with MEP, payments flow through the programme rather than directly between parents, creating a formal payment record. Either party can register; only one party needs to enroll. MEP enforces using wage garnishment, bank garnishment, licence suspension, and coordination with the federal FOAEA mechanism for cross-border and federal-payment interception.
Can a court impute income to a parent in Alberta?
Yes. Section 19 of SOR/97-175 allows a court to attribute income to a parent when their stated income does not accurately reflect their capacity to earn. Grounds include intentional under-employment or unemployment without a legitimate reason, receipt of income primarily from dividends or capital gains, undisclosed trust income, and failure to comply with financial disclosure. Both parents must provide three years of CRA T1 returns and Notices of Assessment, along with business financials or employment letters as applicable.
Does the 2025 federal table update automatically change my Alberta child support order?
No. The October 1, 2025 update to the Federal Child Support Tables does not automatically amend existing orders. If your order was made before October 1, 2025 and you want the new table amount to apply, you must apply to court to vary the order or enrol the order in the Alberta Child Support Recalculation Programme. Retroactive support for any period between November 22, 2017 and September 30, 2025 is still calculated using the 2017 tables.
Sources and References
- Federal Child Support Guidelines, SOR/97-175, ss. 7, 8, 9, 10, 16, 19(laws-lois.justice.gc.ca).gov
- Federal Child Support Guidelines, SOR/97-175, s. 7 (special expenses)(laws-lois.justice.gc.ca).gov
- Federal Child Support Guidelines, SOR/97-175, s. 9 (shared parenting)(laws-lois.justice.gc.ca).gov
- Divorce Act, RSC 1985, c 3 (2nd Supp.), ss. 2(1), 17, 26.1(1)(laws-lois.justice.gc.ca).gov
- Alberta Family Law Act, RSA 2000, c F-4.5, ss. 37, 39, 48(alberta.ca).gov
- Alberta Maintenance Enforcement Act, RSA 2000, c M-1(alberta.ca).gov
- Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act, RSC 1985, c 4 (2nd Supp.) (FOAEA)(laws-lois.justice.gc.ca).gov
- Justice Canada, Step 1: Determine which guidelines apply (Alberta not a designated province)(justice.gc.ca).gov
- Justice Canada, Step 4: Find the right table(justice.gc.ca).gov
- Justice Canada, Step 5: Calculate annual income(justice.gc.ca).gov
- Justice Canada, Frequently Asked Questions: 2025 Update to the Federal Child Support Tables(justice.gc.ca).gov
- Justice Canada, 2025 Child Support Table Look-up(justice.gc.ca).gov
- Justice Canada, Services to calculate or update child support amounts out-of-court (Alberta Recalculation Program listed)(justice.gc.ca).gov
- Justice Canada, Helping with Family Obligations (enforcement overview, FOAEA)(justice.gc.ca).gov
- Justice Canada, Provincial and Territorial Maintenance Enforcement Programs (MEP Alberta)(justice.gc.ca).gov