Rural Albertans in communities surrounding Red Deer seeking a divorce or resolving spousal support, parenting or child support issues may soon have access to new pre-court services.
Following its successful implementation in Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta’s government plans to expand the Family Justice Strategy to Red Deer through a $3-million investment in the 2024 budget.
“Court processes can often be complex and stressful for families. This support will ease some of that burden by helping Albertans navigate court processes more effectively or avoid them altogether,” said Mickey Amery, minister of Justice and Attorney General, in announcing the expansion Monday.
Services offered through the Family Justice Strategy include alternative dispute resolution, family court counsellors and parenting interventions that can help Albertans decide if they want to settle a family matter out of court or better understand the process if they decide to go to court.
The province says its initial data shows a 36 per cent increase in matters resolved through Alberta Justice dispute resolution programs since the program was launched in Edmonton and Calgary in December 2023.
An additional $5 million through the 2024-25 budget is planned to support the complete rollout of the enhanced pre-court services in Edmonton and Calgary.
The rollout of the Family Justice Strategy in Red Deer will begin now, with full implementation expected by the end of the year.
The Family Resolution Hub is another resource available to Albertans dealing with family law matters. Introduced in December 2023, the online platform enables people to explore dispute resolution options without requiring court visits,
