ONTARIO & ALBERTA · COURTS, FEES & YOUR OPTIONS
Family court requirements and financial assistance are different questions. Understand the options before choosing the service that fits your circumstances.
Reviewed October 17, 2026 · Abridged general information
FAMILY & SEPARATION
Most family litigants must attend a Mandatory Information Program. That is an information session, not mediation. A judge can order an intake meeting with a court-connected mediation service, while family mediation itself is generally voluntary.
There is no blanket requirement for every separating couple to purchase private mediation.
Ontario Superior Court family guide ↗For covered family proceedings, pre-court requirements include alternative dispute resolution (ADR), subject to exemptions, waiver or deferral. Mediation is one qualifying option; other accepted processes can satisfy the requirement.
King’s Bench: Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer and Grande Prairie.
Court of Justice: Calgary, Edmonton, St. Albert, Stony Plain, Sherwood Park, Leduc and Fort Saskatchewan.
Qualifying ADR generally must occur within six months before the application. Applicable financial disclosure and participation documentation also matter. Urgent matters and other excluded proceedings follow different rules.
King’s Bench notice, revised January 12, 2026 ↗Court of Justice family directive ↗INCOME & FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Financial eligibility rules belong to particular programs. They do not create a general income threshold above which everyone must hire a private mediator.
The government’s free program requires, among other conditions, a dependent child, agreement to participate and at least one parent with gross annual income of $60,000 or less.
This is not a combined-income cap. A parent earning $150,000 and another earning $50,000 could potentially qualify. If both earn above $60,000, they do not meet this program’s income condition.
Alberta program eligibility and registration ↗Court-connected, day-of-court mediation can be free regardless of income. Other subsidized mediation fees depend on income and financial dependants. There is no universal $60,000 cutoff requiring private services.
Free court-connected family mediation ↗Ontario providers and fee information ↗YOUR CHOICE OF SERVICE
You may value choosing your mediator, arranging a defined session and working on an issue before it becomes a wider dispute.
Tell us about your deadlines. Ask for current intake and session availability so you can decide whether the timing fits.
Focus on one holiday schedule, a parenting question or an issue about support or property. Agree on the scope before beginning.
Ask what the proposal includes: preparation, session time, a written record, additional time, taxes and cancellation terms.
If you need mediation to satisfy a court requirement, identify the court, location, deadline and relevant direction at enquiry. Suitability, provider requirements and documentation must be confirmed for that process. This guide is not a claim of court endorsement or roster membership.
Discuss your situationGeneral information, not legal advice. This is an abridged guide, not a complete account of exceptions or local directions. Check the linked official sources and obtain advice about your proceeding. Free and subsidized services have their own intake and availability arrangements.
YOUR NEXT STEP
Tell us the general issue, your province and any important dates. We will discuss suitability, current availability and the scope and fees before you decide whether to proceed.
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