Child Custody in Alberta

Alberta recognizes various arrangements: sole custody (one parent has primary care and decision-making), joint custody (shared decision-making with various living arrangements), and shared parenting (children spend significant time with both parents).

Courts consider the child's physical, emotional, and psychological needs, the child's views (depending on age), each parent's ability to meet the child's needs, the child's cultural and linguistic heritage, and any history of family violence.

Alberta encourages parents to create detailed parenting plans covering living arrangements, decision-making authority, holiday schedules, communication protocols, and how to handle future disagreements.

If you want to move with your children, Alberta follows the Divorce Act's relocation provisions. The rules depend on whether you have majority parenting time and require proper notice to the other parent.