Every family law matter is unique, and issues like divorce, child support, and decision-making responsibilities can be emotionally overwhelming. At Jennings Family Law, our Calgary family lawyers provide the knowledge and guidance you need to navigate separation, custody disputes, and financial support matters.
We focus exclusively on family law and are committed to helping you achieve a fair resolution, whether through negotiation, mediation, or litigation. Our team ensures you understand your legal options and works to protect your rights while managing discussions with the other party’s lawyer.
With years of experience serving families in Calgary and the surrounding area, we tailor our approach to fit your unique situation and goals. Whether your case involves complex financial issues or sensitive parenting arrangements, we prioritize solutions that align with your long-term well-being.
Our family lawyers in Calgary can assist with:
We collaborate with trusted family law experts, mediators, family financial specialists, and parenting consultants, possessing the ability to build strong cases tailored to your family needs.
Let us help you move forward.
Alberta’s Family Law Act is the most important piece of legislation regarding non-divorce-related family law matters in the province.It helps to determine the following:
Divorce in Alberta is governed by the federal Divorce Act, not the provincial Family Law Act. This legislation outlines the legal framework for ending a marriage and resolving key issues like child support, spousal support, and parenting arrangements. Understanding how the Divorce Act applies to your situation is essential for making informed decisions during separation.
At Jennings Family Law, we help you interpret the Divorce Act in the context of your unique circumstances and guide you through its intersection with Alberta’s Family Law Act when necessary. Our goal is to ensure your rights are protected and that your divorce agreement reflects both legal requirements and your long-term interests.
While the divorce process in Alberta may appear straightforward, emotions and unresolved issues can quickly complicate matters. An experienced Calgary divorce lawyer can help you navigate the legal process, protect your rights, and work toward a resolution that avoids unnecessary stress or conflict. If you and your spouse can agree on key issues, such as parenting, support, and property, you may not need to appear in court.
However, when disputes cannot be resolved through negotiation, mediation, or arbitration, a trial may be necessary. In Alberta, you must be separated for at least 12 months before filing for divorce, unless exceptions apply. Most uncontested divorces are finalized within a few months, while trial cases can take much longer and involve significant costs. Our divorce lawyers help you make informed decisions at every stage, with a focus on practical, family-first outcomes.
In Alberta, guardianship refers to the legal rights and responsibilities of an individual to care for and make decisions about a child’s upbringing. This includes providing for their physical, emotional, and psychological well-being, as well as ensuring access to medical care, education, and daily necessities.
Under Alberta law, birth parents are typically the child’s default guardians. However, guardianship can be assigned to others when necessary. Guardians hold decision-making responsibilities, which determine key aspects of the child’s life, such as residence, schooling, and healthcare.
While guardians have authority over major decisions, their powers are not absolute. If disputes arise or concerns about neglect or abandonment emerge, courts or Child and Youth Services may intervene to protect the child’s best interests. If guardians cannot agree on responsibilities, a Parenting Order may be issued to establish decision-making terms.
Spousal support is not automatically granted in Alberta—it depends on factors like the length of the relationship, each spouse’s financial situation, and the roles they played during the marriage. If you’re seeking or responding to a support claim, working with an experienced Calgary spousal support lawyer can help ensure the outcome is fair and based on the facts of your case.
At Jennings Family Law, we help clients understand their rights and obligations under Alberta law and the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines. Whether you’re negotiating support as part of a separation agreement or preparing for litigation, we provide clear, strategic advice focused on long-term financial stability and equitable resolutions.
Parenting orders may be necessary after a couple with children separate and start living apart. If both guardians agree on their respective rights and responsibilities regarding the children, then no parenting order is legally necessary.
However, disputes often arise about parenting time, visitation rights, respective responsibilities, cost-sharing, and other matters.
In this situation, one guardian may want to request the court for a parenting order to be granted under the Family Law Act.
This will be a legally enforceable court order that can compel each parent to comply with the terms. It usually also includes a provision for dealing with any future parenting disputes.
A key feature of the Family Law Act is that all decisions must be made in the best interests of the child or children. Obviously, “best interests” is a subjective term that can be interpreted in different ways according to different perspectives. Sometimes parents do not agree, and a judge must intervene and make the decisions for them.
The judge will be expected to follow guidelines for determining “best interests” and to ensure that the child’s physical, psychological and emotional safety comes first.
Certain factors (such as the following) will generally be considered by the judge before he or she decides:
A key component of any divorce agreement involving children is a mutually acceptable agreement on child support. It is a legal obligation for parents to provide for the upbringing of their children. If this cannot be worked out through collaboration or mediation, a judge will apply the relevant family law guidelines for calculating child support in Alberta.
Once a court order details the child support amount and duration, the payor parent is legally obliged to make these payments to the recipient parent. This can be enforced by the courts.
Changes to child support orders can be made only through the courts and only if there is a substantial change in circumstances for either parent or the child.
We help our clients address their legal issues while considering the other factors important to them – keeping conflict away from children, keeping resources within the family, and keeping everyone out of court. With our guidance, clients make informed decisions.
Jennings Family Law offers clients legal mediation and arbitration resources that they can use themselves or in concert with their lawyer while reaching a settlement.
Contact Jennings Family Law today to receive a private consultation and case evaluation.
A Calgary family lawyer assists with legal matters involving family relationships, including divorce, separation, child custody, child support, spousal support, parenting plans, and property division. Lawyers can also draft and review prenuptial agreements, cohabitation agreements, and separation agreements. At Jennings Family Law, we help clients navigate complex legal issues with clarity and care.
An uncontested divorce occurs when both parties agree on all terms, including property division, child custody, and support. While it’s possible to file without a lawyer, consulting a Calgary family lawyer ensures that your rights are protected and the agreement complies with Alberta law.
In Alberta, child custody—legally referred to as parenting time and decision-making responsibility—is decided based on the best interests of the child. Courts look at factors like the child’s relationship with each parent, their emotional needs, and stability. A Calgary family lawyer can help advocate for a parenting plan that supports your child’s well-being.
Yes. If your circumstances have materially changed, such as income changes, job relocation, or shifts in parenting time, you can apply to modify an existing court order. A Calgary family lawyer can guide you through the process of requesting a change to a child support, custody, or spousal support order in Alberta.
Costs vary depending on the complexity of your case and the services required. Jennings Family Law offers transparent billing practices and will discuss all legal fees up front. Some services may be offered at flat rates, while others are billed hourly. During your consultation, we’ll provide a detailed estimate tailored to your needs.
In Alberta, separation occurs when spouses decide to live apart without formally ending the marriage. Divorce is the legal termination of a marriage, granted by the court. While separation can be informal, obtaining a divorce requires legal proceedings.
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You must be separated for at least one year before a divorce judgment is granted. However, you can initiate the divorce process during this period. Exceptions exist if there is evidence of adultery or cruelty.
Alberta follows the Matrimonial Property Act, which generally mandates an equal division of assets acquired during the marriage. Certain assets, like inheritances or gifts, may be exempt. A Calgary family lawyer can help identify which assets are subject to division.
Yes. If one spouse wants a divorce and the other doesn’t, the court can still grant the divorce, provided the legal requirements, such as the one-year separation, are met. A Calgary family lawyer can guide you through this process.
