Change interjurisdictional child support

Overview

An Interjurisdictional Support Order (ISO) application can create, change or enforce a support order when the payor or recipient lives outside Alberta.

You can prepare an ISO variation application if you:

were divorced outside Canada
were never married
were married but a divorce action hasn’t been started
aren’t making a first-time application for support
haven’t started a divorce action in Alberta

How to change or end an order if you are receiving payments

Step 1. Confirm the other parent’s location

Alberta’s Maintenance Enforcement Program (MEP) has reciprocal registration agreements with enforcement programs in other jurisdictions.

See if the other parent lives in a reciprocating jurisdiction

If your application is going to Ontario, Quebec, Australia or the United States speak with a court forms information coordinator for assistance.

Step 2. Gather your documents

complete tax returns from the past 3 years
Notice of Assessment – a tax status form – from the past 3 years
pay stubs or other proof of income for this tax year

Step 3. Fill out the required forms

If you prefer, you can pick up your forms and guides at a Court forms information coordinator location.

Form A.2 - Support Variation Application (0.6 MB) and Guide (0.1 MB)
Form K - Evidence to Support Variation of a Support Order (0.6 MB) and Guide (0.1 MB)
Provisional Variation Order (0.1 MB) , if you’re sending the application to Quebec, New Zealand or the United Kingdom

Step 4. Fill out the optional forms

Review this list for any forms that apply to your situation:

If the respondent didn’t provide their financial information

Fill out Form D - Request for Support Order (PDF, 1 MB) and refer to the Guide (PDF, 0.1 MB)

If any of these situations apply to you

you and the respondent have split or shared custody
you’re experiencing undue financial hardship
the respondent makes over $150,000 per year
your child is over 18

Fill out Form E - Request for Child Support Different than Child Support Table Amount (PDF, 0.6 MB) and refer to the Guide (PDF, 0.1 MB)

If you want the respondent to pay a share of a child’s special expenses

Fill out Form F - Special or Extraordinary Expense Claim (PDF, 1 MB) and refer to the Guide (PDF, 0.1 MB)

These expenses include:

childcare
education
health-related expenses
medical or dental insurance premiums

If you filled out either Form E or F

Fill out Form I - Financial Statement (PDF, 1.1 MB) and refer to the Guide (PDF, 0.1 MB)

If you’re applying for support for a child who’s over 18

Fill out Form J - Child Status and Financial Statement (PDF, 1 MB) and refer to the Guide (PDF, 0.1 MB)

Provide additional information to assist in locating the respondent

Fill out the Additional Locate Information Form (0.1 MB). This form should not be attached to your application.

Step 5. Prepare your application

Make sure all your forms are complete.
Include any documents that go with the forms.
Put the forms and their documents, in order, from the first form (for example, Form A.2) to the last one you used.
Make 3 copies of the forms and documents.
Get the forms and documents sworn. If the respondent lives in:
- another country, have it sworn before a notary public
- Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Quebec or the Northwest Territories, have it sworn before a notary public
- British Columbia, Ontario, Yukon, Nunavut, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, Newfoundland or Labrador, have it sworn before a notary public or commissioner for oaths
Sign the forms when you get them sworn.

Once the package is sworn, don’t add other documents or make changes to it.

Step 6. File your application

File your application, at no charge, at a Court of Queen’s Bench.

How to change an order if you are making payments

Step 1. Confirm the other parent’s location

Alberta’s Maintenance Enforcement Program (MEP) has reciprocal registration agreements with enforcement programs in other jurisdictions.

See if the other parent lives in a reciprocating jurisdiction

If your application is going to Ontario, Quebec, Australia or the United States speak with a court forms information coordinator for assistance.

Step 2. Gather your documents

complete tax returns from the past 3 years
Notice of Assessment – a tax status form – from the past 3 years
pay stubs or other proof of income for this tax year

Step 3. Fill out the required forms

If you prefer, you can pick up your forms and guides at a Court forms information coordinator location.

Form A.2 - Support Variation Application (0.6 MB) and Guide (0.1 MB)
Form I - Financial Statement (PDF, 1.1 MB) and refer to the Guide (PDF, 0.1 MB)
Form K - Evidence to Support Variation of a Support Order (0.6 MB) and Guide (0.1 MB)
Provisional Variation Order (0.01 MB) – if you’re sending the application to Quebec, New Zealand or the United Kingdom

Step 4. Fill out the optional forms

If any of these situations apply to you

you and the applicant have split or shared custody
you’re experiencing undue financial hardship
your child is over 18

Fill out Form E - Request for Child Support Different than Child Support Table Amount (PDF, 0.6 MB) and refer to the Guide (PDF, 0.1 MB)

Provide additional information to assist in locating the respondent

Fill out the Additional Locate Information Form (0.1 MB). This form should not be attached to your application.

Step 5. Prepare your application

Make sure all your forms are complete.
Include any documents that go with the forms.
Put the forms and their documents, in order, from the first form (for example, Form A.2) to the last one you used.
Make 3 copies of the forms and documents.
Get the forms and documents sworn. If the respondent lives in:
- another country, have it sworn before a notary public
- Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Quebec or the Northwest Territories, have it sworn before a notary public
- British Columbia, Ontario, Yukon, Nunavut, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, Newfoundland or Labrador, have it sworn before a notary public or commissioner for oaths
Sign the forms when you get them sworn.

Once the package is sworn, don’t add other documents or make changes to it.

Step 6. File your application

File your application, at no charge, at a Court of Queen’s Bench.

After you apply

Wait for the courthouse’s letter. It will state that either your application:

is missing information
has been sent to Alberta’s Attorney General, who’ll forward it to the reciprocating jurisdiction (this happens within 8 weeks)

If your application is missing information:

make the changes
have it sworn again
file it again at the appropriate courthouse

After you file your application, the respondent will receive a copy of it. If you have indicated that you want to be notified of the hearing date, or to attend the hearing by way of telephone or other technology, the court in the reciprocating jurisdiction will contact you.

At the court in the reciprocating jurisdiction:

The judge will review all the documents you and the respondent have filed.
The judge may hear sworn evidence from the respondent.
If the judge wants more information, the court will issue a “request for further information” to you and / or the respondent.
The judge can decide to:
- make a child support variation order
- make an interim child support variation order and adjourn the hearing to a specified date
- adjourn the hearing to a specified date without making an interim child support variation order
- refuse to make a child support variation order

Afterwards, the Alberta court will send you a copy of the decision.