About stays of enforcement
A stay of enforcement is a court order that can:
- last up to 9 months
- give you a break from paying your arrears
You are still responsible for paying your court-ordered maintenance.
The money you owe does not go away.
A stay of enforcement does not:
- stop the federal government’s collection actions, like garnishing your:
- employment insurance or
- tax refund
- get your driver’s license back if the MEP has suspended it
Go to this MEP page and look under the heading Payor of support for a detailed information sheet about a Stay of enforcement.
Apply for a stay of enforcement
Step 1. Gather your documents
- complete tax return 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
- list of all your assets and debts
- list of all your monthly expenses
Step 2. Fill out the form
If you don’t want to change your support payments:
Fill out the Application for Stay of Enforcement form (0.2 MB).
If you want to change your child support payments:
- Fill out the Application for Stay of Enforcement form (0.2 MB).
- Fill out the forms to change your payments.
If you want to change your spousal / partner support payments:
- Fill out the Application for Stay of Enforcement form (0.2 MB).
- Fill out the forms to change your payments.
Step 3. Submit the forms
Bring your forms to the same court, in the same location, where you’ve either:
- already been to court with the other parent
- started any court action that hasn’t gone to court
If you haven’t done either of these things, file your application at any court in Alberta.
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