Home Alberta Uncontested Divorce Kit
2026 edition • Built on official Alberta Courts formsAlberta Uncontested “Desk Divorce” Kit
The Court of King’s Bench forms and plain-English instructions to prepare an Alberta desk divorce yourself — matched to the sole or joint route.
- Route-matched forms — sole (Form FL-01) or joint (Form FL-08) application
- Step-by-step filing instructions, in plain English
- Free eligibility check before you pay anything
- Instant PDF download — $129 one-time, no subscription
Takes 2 minutes to check · no commitment
“Affordable and transparent. No hidden charges.”
Isabella K. · Red Deer, Alberta
Do you qualify for an Alberta desk divorce?
The desk route works when your divorce is genuinely uncontested and your parenting and support issues are already settled.
This kit fits if…
- ✓ You or your spouse has been ordinarily resident in Alberta for at least one year immediately before the divorce is started.
- ✓ You are relying on one year’s separation (you can start the claim earlier, but a justice cannot grant the divorce on this ground until the year has passed). Adultery and cruelty are also grounds under the Divorce Act.
- ✓ Your spouse will not defend the divorce — either they are properly served and do not respond in time, or you apply jointly.
- ✓ Parenting/contact and child & spousal support are fully agreed or already ordered. If you have dependent children, both parents can complete the Parenting After Separation course (or qualify for an exemption).
- ✓ You understand that property, pensions and debt are dealt with separately from these forms.
Talk to a lawyer first if…
- ✗ Neither spouse has lived in Alberta for a full year yet.
- ✗ Your spouse may defend the divorce, will not communicate, or cannot be located.
- ✗ Parenting, contact or support is not fully agreed, or a child-support amount still needs to be worked out.
- ✗ There is family violence or coercion, or you need an emergency protection order.
- ✗ You have a pension to divide, corporate or farm assets, significant debt, a bankruptcy, or existing court orders, or an interprovincial / cross-border element.
Couples in the Greater Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer or Grande Prairie areas may also need to follow Alberta’s Family Justice Strategy steps. The eligibility check will point you to the right path.
Sole route or joint route?
Alberta uses different forms for each. Your eligibility check confirms which set you need — you get the matching version.
In Alberta, if you and your spouse have settled parenting, child support and spousal support, you can usually use the desk divorce route: a justice reviews your file “at the desk” instead of in a hearing. This kit gives you the current Court of King’s Bench forms for your route — sole (one spouse applies) or joint (both spouses apply together) — plus plain-language filing instructions and the Court’s Desk Divorce Package Checklist.
Sole (one spouse applies)
You file a Statement of Claim for Divorce (Form FL-01) and serve your spouse. If they do not respond in time, you note them in default and complete the desk package (Affidavit, Request, Divorce Judgment).
Joint (both spouses apply)
You both sign a Joint Statement of Claim for Divorce (Form FL-08) and the joint affidavit/request forms. There is no service or default step. The joint route is available only on the one-year-separation ground.
Why use a desk divorce kit?
For a genuinely uncontested case, the desk divorce route lets you put your evidence in an affidavit instead of testifying. Done carefully, it keeps a straightforward divorce affordable and predictable — without paying a lawyer to prepare standard paperwork.
Keep more of your money
You do the paperwork yourself and keep the difference between a lawyer’s fee and the kit price — see the breakdown alongside.
Usually no hearing
Most qualifying desk packages are decided from the filed documents, without anyone attending court.
What an Alberta divorce costs
Other case-specific costs (process server, commissioner for oaths, copies, marriage-certificate order) may still apply.
What’s in the kit
The current Court of King’s Bench divorce forms for your route, set up so you know what each one does and the order to file them in.
Statement of Claim for Divorce
- The document that starts your case
- Form FL-01 for the sole route, or Form FL-08 for the joint route
- Guidance on residency, grounds, and what to claim (and not claim) on the desk route
Your desk-divorce package
The final set a justice reviews:
Filing roadmap + Court checklist
- Step-by-step instructions for service, noting in default, and assembling the package
- The Court’s own Desk Divorce Package Clerk Review Checklist, so you can self-check before you file
What this kit does not include
- Property, pension or debt division (separate forms and process)
- Filing your documents for you, or any court representation
- Legal advice about your specific situation
- The $310 court filing fee, process-server or commissioner fees
Always confirm form versions against the live Alberta Courts divorce forms index before filing. Court forms and fees can change.
How it works
The path to an Alberta Divorce Judgment on the desk route.
Start the claim
Complete and file the Statement of Claim for Divorce (FL-01 sole, or FL-08 joint) at the Court of King’s Bench. The commencement fee is $310 (includes the $10 Central Registry fee).
Serve (sole route only)
Have an adult other than you serve your spouse personally, within one year. Default cannot be noted until 20 days after service in Alberta, 1 month elsewhere in Canada, or 2 months outside Canada. Joint applicants skip this step.
File the desk package
Submit your Affidavit, Request for Divorce, proposed Divorce Judgment, the Desk Divorce Package Checklist, and any required extras (e.g. Parenting After Separation certificates, Child Support Data Sheet, marriage certificate).
Court review & judgment
A justice reviews the file — often several weeks to a month or more — and either returns it for correction or grants the Divorce Judgment. The divorce takes effect 31 days later, when you can request a Certificate of Divorce.
Kit pricing vs. lawyer fees
| Feature | PlainDivorce kit | Typical lawyer |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation cost | $129 | $2,000–$4,500 |
| Court filing fee | $310 (paid to the Court) | $310 (often billed on top) |
| Pace | You set it (DIY) | Lawyer’s schedule |
| Forms included | Yes — route-matched | Yes |
Secure one-time payment · No subscription · Instant download
What our customers say
Experiences from people who prepared their divorce paperwork with PlainDivorce.
4.7 out of 5 based on 300+ customer reviews
Customer reviews are collected from purchasers and support conversations. Names may be shortened for privacy, and individual results vary by court, case facts, and filing requirements.
“Removed the anxiety from the process. Thank you for your help.”
Cecilia I.
Red Deer
“Super easy to follow. I had my paperwork ready the same day.”
Anna K.
St. Albert
“Clear instructions and clean documents. Well worth it.”
Laura Y.
Edmonton
“Affordable and transparent. No hidden charges.”
Isabella K.
Red Deer
“Quick and no confusion. Exactly what I needed.”
John R.
Lethbridge
Alberta desk divorce: frequently asked questions
What is a “desk divorce” in Alberta?
It is the route for a qualifying uncontested divorce where a justice of the Court of King’s Bench decides the case from the filed documents, without oral evidence or anyone attending a hearing. It is not automatic just because you both agree: the Court reviews the package, can send it back for correction, and a justice grants the Divorce Judgment only if everything is in order.
What is the Statement of Claim for Divorce?
It is the document that starts a divorce case in the Court of King’s Bench. The sole route uses Form FL-01; a joint application uses Form FL-08. It sets out the parties, the marriage, the ground for divorce, and any parenting or support claims. It does not divide property.
How much are the court filing fees?
The commencement fee to file the Statement of Claim for Divorce is currently $310, which includes the $10 fee to register with the federal Central Registry of Divorce Proceedings. The Court’s fee table does not currently list a separate fee to file the final desk documents, but fees can change, and costs like a process server, a commissioner for oaths, copies, or ordering a marriage certificate are separate.
How does the one-year separation ground work?
For a separation-based divorce, you and your spouse must have lived separate and apart for at least one year, and be living apart when the divorce is granted. You can start the claim before the year is complete, but a justice cannot grant the divorce until it has passed, and the separation affidavit is sworn after the year expires. Living together again for up to 90 days total to try to reconcile does not restart the clock. Adultery and cruelty are also grounds under the Divorce Act, though the joint route uses only the one-year-separation ground.
Do I have to go to court?
Usually not. Most qualifying desk packages are decided without a hearing. However, the Court can require more information or a hearing in some cases, and it may take several weeks to a month or more to review a package. If there are dependent children, both parents generally must complete the Parenting After Separation course before filing, unless the Court grants an exemption.
When is the divorce final?
A divorce takes effect on the 31st day after a justice grants the Divorce Judgment (the appeal period). After that, you can ask the Court for a Certificate of Divorce, which is the proof you will need if you remarry.
Is PlainDivorce a law firm?
No. PlainDivorce is a self-help information service. We provide the Court’s forms with plain-language instructions; we do not give legal advice, review your documents for accuracy, or file anything for you. For advice about your situation, or if anything is disputed, consult an Alberta family lawyer.
Important legal disclaimer
PlainDivorce is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, legal opinions, or representation. The Alberta Uncontested Divorce Kit is a self-help information product containing publicly available Court of King’s Bench forms with general instructions. It is not a substitute for advice from a licensed Alberta lawyer.
We do not guarantee that a court will accept any particular filing. Court rules, forms and fees (currently a $310 commencement fee for a Statement of Claim for Divorce) change from time to time. You are responsible for confirming the current requirements and form versions with the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta before filing.
Content last reviewed: September 2026.