Families entering the court system in early 2026 will experience a significant change to the family legal process. The Court of King’s Bench is introducing the Family Focused Protocol (FFP) on January 2, 2026 – a brand new delineated procedure designed to reduce conflict, streamline specific family law cases, and encourage earlier and more efficient resolution.
If you are starting or continuing on with a family law matter next year (2026), here’s a detailed deep dive into what you need to know.
What Is It Exactly? | Why Has the Court Introduced the FFP
Family litigation has traditionally been quite an adversarial process, and many cases end up being friction-filled or high-conflict, creating long-lasting emotional and financial strain on all parties involved – especially for the children.
The FFP aims to reduce these negative impacts by:
- Promoting cooperation between the parties involved.
- Increase structure in the overall court process and provide a more streamlined approach.
- Involving the Court earlier in the process to help families resolve disputes sooner and more efficiently, with the intention of reducing delay.
This marks a major shift away from the most commonly combative courtroom experience and toward a healthier, more resolution-based approach.
How Family Law Cases Are Changing | Before VS. After the FFP
Before FFP – The Traditional Family Law Process:
- Cases often started with filing a claim, but with very little guidance for families.
- Mandatory requirements, disclosure agreements, and parenting courses were sometimes completed later, creating unnecessary delays.
- Interim matters and urgent issues could take weeks to be addressed.
- Families navigated multiple appearances before different judges, sometimes causing confusion and conflict due to the lack of continuity.
- Settlement discussions occurred much later, and trials could be scheduled months or even years after the case had even started.
After FFP – The Family Focused Protocol (Starting Jan 2, 2026):
- Families attend a single MIT Conference with a Family Roster Justice who will be assigned to the family’s matter in order to address interim matters, identify any outstanding issues, and set appropriate timelines.
- Settlement Conferences will happen earlier, with more structured submissions, improving chances of resolution before trial, and will be heard in front of the same Justice assigned as the MIT conference for continuity.
- Clear timelines and responsibilities then make this process faster, less stressful, and more transparent throughout.
The FFP Creates 3 Streams for Family Law Cases | Specific Pathways for Specific Cases
Every family law matter will move through one of these three pathways:
- Regular Family Process – The main route for most family law cases
- Desk Process – For matters that can be addressed without a hearing
- Urgent Process – For emergencies involving safety or immediate risk to the spouse/parent or children involved
For further understanding, most families will follow the Regular Family Process, as it’s the most common, but each of the 3 new pathways is provided in a step-by-step guide below:
Regular Family Process
1. Complete the Mandatory Requirements:
- The Parenting After Separation (PAS) course, if children are involved.
- Completion of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) within the past six months.
- Exchanging full financial disclosure.
- Meeting with a Family Court Counsellor, if self-represented.
2. Start the Court Action
- File and serve a formal court claim to open the case.
3. File the Mandatory Intake Triage (MIT) Package
- Includes proof of mandatory requirements, disclosure, interim applications (if any), and service documents.
4. CMO Review
- The Case Management Officer reviews the MIT Package, approves it, requests any necessary corrections, or waits for missing items.
5. Book the MIT Conference
- Parties have 30 days to schedule the conference once they are approved.
6. Attend the MIT Conference
- You will be assigned a Family Roster Justice who has the authority to grant interim orders, set timelines, identify outstanding issues, and outline next steps.
7. Follow Post-MIT Directions
- The Justice issues a written report, and the parties request a date for a Settlement Conference if they are ready.
8. Attend the Settlement Conference
- The same Justice will then lead a 2.5-hour meeting focused on resolving the dispute. As it is the same Justice as the MIT Conference, they will be aware of the contested issues and be able to dedicate the full 2.5 hours to resolution rather than spending time explaining the parties’ positions.
- Parties then submit a Settlement Memorandum 14 days in advance.
9. Prepare for Trial if Needed
- If issues remain unresolved, the Court may require a litigation plan, a case conference, or a potential pre-trial conference.
10. Trial
- Trials will be in front of a new Justice and are generally scheduled within about 18 months of the Settlement Conference, depending on the case.
The Desk Process
Some family legal matters can simply be addressed without a court appearance, including:
- Waivers of mandatory requirements.
- Consent orders require quick approval.
- Notice to show those applications.
- Requests for Resolution Counsel.
In this process, all of these are handled entirely through written submissions.
The Urgent Process
The Urgent Process is held specifically for situations that cannot wait, such as:
- Immediate risk of harm or violence towards a partner/spouse or child
- Concerns that a child may be removed from the jurisdiction (taken out of province or out of the country without parental or legal guardian’s consent).
- Emergency Protection Order reviews
- Time-sensitive parenting or contact issues
It is important to note that mandatory requirements are not needed before requesting an urgent hearing.
What This New FFP Procedure Means for Families in 2026
With this new procedure in place, the Family Focussed Protocol (FFP) in 2026 introduces:
- Faster steps early in the case
- Higher expectations for preparation
- More emphasis on reaching appropriate and fair agreements
- Clearer timelines and responsibilities
Families navigating their legal matter through this new procedure will need to stay organized, keep track of sessions, meetings, and documentation, meet specific deadlines, and actively participate to move the case forward effectively and efficiently.
Information At a Glance | The Key Takeaways
- The FFP reduces conflict and streamlines the family law process.
- Mandatory steps such as the PAS course, ADR, and financial disclosure are completed upfront, saving time.
- MIT Packages and early CMO review help avoid delays and confusion.
- Settlement Conferences can then happen earlier, increasing the chances of resolving disputes without trial.
- Clear pathways for Regular, Desk, and Urgent cases ensure families receive the attention their cases need.
- Families should stay organized, meet deadlines, and actively participate for the best outcome.
How Mincher Koeman Can Help | Here When You Need Us
At Mincher Koeman, we’re here to guide you through every stage of the Family Focussed Protocol (FFP). Navigating family law doesn’t have to be a turbulent or overwhelming experience; it can be fair, it can be understanding, and it can be done with everyone’s dignity intact and with everyone’s best interests at heart.
Contact Mincher Koeman today to understand your options and ensure your case moves forward efficiently under Alberta’s new Family Focused Protocol in 2026. We’re here when you need us.
