As part of a divorce settlement agreement in Alberta, the court may order the payment of child support, spousal support or partner support.What happens if the intended payor of this support fails to fulfill their obligations? Can you enforce payments and, if so, how do you go about claiming the arrears?
Alberta has a maintenance enforcement program designed to help recipients of support get the payments that they are due.
What is the maintenance enforcement program in Alberta?
In Alberta, the maintenance enforcement program (MEP) helps individuals receive payments as per a court-ordered support agreement or maintenance agreement.
The MEP is an initiative of the Alberta government and covers:
- Payment of child support
- Payment of spousal support
- Payment of partner support
It is not uncommon for former spouses or partners to intentionally or unintentionally fail to follow the demands of a court-ordered support agreement.
The MEP can help you legally collect arrears, but there is some confusion about how this program works, who is eligible for assistance, and what a payor can do if they disagree with the enforcement.
Who qualifies for assistance from the MEP in Alberta?
To receive assistance from the MEP you first need to register with the program. There are three requirements to register:
- The recipient or payor spouse must reside in Alberta
- You must either pay or receive partner support, child support or spousal support
- A court order for support, maintenance order or maintenance agreement must be filed with the court
Many people need legal assistance with the registration process and the paperwork required. Spectrum Family Law in Calgary and Edmonton can help you get enrolled in the program.
How does the Maintenance Enforcement Program work?
Once you have obtained the court order and registered for the maintenance enforcement program in Alberta, you will need to meet certain obligations to receive assistance. This includes:
- Providing information promptly to assist administrators of the program to collect payments from the payor of support
- Responding to any changes in the court order(s) promptly
- Informing the administrators of any changes to name, address, phone number, banking information that may affect the transfer of your support
- Informing the program of any changes in a child’s status (for child support)
- Informing the program of any payments received from your former spouse
The obligations for the paying spouse are as follows:
- Make payments to MEP promptly as per the court order(s)
- Inform the program of payment problems or late payments before the due date
- Inform the program of changes to address, phone number, employment or banking information
- Inform of any changes to the child’s status (child support)
The program has the power to enforce the debt by taking actions such as demanding to see the financial statements of the payer, transferring money from salary or bank accounts, suspending the payer’s driver’s license or even asking the court to send the payor to jail as a last resort.
In this way, the MEP helps support recipients receive what they are due. It is not a legal advice service and will not provide legal representation to clients or help you with changing a court order.
Can Estate Planning Lawyers Help with Applying for the Maintenance Enforcement Program in Alberta?
Estate planning lawyers near you in edmonton can provide guidance on various legal matters, including estate planning and family law issues. While their expertise primarily lies in wills, trusts, and asset distribution, they can also help navigate related processes like applying for the Maintenance Enforcement Program in Alberta to ensure compliance and resolution.
How to apply for the maintenance enforcement program
If you are having difficulty collecting maintenance payments from the other parent, you may be eligible to enroll in the Maintenance Enforcement Program (MEP). The program is designed to help custodial parents receive the child support payments that they are owed.
To enroll in MEP, you will need to fill out an application and provide proof of your child. You may also need to provide proof of your income and the other parent’s income. Once you have enrolled in MEP, the program will take over the collection of maintenance payments from the other parent.
If you are already receiving child support through another government program, such as the Canada Child Benefit, you can still enroll in MEP. However, the other program will continue to collect the payments and MEP will only be used if the other parent falls behind in their payments.
When creating a maintenance agreement, keep in mind:
You cannot file a maintenance agreement if any of these conditions apply:
- you already have a maintenance order
- you have an agreement under the:
- Parentage and Maintenance Act
- Income Support Recovery Act
- Income and Employment Supports Act (Part 5)
you are receiving:
- assured income for the severely handicapped (AISH)
- Income Support benefits
- other benefits from the Ministry of Community and Social Services
You can file a maintenance agreement if the above conditions do not apply to you. We recommend a lawyer helps you with this process:
- fill out and print the MEP form. DO NOT ADD any sections to the form
- sign the form with the other party in front of a witness
- have the witness swear or affirm they saw both parties sign the agreement before a commissioner of oaths or notary public
- file the agreement at the nearest Court of King’s Bench location
There is no fee to register with MEP for the first time, BUT there is a $205 re-registration fee if they want to re-open a closed case, or you’re a recipient who asks us to re-open a filed that has been closed due to lack of cooperation.
Third Party Authorizations for MEPs
If you are having difficulties in applying for the maintenance enforcement program, do not worry. This process can be a bit convoluted for some based on their own, personal circumstances. You can have a third party act on your behalf with MEP.
Can you apply for a stay of support enforcement in Alberta?
The support obligations for a payor spouse can be severe. Sometimes, circumstances change and the original court order no longer fairly reflects the situation. It can become impossible for the payor to pay what is due.
In this situation, you can apply for a stay of support enforcement. This is a temporary suspension of enforcement of the financial support order by the local support enforcement agency.
You may be eligible for a stay of support enforcement in the following circumstances:
- You appeal the court order that has granted support – this will not automatically suspend the enforcement but if the court agrees that the appeal is on valid grounds, a stay may be granted.
- Your financial position changes – a sudden or unexpected change in financial circumstances may require an application to cancel arrears and modify an order, resulting in a stay of enforcement until the matter is settled.
- You are incarcerated – again, this will not automatically suspend enforcement but the court may be sympathetic to your situation, depending on the circumstances.
- Division of property is pending – if the marital property has not yet been divided in divorce proceedings, the court may grant a stay of enforcement.
- Delays to enforcing the order – if you are negatively impacted by a delay and then sudden enforcement of an order, the support enforcement can be stayed.
- Questions over the validity of an order – if a financial support order is granted overseas or in another Canadian province, it may be called into question by the Alberta courts.
How do you apply for a stay of enforcement in Alberta?
The local enforcement agency will not automatically stop enforcing an order issued by the court even if there are valid grounds for a stay of enforcement.
The payor must apply to the court for a stay of enforcement of the order.
According to the Maintenance Enforcement Act, you may apply to the court for a stay for a period of up to nine months if:
- You have made attempts to enter a payment arrangement with MEP and there are valid reasons for being unable to do so
- You have valid reasons for not paying the arrears or ongoing financial support
How Can We Help?
Get help as a payor or recipient of support in Alberta
At Spectrum Family Law, we understand that life can be unpredictable and circumstances can change. That’s why we offer legal services for those who want to change the amount payable through a Maintenance Order or a Maintenance Agreement.
If you’ve experienced a change in income, loss of employment, or a change of job, you may be entitled to a recalculation of your maintenance payments. This would require a court application to vary the order. Our experienced family law team can guide you through this process and ensure that your rights are protected.
Sometimes, dramatic or urgent changes can occur that affect your ability to make maintenance payments. If you find yourself in this situation, we can help with making an application for a stay (or pause) of enforcement. This can provide you with the time you need to get back on your feet and ensure that your financial obligations are met without the added stress of enforcement actions.
We also offer legal assistance for those who want to obtain a new child support order that can be registered with the Maintenance Enforcement Program. This program ensures that payments are made on time and can provide peace of mind for both the payer and the recipient.
At Spectrum Family Law, we understand that every family situation is unique. That’s why we take the time to listen to your needs and provide personalized legal solutions that work for you. Our team of family law lawyers have extensive experience in dealing with maintenance orders and agreements, and we will work tirelessly to ensure that your rights are protected and your interests are represented. If you need help with changing your maintenance order or agreement, contact Spectrum Family Law today. Our team of family lawyers is here to help you navigate the legal system and achieve the best possible outcome for you and your family.
Our Edmonton intake staff are standing by to help you. Call 780-756-0076 [toll free 1 (855) 892-0646] or contact us online for general inquiries.
We also have a dedicated intake form to help you get the ball rolling. Our intake team will review your specific case and advise you on the next steps to take as well as what to expect moving forward.
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Raveena Gill
FAMILY LAWYER
Raveena’s approach focuses on incorporating each particular client’s unique values and goals when determining the best course of action in their matter
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