Once you have an agreement or court order about spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support., the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. must pay support to you. You can take steps to collect on-time, overdue and retroactive spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support. payments.
If you do not know who should be paying spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support. or how much is owed, review the Calculate spousal or partner support page.
On this page, “spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support.” refers to both spousal and partner support, and “partner” refers to an adult interdependent partner.
Need to know
- An agreement or spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support. order sets out who pays, when they are supposed to pay, how much they pay and how they pay.
- The Maintenance Enforcement Program, or MEPMEP A free government service that collects court-ordered child support and spousal/partner support payments from the payor and distributes them to the recipient. MEP stands for Maintenance Enforcement Program., is a free government service that collects payments from the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. and distributes them to the recipientrecipient A person who receives money from another person. For example, a person who receives child support from the other parent..
- If you are not using MEPMEP A free government service that collects court-ordered child support and spousal/partner support payments from the payor and distributes them to the recipient. MEP stands for Maintenance Enforcement Program., you can take steps to collect regular, on-time payments as well as overdue payments from the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent..
- You can ask the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. for backpay, known as retroactive spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support., if they have not paid the right amount of support in the past.
Get started
Learn the basics about spousal and partner support rules before you collect spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support..
Next, review your agreement or order about spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support.. Note the following:
- How and when is the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. supposed to pay spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support.? When did you last receive payment?
- How much spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support. does the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. owe per month? How much was the last payment?
- Is spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support. overdue? If so, how much support is overdue?
- Are there instructions on what to do if the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. is not paying on time? If so, what are they?
- What is the amount of spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support. based on? Does new information suggest the amount of support is incorrect?
Use the Maintenance Enforcement Program (MEP)
The Maintenance Enforcement Program, or MEP, collects court-ordered spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support. and enforces payment as needed. It receives the support owing from the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. and distributes it to the recipientrecipient A person who receives money from another person. For example, a person who receives child support from the other parent.. MEPMEP A free government service that collects court-ordered child support and spousal/partner support payments from the payor and distributes them to the recipient. MEP stands for Maintenance Enforcement Program. is a free service of the Government of Alberta.
You can use MEPMEP A free government service that collects court-ordered child support and spousal/partner support payments from the payor and distributes them to the recipient. MEP stands for Maintenance Enforcement Program. to collect both regular and overdue payments. You can register with MEPMEP A free government service that collects court-ordered child support and spousal/partner support payments from the payor and distributes them to the recipient. MEP stands for Maintenance Enforcement Program. as soon as you have a spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support. order or file a Maintenance Enforcement Support Agreement with the Court of King’s Bench. Either the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. or recipientrecipient A person who receives money from another person. For example, a person who receives child support from the other parent. can register with MEPMEP A free government service that collects court-ordered child support and spousal/partner support payments from the payor and distributes them to the recipient. MEP stands for Maintenance Enforcement Program.. If the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. registers with MEPMEP A free government service that collects court-ordered child support and spousal/partner support payments from the payor and distributes them to the recipient. MEP stands for Maintenance Enforcement Program., you will receive a notice with more information.
Three reasons why you might want to use MEPMEP A free government service that collects court-ordered child support and spousal/partner support payments from the payor and distributes them to the recipient. MEP stands for Maintenance Enforcement Program. are:
- MEPMEP A free government service that collects court-ordered child support and spousal/partner support payments from the payor and distributes them to the recipient. MEP stands for Maintenance Enforcement Program. tracks all payments in and out, as well as interest gained and overdue spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support..
- You do not have to interact with the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent., only with MEPMEP A free government service that collects court-ordered child support and spousal/partner support payments from the payor and distributes them to the recipient. MEP stands for Maintenance Enforcement Program..
- MEPMEP A free government service that collects court-ordered child support and spousal/partner support payments from the payor and distributes them to the recipient. MEP stands for Maintenance Enforcement Program. has authority to collect money from the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. in different ways, including by seizing money the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. is owed by the federal government or their employer. To learn more about how MEPMEP A free government service that collects court-ordered child support and spousal/partner support payments from the payor and distributes them to the recipient. MEP stands for Maintenance Enforcement Program. can enforce payments, visit the Government of Alberta’s website.
MEPMEP A free government service that collects court-ordered child support and spousal/partner support payments from the payor and distributes them to the recipient. MEP stands for Maintenance Enforcement Program. cannot represent you or give you legal advice. MEPMEP A free government service that collects court-ordered child support and spousal/partner support payments from the payor and distributes them to the recipient. MEP stands for Maintenance Enforcement Program. also cannot adjust spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support. amounts.
- If you live outside of Alberta, register with the enforcement program in your jurisdictionjurisdiction The scope of government authority or power over certain subjects, usually within a geographical area. It also refers to the scope of authority or power of a court. or call MEP in Alberta for more information.
- Make sure you have one of the following documents that clearly says how much the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. owes and must pay each month:
- spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support. order
- Maintenance Enforcement Support Agreement that is filed with the Court of King’s Bench (learn more by reading the instructions)
- Complete the registration forms and mail them to the MEP office. Find the registration forms on the Government of Alberta’s website.
- MEPMEP A free government service that collects court-ordered child support and spousal/partner support payments from the payor and distributes them to the recipient. MEP stands for Maintenance Enforcement Program. will review your forms and notify the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent..
- Once MEPMEP A free government service that collects court-ordered child support and spousal/partner support payments from the payor and distributes them to the recipient. MEP stands for Maintenance Enforcement Program. accepts the file and notifies the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent., the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. must stop making payments directly to you and must instead pay MEPMEP A free government service that collects court-ordered child support and spousal/partner support payments from the payor and distributes them to the recipient. MEP stands for Maintenance Enforcement Program.. You will then receive payments through MEPMEP A free government service that collects court-ordered child support and spousal/partner support payments from the payor and distributes them to the recipient. MEP stands for Maintenance Enforcement Program., not directly from the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent..
Collect regular, on-time payments
If you are not using MEPMEP A free government service that collects court-ordered child support and spousal/partner support payments from the payor and distributes them to the recipient. MEP stands for Maintenance Enforcement Program., you can collect spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support. payments directly from the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent.. This may be a good option if you and the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. have a good relationship and you may trust them to pay spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support. directly to you.
Your agreement or order should say how and when the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. pays spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support.. For example, the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. may e-transfer money or send you a cheque on the first day of each month. Do not accept cash.
Ask the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. to label each payment so it can be traced later if necessary. For example, in the message section of the e-transfer or on the memo line of the cheque, the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. should note the month and year and that the money is for spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support.. For example, the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. should write “June 2024 spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support.”.
Collect overdue payments, known as arrears
Overdue payments are late, missed or partial payments. If you are not using MEPMEP A free government service that collects court-ordered child support and spousal/partner support payments from the payor and distributes them to the recipient. MEP stands for Maintenance Enforcement Program., you have a few options for collecting overdue spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support. payments from the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent..
If you feel safe interacting with the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent., you can try to collect overdue payments yourself. Communication can go a long way in preventing and resolving disputes.
Try sending the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. a reminder in writing, such as a text, email or letter. Note how much they owe and when it was due. Download a sample note and use it as a template to write your own. Keep a copy of your communication with the other person.
It is best to communicate in writing so you have proof of who said what. If you talk with the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. in person or on the phone, follow up with them in writing to summarize what each of you said. This can make sure you both have the same understanding of the conversations.
If the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. responds, you can work together to make a plan for them to pay the overdue spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support. amounts and keep up with regular payments.
If the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. does not respond or continues to miss payments for spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support., keep reading to learn about your other options for enforcing payments.
For tips on how to work with the other person to resolve disputes, visit the How to communicate with the other person page.
If you have a written agreement about spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support. but no court order, you can ask the court to include the agreement in a spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support. order. Doing so allows you to ask the court to enforce payment of the overdue spousal/partner amounts.
Once you have a spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support. order, you can ask the court to change it to include the overdue amounts.
After hearing your case, the court can:
- order the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. to pay the full amount that is overdue
- change the amount of overdue support
- cancel the amount of overdue support
The court is very hesitant to change or cancel the amount of overdue spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support.. There must be a strong reason why the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. should not have to pay the overdue support, such as if it would be extremely unfair for them to pay the amount owing. Usually, the court will postpone the payments or allow the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. to pay the amount they owe over time instead.
Follow the instructions on the Get or respond to a court order page to apply to court. Remember, going to court takes time and money. It should always be a last resort.
You can file a writ of enforcement with the Court of King’s Bench. In this process, you become a creditorcreditor An individual or business owed money by a debtor. and the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. becomes the debtordebtor An individual or business that owes money to a creditor..
Before you can file a writ of enforcement, you will need an updated spousal/partner support order from the court. This order should say how much the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. owes for regular payments going forward as well as how much the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. owes in arrears.
Once you file a writ of enforcement, you can hire a civil enforcement agencycivil enforcement agency An agency with permission from the Government of Alberta to seize (take away) and sell a person’s property to pay someone they owe money to. to seize assetsassets Something a person owns that has value. Assets include houses, vehicles, furniture, money and investments. from the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. equal to the amount they owe in arrears. You cannot take the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent.’s property yourself.
Find the Writ of EnforcementWrit of Enforcement A court form a creditor files with the court to allow them to take steps to enforce a judgment order against a debtor. form on the Alberta Courts’ website. To learn more about this process, review the Government of Alberta’s Getting and Enforcing Your Judgment in Alberta booklet.
Collect backpay, known as retroactive spousal/partner support
Retroactive spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support. is back pay of spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support. to correct the non-payment, under-payment or overpayment of support. Learn more on the Rules about spousal/partner support page.
If you think you are eligible for retroactive spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support., talk to the other person or apply to court right away. The longer you wait, the harder it can be to get.
If you are using MEPMEP A free government service that collects court-ordered child support and spousal/partner support payments from the payor and distributes them to the recipient. MEP stands for Maintenance Enforcement Program., they cannot help you calculate retroactive spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support., but they can enforce retroactive spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support. in a spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support. order.
If the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. owes spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support. going forward as well, make sure you have an agreement or court order about the amount they are to pay and when to share financial information to recalculate spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support. if need be. Sharing your financial information with each other every year helps avoid having to deal with retroactive spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support..
Write to the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. to see if you can agree on the amount of retroactive spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support.. You can make an agreement yourselves or get help from a legal professional without going to court. Once you have an agreement, you can turn it into a consent order, which allows the court to enforce the agreement if someone is not following it.
If you and the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. do not agree on retroactive spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support., you may need to go to court. Remember, going to court takes time and money. It should always be your last resort.
The process for getting a retroactive spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support. order is the same as getting or changing a spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support. order. Follow the steps on the Get or respond to a court order page.
When applying for a retroactive spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support. order, be sure to include the following information in your court documents:
- the past years for which you are requesting retroactive spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support.
- the amount of spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support. the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. has paid, if any, for the years you are asking for retroactive spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support.
- if the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. is already paying spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support., the date and amount of the last payment and whether the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. pays on time
- where the recipientrecipient A person who receives money from another person. For example, a person who receives child support from the other parent. lived in the years you are asking for retroactive spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support.
- each person’s income for every year you are asking for retroactive spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support., including any changes in income and whether you shared financial information with each other
- your quality of life in the years you are asking for retroactive spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support.
- reasons why you did not apply for retroactive spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support. earlier
When deciding on retroactive spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support., the court considers many factors, including:
- the reasons why you did not ask for retroactive support sooner, for example, if you could not afford a lawyer
- if the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. engaged in blameworthy conduct
- your circumstances when you weren’t receiving support, for example, if you were living below the poverty line
- whether a retroactive spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support. order would cause undue hardshipundue hardship A legal argument someone can use to reduce the amount of support they owe. The person must prove they would suffer unfair financial hardship if they had to pay the amount of support required by law. for the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent., for example, if they do not have the income, savings or property to pay it
If the payor has been overpaying spousal/partner support
You may be responsible for paying retroactive spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support. if the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. has been overpaying support in the past. Learn how to respond to a request for retroactive spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support. on the Pay spousal or partner support page.
Myth busters
Some people believe they can lower their spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support. payments to what they feel they can afford given new responsibilities, such as a new family or new mortgage.
This is not true. The payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. must ask for a new order and prove to the court how their financial responsibilities mean they, a spouse/partner or child would suffer undue hardshipundue hardship A legal argument someone can use to reduce the amount of support they owe. The person must prove they would suffer unfair financial hardship if they had to pay the amount of support required by law.. The payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. must continue to pay the original amount of spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support. until they get a new court order with an adjusted amount.
Potential issues
You aren’t sure if the amount of spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support. payments is still correct.
Depending on your agreement or order, you should recalculate spousal/partner support if one person’s income or situation changes. The payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. must continue to pay the current amount of spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support. until you agree on or the court orders a new amount.
You cannot find or contact the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent..
If you register with MEPMEP A free government service that collects court-ordered child support and spousal/partner support payments from the payor and distributes them to the recipient. MEP stands for Maintenance Enforcement Program., they can take steps to enforce court-ordered spousal/partner supportspousal/partner support On this website, referring to both spousal support and partner support.. Contact MEP to learn more.
You or the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. lives outside Alberta.
MEPMEP A free government service that collects court-ordered child support and spousal/partner support payments from the payor and distributes them to the recipient. MEP stands for Maintenance Enforcement Program. can monitor and enforce a court order when the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. or recipientrecipient A person who receives money from another person. For example, a person who receives child support from the other parent. lives outside Alberta. Either the payorpayor A person who pays money to another person. For example, a person who pays child support to the other parent. or recipientrecipient A person who receives money from another person. For example, a person who receives child support from the other parent. can register with MEPMEP A free government service that collects court-ordered child support and spousal/partner support payments from the payor and distributes them to the recipient. MEP stands for Maintenance Enforcement Program.. Contact MEP to learn more.