The Alberta Maintenance Enforcement Program (MEP) is authorized by the Alberta Maintenance Enforcement Act to ensure that individuals meet their obligations to pay spousal and child support under the terms of their court orders and certain agreements. Once an order or agreement has been registered with MEP, maintenance payments that the debtor (payor) would normally pay directly to the creditor (recipient) are sent to MEP. MEP then forwards the payment to the creditor once the funds have cleared through a trust account.
In cases of default (non-payment) by the debtor, MEP has the legislative authority to take steps to enforce the support owed. These enforcement tools include registrations at Land Titles and the Personal Property Registry, wage, non-wage and federal support deduction notices, federal licence (passport) denials, motor vehicle restrictions and driver's licence cancellations. MEP also has access to a variety of databases to assist in locating a debtor or a debtor's assets or income.
There are approximately 100,000 creditors and debtors and more than 65,000 children registered with MEP.
Clients can access the MEP Info Line by calling 780-422-5555 in Edmonton or dial 310-0000 for toll-free access anywhere in Alberta. Clients should have their seven digit MEP account number and Personal Identification Number (PIN) available when using the Internet service or calling.
Child Support Recalculation Program
In the June 2006 Client Survey, clients told us they wanted their support orders to be reviewed annually. Based in part on these results, a new Child Support Recalculation Program (RP) is being developed by Alberta Justice.
This proposed program would help Albertans keep their court-ordered child support amounts current. It would annually adjust existing child support payments based on changes in the parties’ incomes, rather than requiring the parties to return to court for a new order. The method of calculation would provide certainty and predictability for program users.
Family Law Act amendments to establish the program will be proposed for introduction in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Details of how the program will work still need to be determined. These details will be contained in regulations targeted to be passed in late 2008. Feedback from stakeholders and interested individuals will be key to the development of these regulations. To provide your input on some of the technical questions the program needs to answer, you are invited to respond to the Child Support Recalculation Program Consultation.
It is not yet known when the Child Support Recalculation Program will open. More information will be posted on this site as it becomes available. A mail out to all MEP clients will be sent closer to the program’s opening date to invite registrations for the service.
2006 Client Survey
In June 2006, MEP conducted a client survey of both creditors and debtors. The survey was intended to help us understand our clients better so we could improve client service and collections. Over 7,400 clients responded to the survey, which far exceeded our hopes for 4,000 replies.
We sincerely appreciated everyone who took the time to reply to the survey. Your honest input is helping MEP plan for future initiatives and improvements in our existing services.
An analysis of the client survey data can be viewed at MEP Client Survey 2006.
Important changes
Mission, vision and values
MEP's responsibilities