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 almost 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

The new Child Support Recalculation Program (RP) will open on December 1, 2009.

By law, both parents are responsible for making sure their children get the appropriate amount of child support. The goal of RP is to help parents do this without having to go to court. RP helps maintain a fair standard of support for children by annually recalculating child support based on current income tax information.

For more information about this new program, please visit www.recalculation.gov.ab.ca.

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