Areas of Practice

Business Strategies

Litigation Strategies

Personal Strategies

Home > Personal Strategies > Miscellaneous > Adult Interdependent Relationships

How does that affect me?

The Adult Interdependent Relations Act, 2002 is now in force in Alberta. It applies to common law relationships and any other relationship where persons who are not related to each other by blood or adoption live with each other in a relationship of interdependence for a continuous period of at least three years (or a shorter period if there is a child of the relationship).

The relationship may be entirely platonic, but it will give rise to certain rights between the parties. It used to be that a common law "spouse" had limited rights, but now full spousal rights may be extended to adult interdependent partners.

Examples which may be of relevance are the Dependent Adults Act and Family Relief Act, where an adult interdependent partner will now be able to apply for support or relief, or the Intestate Succession Act, where a surviving partner will be entitled to a share of the estate of a partner dying without a Will.

Should your Will be revisited in light of this new regime?