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ARTICLE · 11 JULY 2018

Changes In The Wind For Cohabitating Couples

McLennan Ross LLP
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For many individuals in Alberta, living in a relationship of interdependence (a common law relationship) without the benefit of marriage is a choice

CanadaFamily and Matrimonial
Karen Platten
Karen Platten
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For many individuals in Alberta, living in a relationship of interdependence (a common law relationship) without the benefit of marriage is a choice. The choice involves the notion that they do not want the legal obligations of marriage, such as division of property, to apply to their relationship.

However, there are changes to legislation being contemplated which would impact those individuals who are in a common law relationship. The Alberta Law Reform Institute ("ALRI") in its report entitled "Property Division for Cohabitants", is reviewing the law in the area of property rights for cohabitating couples and will be forwarding their findings to the provincial government for its own review of the topic.

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