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ARTICLE · 13 DECEMBER 2012

Controversial Legislative Amendments On Ice

Field Law
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On February 1, 2012, the new "Wills and Succession Act" ("WSA") came into force, consolidating succession legislation in Alberta.

CanadaFamily and Matrimonial
Farha Salim
Farha Salim
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On February 1, 2012, the new Wills and Succession Act ("WSA") came into force, consolidating succession legislation in Alberta.  The legislation – as originally unveiled - included significant amendments to portions of the Matrimonial Property Act ("MPA"): allowing a surviving spouse to make a claim for matrimonial property upon the death of a spouse, irrespective of whether or not there was a marital breakdown prior to death. However, amidst a firestorm of criticism, the matrimonial property amendments were not proclaimed into force on February 1, 2012. The Alberta Government has now confirmed that the matrimonial property amendments will not be proclaimed in force at this time, but that the proposed amendments will be reviewed further.

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