Kendall

Estate planning sits at the bottom of the typical to-do list. Many Albertans believe they “don’t have enough,” “aren’t old enough,” or simply “aren’t ready.” Or, if they are ready, there are a bunch of better things to do than estate plan today. The truth? Estate planning is for everyone and is better when done today than tomorrow. Estate planning is not just for the wealthy, not just for retirees, and not just for people with complex assets. It's also not just for the people going on...

Estate administration after separation of spouses. Separation doesn’t always mean closure. Not individually, and not legally. Even after  years  of living separate and apart, if a spouse dies while still legally married, the law can treat the living spouse as a spouse of the Deceased. That treatment can create unexpected and painful complications for executors (aka " Personal Representatives " or "PRs"), children, and new partners trying to navigate estate administration. POV Law: I spy a...

When separation leaves your story unfinished. Many couples separate long before they finalize a divorce. Separation is sometimes for months; sometimes for decades. But here’s the legal twist: in Alberta, your "ex" may have a rights to inherit from your estate unless: you are divorced (with the actual divorce order from the Court); AND any estate plans you may have are updated after your separation / divorce. The relationship status of "separated, but not yet divorced" can create serious...