Estate Planning

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, unless you are divorced (with the actual divorce order from the Court), your "ex" may have rights to inherit from your estate. The relationship status of "separated, but not yet divorced" can create serious complications, especially when new relationships, children of any age

As with most things in life, estate planning also has options to get it done. DIY, generally guided will kits, online prompts and lawyer facilitated.

It’s a common question of lawyers: Should I add my adult child to the title of my home so that it passes to them automatically when I die, avoiding probate? At first glance, it sounds efficient. But in most cases, it’s not the best approach. I find myself advising clients against it more often than not. 1. Maintain sovereignty over your home Your home is likely your most valuable asset, whether emotionally, financially or both. Adding an adult child to title means you no long

When selling, buying or mortgaging property in Alberta, one often-overlooked issue is dower rights. These rights can complicate real estate transactions if not addressed early. Dower rights exist on the home when only only one spouse is on the home title. The spouses must be legally married. Dower does not (yet) apply to adult interdependent partnerships ("AIPs" for short; commonly known as common-law). Here are some common scenarios in real estate deals. Also view one of the

At Cairns Law, we believe that community is built by people who care. Alberta’s teachers and educational support staff care deeply, and give more of themselves than we pay attention to. Over the past weeks, many of us have been watching with heavy hearts, agitated minds and restless kids, as teachers have had to step away from their classrooms - not for vacation or perks, but for classrooms that function for their students, and their students' futures that deserve better. Our

Estate planning and administration can feel overwhelming, especially if you’ve never been involved in it before. Part of the challenge is the unfamiliar language. In Alberta, some of the words you might read about have very specific legal meanings. Knowing what the words mean can make the process a little less intimidating. Estate Everything a person owns at the time of death. E.g. real estate, bank accounts, investments, cryptocurrency and other digital assets, business asse

There is a saying: “The best time to plant a tree was yesterday. The second-best time is today.” Estate planning is like that. Most people put it off because life is busy, the future feels far away, or it’s hard to know where to start. But once it’s done, clients almost always say: “I feel so much better having that off my mind.” Whether you're starting a family, settling into retirement, or simply trying to get organized, it’s never too early, or too late, to plant that tree

Some of the most common things I hear from clients are: “I don’t know what the process is to get started.” "We want to keep things simple.” “We should have done this years ago.” Let me say this clearly: you’re not alone.  We are human , and we don’t often know the ins and outs of someone else’s profession or trade, and we don't often want to talk or think about our death while we're in the hustle of life. Estate planning, estate administration, and real estate law touch some