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What is the significance of the new law?
The Adult Interdependent Relationships Act provides for legal recognition of the relationship between two people who are not married. In order for the relationship to be recognised by the law, the relationship must have certain characteristics that are set out in the law. The significance of a relationship being recognised as an adult interdependent relationship is the rights, benefits and responsibilities that will then arise under other laws. Those rights, benefits and responsibilities will be similar to, and in some cases, the same as, those extended to spouses who are married.
For example, the Family Law Act will allow adult interdependent partners to apply for a support order where the relationship has broken down. Also, an adult interdependent partner is now a dependent within the Family Relief Act, so that he or she can apply for relief from the terms of a will or intestacy where they consider that inadequate provision has been made for them.
There are many Alberta laws that were amended following the Adult Interdependent Relationships Act coming into force. In any situation where there are rights and obligations granted to married spouses, it will be important to check to see what rights are also extended to adult interdependent partners.
June 2003
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