Dower Act, Final Report 118

The Alberta Law Reform Institute (ALRI) is recommending replacing the Dower Act with new legislation. The Dower Act protects a spouse if the couple’s home is solely owned by the other spouse. It has two features that prevent a non-owner spouse from losing their home unexpectedly: Consent to disposition: The owner cannot sell, lease, mortgage, or otherwise transfer the homestead without the non-owner’s consent. Life estate: After the owner’s death, the non-owner can keep the homestead for […]

September 26, 2022

Adverse Possession and Lasting Improvements to Wrong Land, Final Report 115

Adverse possession allows a person who has occupied another’s land for at least 10 years to potentially claim ownership of that land. The occupation must be exclusive, open, notorious and continuous. Adverse possession is commonly, but mistakenly, referred to as squatter’s rights. ALRI is recommending that the law of adverse possession be abolished in Alberta. This change would prevent new claims from being brought in the future, but would not affect claims that have been […]

May 28, 2020

Adverse Possession and Lasting Improvements to Wrong Land, Report 33

Adverse possession has a long history in the common law of England, Canada, and Alberta. It originated as a common law doctrine used to determine a person’s rights to land. In today’s Alberta, it involves two people: the person in actual possession of the disputed property (the occupier) and the registered owner of the disputed property (the registered owner). The essential common law elements of adverse possession are: -the registered owner must be out of […]

February 15, 2020

Enduring Powers of Attorney: Safeguards Against Abuse, Final Report 88

The Powers of Attorney Act allows a donor of a power of attorney to provide either that the power of attorney will come into effect on the donor’s mental incapacity or infirmity or that the power of attorney will continue in force despite the donors supervening mental incapacity or infirmity. It classifies both springing and continuing powers of attorney as “enduring” powers of attorney (EPA). The great majority of attorneys exercise their control for the donor’s benefit, […]

February 1, 2003

Variation of Shareholder Rights

January 3, 1975

Land Titles Project Section 2(11): The Definition of “Land”

January 1, 1975

Land Ownership Rights; Law and Land: An Overview

January 18, 1974

Married Women’s Property and Maintenance Rights

January 1, 1973