How do adult interdependent partners divide property when the relationship ends?
Alberta's Family Property Act says that adult interdependent partners divide property the same way that married couples divide property: Some property one partner can keep for themselves. This includes the property you brought into the relationship and some kinds of property you get during the relationship (including gifts, inheritances, insurance payouts and court awards). If you bring property into the relationship, you get to keep the value of the property as of the date the relationship began. If you get a gift, inheritance, insurance payout or court award during the relationship, you get to keep the value of that property as of the date it was received. Some property is divided, but not necessarily equally. This includes the increase in value of property brought into the relationship and the increase in value of any gifts, inheritances, insurance payouts and court awards received during the relationship. This category also includes new property gotten from the sale of this property and gifts received from the other person. Some property is divided equally. This is all of the property the couple acquired during the relationship. For more information, see CPLEA’s booklet called Property Division for Married and Unmarried Couples, part of the Families and the Law series. Last Reviewed: January 2020