The Adult Interdependent Relationships Act creates a type of legal relationship between two people who are not married. A relationship must have certain characteristics that are set out in the law to be considered an adult interdependent relationship. Partners who are recognized as being in an adult interdependent relationship may gain the rights, benefits and responsibilities that come from other laws. Those rights, benefits and responsibilities are similar to – and, in most cases, the same as – those of married couples. For example, Alberta’s Family Law Act allows adult interdependent partners to apply for partner support where the relationship has broken down. Alberta’s Family Property Act directs adult interdependent partners to divide property in the same way as married couples do, unless they have an enforceable agreement that says otherwise. An adult interdependent partner is also a “dependent” for the purposes of the Wills and Succession Act, meaning that a surviving partner can apply for maintenance and support from the estate if the deceased does not make adequate provisions for them in the Will or on intestacy (where the deceased dies without a Will). Last Reviewed: January 2020