Marriage and Family Law

This Canada Asset Acquisition Agreement for a jointly owned asset sets out in writing how the asset will be dealt with if you and your spouse / partner break up.

• The Agreement can be used to cover all substantial assets you purchase together (such as a home, vacation property, boat, RV, family vehicle, etc.).
• Each spouse agrees to pay half of the purchase price, but if one spouse cannot make a payment for any reason, the other spouse can make the payment and his/her interest in the asset will be increased to reflect the amount of the payment.
• If the marriage or relationship breaks up and the parties are unable to come to an agreement regarding ownership of the asset, the partners agree to submit the matter to a mediator, and to abide by the mediator's decision.
• This legal agreement can be used in any Canadian province or territory.

If you and your partner split up, you want to be sure that your jointly owned property is fairly dealt with. Download the Canada Asset Acquisition Agreement for Jointly Owned Asset and sign it before you make that big ticket purchase.

Are you purchasing a substantial asset (such as a real estate property, a vehicle, boat, etc.) separately from your spouse or partner? Then you need to sign this Canada Asset Acquisition Agreement for a separately owned asset.

• This is a legal document which sets out in writing that you will be purchasing the property and making all the payments solely on your own.
• Your spouse/partner acknowledges that you will have sole ownership and waives any claims or rights that he or she might have by law with respect to the asset.
• This Agreement can be used in any Canadian province or territory.

Download the Canada Asset Acquisition Agreement (Separately Owned Asset) and sign it before you make that purchase. Otherwise you could lose part, or even all, of your share if you and your partner split up.

You and your spouse or partner can protect the property you individually own by signing this Agreement to Contract Out of the New Zealand Property (Relationships) Act 1976.

• Under the Act, your assets would be split 50/50 with your spouse or de facto partner.
• This Agreement lets the parties exclude assets and add property and assets purchased in future to the list of items to be contracted out of the jurisdiction of the Act.
• This is a digital legal document that can be used by married couples, de facto partnerships, and civil unions.
• To obtain the Agreement to Contract Out of the Property (Relationships) Act, add it to your shopping cart, pay for it via the secure checkout, and download it.
• Available in MS Word format.
• Intended to be used only in New Zealand.

Are you and your common law spouse planning to separate? If you have children, and if you own joint property, put your understanding in writing with this USA Agreement to Terminate Cohabitation.

• Each party waives all rights to the estate of the other party.
• The parties mutually release each other from all claims.
• Arrangements for payment of joint debts and liabilities.
• Arrangements for maintenance and custody of the children.
• Provisions for the disposition of jointly owned property.
• Available in MS Word format and fully editable to fit your specific circumstances.
• Intended to be used only in the United States.

Common law opposite-sex or same sex couples can qualify for certain rights and benefits under Alberta law by signing an Adult Interdependent Partner Agreement.

In order to be eligible, you and your partner must:

1. be emotionally committed to one another,
2. share each other's lives,
3. function as an economic and domestic unit, and
4. must not be married to another person at the same time.

Signing this Agreement means:

• You and your partner are obligated to financially support each other.
• You can register for joint coverage under Alberta Health Care.
• Both partners are eligible for insurance coverage currently available to spouses.
• Partners are entitled to all or part of a deceased partner's estate if he/she died without a will.
• Other rights and privileges available to married couples.

This template conforms to the statutory form required by provincial law for an Alberta Adult Interdependent Partner Agreement.

You and your live-in partner can decide how you want your joint property divided with this Cohabitation Agreement for Alberta.

• A cohabitation agreement is an effective means for any couple to determine what happens with respect to property division and spousal support if they split up.
• The Agreement is made pursuant to Section 37 of the Family Property Act, which allows couples to make provisions for the disposition of their property separately from the provisions of the Act.
• You can also set out how you want your children to be raised, supported and cared for.
• Before signing, you will need to see a lawyer to obtain independent legal advice. For your convenience, the template includes a Certificate of Independent Legal Advice for each party.
• The template also contains the required form of Acknowledgement to be completed by each party.
• Intended to be used only in the Province of Alberta, Canada.

Reconciling spouses in Alberta should sign this Matrimonial Property Contract to specify what will happen to the matrimonial home if they should decide to divorce.

• This agreement is only for couples who have no children.
• The contract sets out the rights and interests that each spouse has in the matrimonial property (e.g. the home they live in), and their respective individual assets.
• Neither spouse will have an interest in the other's RRSP contributions.
• The parties intend that the contract will be the sole determinant of the disposing of the matrimonial property, and the contract will survive any divorce judgment granted to the parties.
• A Matrimonial Property Contract can help make a final break-up much easier on both parties.
• Intended for use only in the Province of Alberta, Canada.

A Prenuptial (or Pre-Marriage) Agreement protects the interests of both parties if the marriage eventually ends in divorce. This standard form template is for Alberta residents.

• The purpose of the Agreement is to clearly establish what the rights and obligations of each party are with respect to joint and individual personal property, in the event that the marriage breaks down.
• Assets that were owned by an individual prior to the marriage remain the sole property of that individual.
• Each party acknowledges that they have no right to the assets of the other party.
• Household and living expenses will be shared proportionally according to income.
• The Agreement will be the sole determinant of the division of property during the marriage and the parties waive their rights under any provincial or federal legislation or under common law.
• You will both have to see separate lawyers in order to get independent legal advice about the rights you are giving up before you sign it. If you fail to do that, the agreement will not be legally valid.
• This Prenuptial (Pre-Marriage) Agreement is intended for use only in the Province of Alberta, Canada.

A reconciling couple can set out in writing how property, custody and support issues will be handled if they split up again with this Reconciliation Agreement for Alberta.

• The spouses agree to each take active roles in raising and nurturing the children, and to consult with each other on important issues such as health care, education and religion.
• Child support will be paid in accordance with the Federal Child Support Guidelines or as amended by court order.
• Both parents will contribute to the child's medical and dental expenses that are not covered by insurance.
• If they separate again, the custodial parent will have possession of the matrimonial home and the other parent will have no interest in or claim to it.
• Each party will pay its own debts, own its own property, and be solely entitled to its own pension and RRSP contributions.
• Each party gives up any claim to the other's estate.
• The parties intend that the Agreement survive any divorce judgment.
• You will need to see a lawyer prior to signing the Agreement, to obtain independent legal advice and ensure that you understand what you are signing.
• Available in MS Word format.
• Intended to be used only in the Province of Alberta, Canada.

Have you and your spouse decided to separate? If you live in Alberta, you can put the terms of the separation in writing with this Separation and Matrimonial Property Agreement.

• The Separation Agreement assumes that the parties own the matrimonial home (principal residence) as joint tenants.
• The parties agree to transfer title to the property into one name alone.
• The transferee of the title will buy out the share of the other party.
• Each party releases the other from any support or alimony claims.
• Neither party is entitled to pension benefits or RRSP of the other party.
• The Separation Agreement also provides for joint custody of minor children.
• This legal template is for married couples and cannot be used by cohabiting (common law) couples.

Get this Separation and Matrimonial Property Agreement for Alberta residents to help smooth out the separation process.