3/15/2016

LegalInformationAboutMatrimonialPropertyinAlberta

LegalInformation

Criminal

Civil

Family

AboutSLS

Education&Reform

ProBonoStudentsCanada

Providingfreelegalinformationandrepresentationtothe
lowincomecommunitysince1969.

FamilyLaw
Questions
IwantSLStorepresentme.Canyou
help?
CommonQuestionsaboutGetting
Married.

DIVIDING PROPERTY AT SEPARATION: MARRIED

COUPLES
Thisinformationisnotlegaladvice,andwecannotguaranteeitisaccurate,complete,oruptodate.Seeourdisclaimer&termsof
use.

CLICKHERETODOWNLOADPAMPHLETIN.PDF

CommonQuestionsaboutDivorce.
CommonQuestionsabout
MatrimonialProperty.
MatrimonialProperty
CommonLawProperty

SpecificLegalTopics.
GettingMarried
Divorce
MatrimonialProperty
CommonLawRelationships
DomesticAbuse
ChildrenatRisk
Child&SpousalSupport
Custody,Access&Parenting
Time

http://www.slsedmonton.com/family/matrimonialproperty/

1/6

3/15/2016

LegalInformationAboutMatrimonialPropertyinAlberta

Contents
WhatisMatrimonialPropertyandwhatisthelaw?
Whencananapplicationbemade?
WhendoIhavetomakeanapplicationby?
Whataresomeofthegeneralrulesforthedivisionofproperty?
Whataresomethingsthatmaybeconsideredwhendividingproperty?
WhataboutpropertythatisoutsideofAlberta?
Whogetstokeepthehouse:Possessionofthematrimonialhome
WhatifIambeingharassedbymyspouse?
DoIhaveanyotheroptions:Marriageandseparationagreements
WherecanIgethelpormoreinformation?

WHATISMATRIMONIALPROPERTYANDWHATISTHELAW?

AlbertasMatrimonialPropertyAct,orMPAisthelawthatisusedtotrytodividepropertyfairlybetween
spouseswhentheyseparateand/ordivorce.TheMPAprovidesrulesandproceduresforwhogetswhich
property,whogetstoliveinthehome,andwhogetstousehouseholdgoodsandcandealwithalmostallof
thepropertyissuesthatyourfamilymayhave.

Itappliestoallofthepropertythatisbeingdividedupbetweenthespousesandmightincludeproperty
boughtbyeitherspousebefore,during,orafterthemarriage.

TheMPAappliesonlyinAlbertaandonlytolegallymarriedspouses.TheMPAdoesnotapplytocommon
lawspouses.ThespousesmustbeordinarilyresidentinAlbertaforoneyearwhichmeansthattheymust
havebeenleadingtheirordinarylivesinAlbertaforatleastoneyearbeforeseparation/divorce.

http://www.slsedmonton.com/family/matrimonialproperty/

2/6

3/15/2016

LegalInformationAboutMatrimonialPropertyinAlberta

ThepersonaskingforamatrimonialpropertyOrdermustshowtheCourtthat:

a. BothspousescurrentlyliveinAlbertaor
b. TheirlastjointresidencewasinAlbertaor
c. Ifthepartieshavenotestablishedajointresidencesincemarriage,thateachspouseresidedinAlbertaatthe
timeofthemarriageor
d. ThataStatementofClaimfordivorcehasbeenfiledinAlberta.

Ifyouarenotsureifyoumeettheaboverequirements,youshouldgetlegaladvice.Inmostcases,a
lawyerwillbeneededforanyapplicationundertheMPA.

^TOP^

WHENCANANAPPLICATIONBEMADE?

AnapplicationtodividepropertyundertheMPAcanbemadebyitselforwithanotherapplication(suchas
divorce,judicialseparation,orannulment).Aspousecanmakeanapplicationifhe/shehasseparatedbuthasnot
yetdivorced,orifhe/shehasbegundivorceproceedings.

^TOP^

WHENDOIHAVETOMAKEANAPPLICATIONBY?

Thereareimportanttimelimitstofollowwhenstartinganapplicationforthedivisionofpropertyafterseparation.
Beforeadivorcejudgmentbutafterseparation,anapplicationforthedivisionofpropertymustbemadewithin
twoyearsofthedateofseparation.
Ifadivorcejudgmenthasbeengiven,anyapplicationforpropertydivisionundertheMPAmustbemadewithin
twoyearsofreceivingthejudgmentorCourtOrder.
Ifaspouseissuspectedofsellingorgivingawayproperty(i.e.tokeepitfromtheotherspouse)legalaction
mustbeginwithinoneyearofthedatethepropertywassoldorgivenaway.TheCourtmayorderthespousewho
soldorgaveawaythepropertytorepaytheotherspouseormaydividetherestofthepropertyinawaythatmakes
surebothspousesendupwithequalamounts.

^TOP^

WHATARESOMEOFTHEGENERALRULESFORTHEDIVISION
OFPROPERTY?
MatrimonialPropertyisallthepropertythatisacquiredbyeitherorbothspousesduringthemarriage.Itcanbe
property bought by both spouses together, as a family, or individually. Generally, matrimonial property is divided
equallybetweenspouseswhenamarriageends,unlesstheresultofthisequaldivisionwouldbeunfair.
Certainkindsofpropertyacquiredbeforethemarriagemaynotbedividedwhenamarriageends.Thisiscalled
exemptproperty.
However,sometimestheincreaseinvalueofexemptpropertymaybeconsideredmatrimonialproperty.An
exampleofthismaybethatyouownedacondoworth$20,000atthebeginningofthemarriage.Thatamountmay
beexemptfromdivisionbutifthecondoincreasedinvalue,theincreasemaybedividedbetweenthespouses.
Thisincreaseinvaluemaynotautomaticallyleadtoanequalsplit.TheCourtwillmakeadecisionbasedon
whattheCourtconsiderstobefair.

WHATARESOMECOMMONPROPERTYTYPES?

1. Propertywhichmaybedividedincludes:
a. thematrimonialhome
b. householdgoods(thisincludesalmostallpersonalpropertyusedbyfamilymembers)
c. R.R.S.P.andemploymentpensions
d. businessinterests
e. investments,stocks,bonds
f. cars
g. other property that has been purchased during the marriage or brought into the matrimonial relationship, or
usedforthemutualbenefitofthespouses
h. debtand
i. bankaccounts.

ThisisnotacompletelistandtheremaybeotherpropertythataCourtorthepartnersmaydecidetodivide
atthetimeofseparation.

2. Propertywhichmightnotbedividedincludes:
a. propertyacquiredbyonespousebeforethemarriage
b. propertyonespousereceivedasagift
c. propertyonespousereceivedbyinheritance
d. anawardorsettlementfordamagesintortlawreceivedbyonespouse(i.e.moneypaidforpainandsufferingin
anautomobileaccident)unlesstheawardwasmeanttocompensatebothspouses.

Noclaimbytheotherspousecanbemadeonanythingthatislistedaspropertywhichmaynotbedivided,
unlessithasbeenbroughtintothemarriage.
Ifpropertyisbroughtintothemarriageitisthenconsideredtobepropertyofbothspousesandcanbedivided.
Anexampleofbringingpropertyintothemarriagewouldbetakingahomepurchasedbyonespousebefore
themarriageandputtingitunderbothspousesnames.

3. DivisionofPensions

Asnotedabove,pensionsareconsideredpropertyundertheMPA.Therearetwotypesofpensions:private
pensions(byemployment)andtheCanadaPensionPlan.

Certain pensions may have legislation that determines how the pension will be divided when a marriage
ends.Contactyourpensionadministratortofindoutifthiskindoflegislationappliestoyou.

DivisionoftheCanadaPensionPlanisautomaticunlessbothspousesagreeotherwise.Thereasonbehind
thisistoprovidesomefinancialprotectiontoaspousewhodidnotworkoutsideofthehomeand/orcould
notreasonablyhavecontributedtotheplan.RememberthattakingmoneyoutofCPPcanhavesignificant

http://www.slsedmonton.com/family/matrimonialproperty/

3/6

3/15/2016

LegalInformationAboutMatrimonialPropertyinAlberta
taximplications.

WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT MAY BE CONSIDERED WHEN

DIVIDINGPROPERTY?

TheMPArequirestheCourttobefairindeterminingwhateachspousesshareofthepropertywillbe.Equal
divisionofpropertywillusuallytakeplaceunlessthereareverygoodreasonspresentedtotheCourtthatthisshould
notbethecase.

Whenspousescannotagreeonhowpropertywillbesplit,thejudgewillconsider:
Spousalcontributionstothemarriage,
Contributionstothefamily,
Businessendeavours,
Financialresourcesofbothspouses,
Thelengthofthemarriage,
Aswellasanyagreementsmade.

Thejudgemayalsoconsider:

Whetheraspousetransferredorsoldproperty,
PreviousCourtOrders,
Taxliabilityonespousemayincurasaresultofthetransfer/saleofproperty,and
Anyotherrelevantcircumstances.

TheCourtwillnotconsidermisconductbyaspouse(forexamplecheatingordomesticabuse),unlessit
relatestotheimproperuseorsaleofmatrimonialproperty

^TOP^

WHATABOUTPROPERTYTHATISOUTSIDEOFALBERTA?
IfonespousealsoownspropertyoutsideofAlberta,differentruleswillapplyfortheoutofprovinceproperty.

TheMPAallowstheCourtsinAlbertatoconsiderpropertyheldoutsidetheprovincewhendividing
matrimonialpropertybutAlbertaCourtscannotmakeanyordersrelatingtoit.Therefore,whattheCourtmay
doistakeintoaccountpropertythatisoutsideofAlbertaandthendividethepropertythatisinAlbertaina
waythatensuresanequaldistributionofallofthematrimonialproperty.

Forexample,ifonespousehasahouseoutsideofAlbertathattheywillbeabletokeepintheirname,the
CourtcantakethisintoaccountwhendividingupwhowillgettokeeppropertyinAlberta,suchassecond
homeoracar.
^TOP^

WHO GETS TO KEEP THE HOUSE?: POSSESSION OF THE

MATRIMONIALHOME

Matrimonialhomecanmeananumberofdifferentthings.Itcanbe:
Ahouse,
Apartofahouse,
Apartofabusinessthatisbeingusedasahouse,
Amobilehome,
Acondominium,or
Asuite.

Thematrimonialhomemustbeownedorleasedbyoneorbothspousesandmustbeoccupiedasthefamily
home(i.e.thisdoesnotincludeasummercottage).ThehomemustbelocatedinAlberta.Itdoesnothave
tobeinbothspousesnames,tobeconsideredthematrimonialhomeitmustonlybelivedinasthefamily
home.

ExclusivePossessionOrders

Ifonespousewantstobeabletoliveinthehouseafterseparationeitheraloneorwithchildren,oneoptionisto
asktheCourtforanExclusivePossessionOrder.

AnExclusivePossessionOrderessentiallyallowsonespousetokeeptheotheroutofthehouse.Thisisgiven
when spouses cannot live together peacefully, but neither is willing to leave the home. An application for the
matrimonial home may be made ex parte (i.e. without telling the other spouse) if the Court finds that there is
potentialdangertothespousemakingtheapplicationortoachildlivinginthehome.IftheCourtdoesnotbelieve
thereisdangerinmakingtheapplicationthentheotherspousemustbetoldabouttheapplication.ACourtcangrant
anOrderforexclusivepossessionevenwithoutathreatofdangerpresent.

IngrantingtheOrder,theCourtmaydooneormoreofthefollowing:

1. Directthataspousebegivenexclusivepossessionofthehome(regardlessofwhosenamethepropertyisin)
2. Directthataspousebeevictedfromthematrimonialhome
3. Stopaspousefromenteringorgoingtothematrimonialhome.

WhendecidingwhetherapossessionOrderwillbegranted,theCourtcanconsider:

o Whethereachspousecanfindandmaintainanotherplacetolive
o Theneedsofanychildrenlivinginthehome
o Thefinancialpositionofeachspouse
o Propertyofeitherspouseand
o AnyexistingCourtordersregardingchildorspousalsupport.

ACourtOrderforexclusivepossessionisnoteasytoget.ThepersonapplyingfortheOrdermustprovethatthe
MPAguidelineshavebeenmet,andthatthereisgoodreasonfortheorder(i.e.notthatitissimplyamatterofthem
notwantingtomoveoutofthehomebecausemovingwouldbeinconvenient).

http://www.slsedmonton.com/family/matrimonialproperty/

4/6

3/15/2016

LegalInformationAboutMatrimonialPropertyinAlberta

Note: an Exclusive Possession Order does not change legal ownership of the property. This means that a
personmayhavetherighttostayinthehouseforaperiodoftimebutitisstillconsideredmatrimonialpropertythat
maybedividedbetweenthetwospousesatalaterdate.

UndertheMPAtheCourtcanonlygrantanOrdertopreventapersonfromenteringorvisitingthehomebut
thisdoesnotpreventthespousesfromcontactingonanother.Ifonespouseisharassingtheotherandthey
want to prevent contact, he/she has some other options such as an Emergency Protection Order or a
RestrainingOrder.

AspousecanalsoapplyforanOrdergivinghim/herexclusiveuseofhouseholdgoods.Householdgoodsare
definedaspersonalpropertyownedbyatleastoneofthespousesandusedorenjoyedbyeitherspouseorthe
childrenfortransportation,householduse,educationaluse,recreationaluse,socialuse,oraestheticpurposes.
Householdgoodsincludemotorvehicles,furniture,andappliances.TheCourtcanmakethisorderforanyamount
oftimethattheCourtthinksisnecessary.

^TOP^

WHATIFIAMBEINGHARASSEDBYMYSPOUSE?

Ifonespouseisbeingharassedorfeelsthreatenedbytheotherspousethereareanumberofoptionsdependingon
thesituation.ThetypeofOrderwilldependonthetypeofsafetyissuesfacingoneorbothofthespouses.
1.AnEmergencyProtectionOrder(EPO)isdesignedtoprotectindividualsagainstimmediateviolencefromfamily
members.
TheOrdercanpreventafamilymemberfromcontactingothermembersofthefamily.
ThisOrderisservedbythepoliceandlastsforuptooneyear.
AviolationoftheOrdermayresultinacriminalconvictionandanevenlongerprotectionperiod.
ChangingthetermsoftheEPOdoesNOTchangethetermsofcriminalrestraintsthatmayalreadyexist(suchasa
ProbationOrder).
2.YoumayalsoapplyforaRestrainingOrderagainstaspouseorfamilymember.Alawyermaybeneededforthis
application,andtoreceiveaRestrainingOrderyouwillhavetoshowarealorsuspecteddangertoyoursafety.A
RestrainingOrdercanbeattachedtoanotheraction(suchasadivorce)orappliedforonitsown.Theotherperson
mustbeservedwithacopyoftheorder,andanautomaticreviewwilltakeplacetwoweekslaterattheCourtof
QueensBench.Bothyouandyourspousewilllikelyhavetoattendthishearing.TheOrdershouldspecifically
mentionalltheplacesyourspousemaytrytoinitiatecontact(i.e.workplacesetc.).
Somethingstoremember:
TheRestrainingOrdershouldgivethepolicethepowertomakeanarrestiftheconditionsarenotfollowed(i.e.
itshouldsaythatthepoliceshallmakeanarrest,notmaymakeanarrest).
AcopyoftheRestrainingOrdershouldbekeptreadilyavailable,incasethepoliceneedtoseeit.
ItmayalsobeagoodideatohavetheRestrainingOrderregisteredwiththepoliceandgivenacasenumberso
lawenforcementofficialscanhaveimmediateaccesstoitifnecessary.
RememberthatthesekindsofOrdersarenottobeusedforalternativepurposes(suchasanattemptatgainingthe
upperhandindivorceproceedings).Filinganapplicationbasedonafalsestatementcanresultinachargeof
contemptorafine.

DOIHAVEANYOTHEROPTIONS?:MARRIAGEAND
SEPARATIONAGREEMENTS

Youmaymakeanagreementwithyourspouseregardinghowpropertywillbedividedintheeventofaseparation
and/ordivorce.Tobevalid,theagreementmust:
Beinwriting
HavebeenenteredintofreelyandNOThavebeenforcedbythespouseorsome

otherperson
ShowthateachspousehadINDEPENDENTLEGALADVICEabouttheeffects
ofsigningtheagreement.Thatmeansthateachspousemustsigntheagreementwithadifferentlawyer.

CreatingaseparationagreementwillallowthepartiestocontractoutoftheMPA.ThatmeansthattheMPAwill
notapplytotheirproperty.ThespousemustunderstandthattheyaregivinguptheirrighttousetheMPAforany
propertydivisionissuesinthefuturethisrightisbeingreplacedwiththeagreement.

ItisimportanttonotethattheCourtwillnotenforceanagreementthatitconsiderstobeunconscionable.An
agreementwouldbeunconscionableifonespousewasunabletoproperlyprotecthis/herowninterestsatthetime
oftheagreement.Examplesofanunconscionableagreementmayincludetakingadvantageofaspousethat
cannotaffordlegaladviceorlyingaboutpropertytoforceanagreement.TheCourtmustconsidertheagreementto
berelativelyfairinordertoenforceit.
Note:Inordertopreventaspousefromsellingpropertywhileanactionisintheworks,onemaywishtoregistera
certificateofLisPendenswiththeRegistrarofLandTitlesintheareainwhichthelandislocated.Youcanalso
applyforaninjunctiontofreezeyourspousesassets.Seealawyerimmediately.
Ifthelawsurroundingmatrimonialpropertyseemssomewhatconfusing,youarenotalone.Whenin
doubt,seeklegaladvice.Ifyoucannotaffordalawyer,thereareservicesthatmaybeabletoassistyouin
findingone.

^TOP^

WHERECANIGETHELPORMOREINFORMATION?

LegalResources

EmergencyProtectionOrderProgram....(780)4229222

http://www.slsedmonton.com/family/matrimonialproperty/

5/6

3/15/2016

LegalInformationAboutMatrimonialPropertyinAlberta

Canhelpyoutogetanemergencyprotectionorderagainstaspouseorfamily

memberifyoufeelasthoughyouareatanimmediatedanger.

EdmontonCommunityLegalCentre.................................................................(780)7021725

Providesfreelegalinformationsessionsondifferentfamilylawtopicsaswellasa

clinicforthosewhoareinterestedinasummarylegalclinicwithavolunteerfamily

lawyer.Contacttheofficeformoreinformationaboutbothoptions.

F.L.I.C.(FamilyLawInformationCenter)....(780)4150404

Servicelocatedinthecourthousethatcanhelpyouwithquestionsaboutappearingin

Courtorwithfillingoutforms.

LawyerReferralService...18006611095(tollfree)

Thisisatollfreenumberwhichprovidesyouwithnamesofthreelawyerswhohaveindicatedadesireto
practiceagivenareaofthelaw.Yougetathirtyminuteconsultationwithoutcharge.Youmayalso
callbackasmanytimesasyouneed.

LegalAidSociety....(780)4277575

Website:www.legalaid.ab.ca

FamilyLawOffice....(780)4158800

Providesalawyerforcriminalandcivilmattersforthosewhocannotaffordalawyer.

Thisisnotafreeservicebutisgivenatahighlyreducedrateforthosewhoqualify.

StudentLegalServices.....Civil/FamilyOffice(780)4928244

www.slsedmonton.com
SLScanprovideyouwithinformationandreferrals.Wecannotrepresentyouorgiveyou
adviceonmatrimonialpropertyissues.

HousingResources

WomensEmergencyAccommodationCentre(WEAC).....................................(780)4235302

9611101AAve,EdmontonAB
Anemergencyplacetostayforhomelesswomen,newwomenadmittedat9pmeverynight

HopeMissionEmergencyShelter........................................................................(780)4222018

9908106Ave,EdmontonAB
Asafeplacetosleepforthoselivingonthestreets.Separateshelterareasavailableformen,women,
couples,andyouth.Openat8pm.

YESS(YouthEmpowermentandSupportServices).............................................(780)4687070
Emergencyshelterandshorttermshelterforyouth.9310WhyteAve,Edmonton,ABT6C0Z6

EdmontonWomen'sShelter(WINHouse)...........................(24HourCrisisLine)(780)4790058
Shelterandsupportforwomenwithorwithoutchildrenwhoarefleeingdomesticviolence

LuranaShelter.....................................................................................(CrisisLine)(780)4245875
Highsecurityshelterandsupportforwomenwithorwithoutchildrenwhoarefleeingdomesticabuse

SAGESeniorsSafeHouse.....................................................................................(780)7021520
Emergencyhousingformenandwomenover60yearsofagewhoareleavingabusivesituations

ASafePlace(SherwoodPark)..............................................(24HourCrisisLine)(780)4647233
Ashelterandsupportforabusedwomenandtheirchildren,includingfreetransportation
(fromEdmonton,SherwoodPark,&FortSaskatchewan)foradmissiontotheshelter

^TOP^

LegalInformation:Criminal|Civil|Family
Home|AboutSLS|Education&Reform|PBSC|Sitemap|Contact

2015StudentLegalServicesofEdmonton
Wedonotprovidelegaladvice.SeeDisclaimer&TermsofUse.
WebsiteDevelopedbyWhitespark

http://www.slsedmonton.com/family/matrimonialproperty/

6/6