Living together without marrying in British Columbia is going to become a lot more complicated on March 18, 2013. The BC Government will put into effect a new version of the Family Law Act on that day, changing what living together has meant in law for the past 35 years.

When you are retired, but still have your physical and mental health, you should take a fresh look at your financial plans, your estate plan and will, and how you and your spouse communicate. Health changes can be sudden in one's later years, and in bad cases can have a very negative impact on your ability to think through and deal with issues.

As our world becomes increasingly digital, it is worth taking a fresh look at the possible consequences of the changes we are witnessing and participating in. As I grow older, I become more aware of the question, "What happens to all this when I die?"

Just a few years ago, newspaper headlines were talking about how "virtual worlds" such as Second Life were being cited in divorce actions. Those articles have gone away, but new ones have arrived with different social sites and surprising statisics.

Updated May 11, 2012

The Alberta Registries have informed us of a significant change in procedures that will potentially impact everyone filing for a divorce in the province.

Tom Carter, Canadian author of Write Your Legal Will in 3 Easy Steps, was recently interviewed on the noon hour news at CTV in Edmonton. Carter discusses the steps to writing your own will, whether you can do it yourself or need a lawyer, and addresses changes to the Wills Act in Alberta.

Please note that your computer needs to have speakers or headphones for you to hear the audio.

• Writing your will in Canada.

[Updated] This is a summary of Alberta's new Wills and Succession Act, which came into force on February 1^st 2012. The new Act repeals the Wills Act, Intestate Succession Act, Dependents’ Relief Act,, Survivorship Act, and s. 47 Trustee Act. It also amends the Amends Matrimonial Property Act (MPA) to allow for MPA applications after death of spouse.

UPDATED

This is a summary of British Columbia's new Wills, Estates, and Succession Act, which was to come into force in early 2012 and has been delayed to Spring 2013. The new Act repeals the Estate Administration Act, Probate Recognition Act, Wills Act, Wills Variation Act, and sections of the Law and Equity Act, and Survivorship and Presumption of Death Act.