How This Topic Got Started

[Sysop]

Hi there. This topic got started when a reader sent me an email
asking about the Dower Act. I had never heard of any such thing. The
reader was under the impression that someone had been affected by it
in this manner. If you know more about this Act, feel free to
comment:

READER'S COMMENTS:

Your comments about Calgary are in tune with what I have found about
living in this city for the past two decades.

Here is something else which you may be interested in, the Dower Act
of Alberta. It is an antiquated law that I believe only still exists
in this province. I wish there was more information disseminated to
women on this topic and your site would be the perfect place for it.

I have not been able to find the finer points on it. Perhaps you can.
Basically, for example ... on property purchases, women sign off
(whatever that actually means) at the lawyer's office when closing the
deal. Here is the problem: When the husband dies, the law of
succession is to the oldest living male member on his side of the
family, not the wife!!

Remember the news item (in the past two years, I think) about a couple
with two or three kids who worked a farm/ranch together, he dies ...
his uncle got the whole thing and the wife and kids were left in the
cold. I don't know whether there was a will, probably not, or if that
would make any difference at all. That is just one case. Women, cattle
and property are still possessions in this province. Excuse me! The
woman is excluded in the rights of succession even if she worked her
entire life for the family. And, what about their children?

The 'Famous Five' made a lot of headway towards women's rights, but,
they could only do so much because of the immensity of the job and how
bad the situation must have been to start. This Dower Act infuriates
me and I know for a fact most of us don't know anything about it
because it is glossed over as one spot to sign on legal documents as
we are rushed through the lawyer's office. I remember on my first
purchase years ago, I did ask. I was told and accepted, "Oh it is
nothing, just something here in Alberta".

I never asked again, didn't think about it because it was never
mentioned again. Sign here, here and here ... end of story. Recently,
it was brought to my attention once again when a young widow purchased
a home and had to sign off on the Dower Act, so the place wouldn't
land in the hands of the dead husband's family, after her death. 'Oh,
it is nothing'!!!!!

Can you find the proper information on the Dower Act of Alberta and
get it out there? Women need to know. The loving, responsible men in
their lives need to know, too. We need to know what to do about this
hold-over from the attitudes of wild west cow country. After two
decades of living here I still haven't seen the facts published
anywhere, legal counsel glosses over it and won't answer the
questions, the government site doesn't explain the implications fully.
What do we do to protect women and children? Another very good point
when deciding to move to Alberta.

Can you do this? Would you, please?
Thank you for your time.