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This time of year, as we celebrate Louis Riel Day and reflect on heritage and family legacy, many Manitobans are also thinking about another kind of legacy: the family cottage.

Finding love again later in life is wonderful. But when you’re bringing children from a previous relationship into the picture, estate planning becomes significantly more complex and critically important.

If you’ve been living with your partner for a few years, you might assume that what’s yours stays yours. After all, you’re not married, right? Many Manitobans believe that common-law relationships mean keeping everything separate. Unfortunately, that’s not how Manitoba law works.

If you’re helping your adult child buy their first home, you’re part of a growing trend. With housing prices making homeownership difficult, the “Bank of Mom and Dad” has become a common source of down payment assistance. But before you transfer that money, there are legal and financial considerations that could impact your family.

If you’ve created a power of attorney, you might assume it works forever and that no matter what happens, your chosen person can step in and manage your affairs. That’s reasonable, but it’s not always true.

Being named as executor is both an honour and a responsibility. The person who passed away trusted you to carry out their final wishes, but if you’ve never done this before, you might be wondering where to begin.

Many Manitoba homeowners add an adult child to their property title thinking it’s a simple way to avoid probate. The logic seems sound: with joint tenancy and right of survivorship, the property transfers automatically when you pass away. No probate required.

When most people think about drafting their will, they think about the math. They consider dividing bank accounts, valuing the house, and deciding which percentage of the estate goes to which child.

January has a certain energy to it. The holidays are behind us, the calendar is fresh, and many of us are thinking about new beginnings and getting organized. While gym memberships and budgets often top the resolution list, there’s something else that deserves your attention: your will and powers of attorney.

If you’re planning to buy a home in 2026, you’re probably focused on the exciting parts: touring properties, imagining your furniture in that perfect living room, and dreaming about your future in a new neighbourhood. But between open houses and mortgage approvals, it’s easy to overlook one critical piece of the puzzle: legal protection.