Jason Nicola, Wealth Advisor and Client Relationship Manager at Nicola Wealth, weighed in on B.C.'s rules around common-law relationships, noting that couples can be considered "marriage-like" after two years even without sharing a home full-time. He pointed to trusts and cohabitation agreements requiring full disclosure of assets and income as tools that let couples opt out of default property division rules, helping preserve wealth for future generations. Nicola added that this kind of planning is routine among high-net-worth families and simply part of responsible practice.

Read more: In B.C., the Rules for Common Law and Wills Pose Special Challenges for Estate Planning | Canadian Family Offices