What are my legal rights?

What are my legal rights regarding the dispensation of my common law wife's will?

• I have lived in a common law relationship for 11 years. The house and property belong to my wife. I pay half of all expenses including property taxes. There is no prenup agreement. The property has increased 100% during the time I have lived with her. She is in agreement that she could not have held onto the house without my help as it is a large house with ten acres. She has one grown son. I am looking for a fair dispensation only in light of the fact the total value has increased due to the fact that I have spent much time and effort maintaining this property. What are my legal rights in this situation? What are the legal rights of her son regarding any dispensation? I live in British Columbia, Canada. Thank you.

• Answer:

  It all comes down to what your wife's will says. If she left you nothing or very little in the will, you can go to court and ask to be included in the will. Your success will likely depend on when the will was written (ie before or after your common law relationship).