Common Law Separation Canada
Listed in Law
About
Common-Law-Separation-Canada.com is an educational site devoted entirely to the rights of common law partners in Canada when a relationship ends through separation or death. It starts from a simple premise: common law couples are the fastest growing family structure in Canada, yet many people, including those living common law, do not understand their legal position. The site explains that there is no such thing as “common law marriage” in Canadian law and that living together, no matter how long, does not automatically give partners the same rights as married spouses.
The content is organized into clear sections that mirror the issues couples actually face. The Basics section defines what a common law relationship is, explains how long partners must live together to be considered common law in different provinces, and highlights the crucial distinction between federal and provincial definitions. Other sections address property division, the family home, spousal support (alimony), children, and estates. Throughout, the site pays particular attention to Ontario law while also noting important developments in other provinces such as Manitoba and Saskatchewan, where legislation has moved toward giving some common law partners property rights similar to married spouses.
A key focus is on the differences and similarities between marriage and common law on separation. Detailed comparison pages outline how equalization of property, possession of the matrimonial home, succession rights, and claims on death are available to married spouses but often not to common law partners, who may instead need to rely on complex unjust enrichment and trust claims. At the same time, the site explains that issues like child support, child custody, and dependant’s relief can be similar for married and unmarried couples, emphasizing that children’s rights do not depend on their parents’ marital status.
The site also introduces practical tools such as cohabitation agreements as a way for partners to protect themselves and to opt into a clearer property-sharing regime. Written in straightforward language rather than legal jargon, Common-Law-Separation-Canada.com is aimed at helping people understand their rights, avoid common myths about “automatic” rights after living together, and make informed decisions about separation, support, property, and estate planning in a common law relationship.