Cohabitation laws across Canada explained
October 02, 2015
Contrary to popular belief, common-law partnerships come with their own set of cohabitation laws that differ in every province. Moving in with someone? Here are your rights.
Discover how each province defines common-law relationships by clicking on the happy couples below, or click on the broken hearts to find out your rights in the case of a separation:
The takeaway
When it comes to property ownership, if you live in a province that does not offer the benefits of married couples to common law partners it’s not recommended to make mortgage payments unless your name is on the title. In the event of a split, you have no rights to a partner’s property, even if you have paid off a fair share. You can make other contributions such as paying for groceries, utilities and other household expenses.
If your province does recognize common law relationships, and treats them the same as married couples, you still may want to protect yourself and agree upon what will happen in the event of a split. If you don’t like how the state deals with common law partnerships, you can enter into your own cohabitation agreement that sets your responsibilities and obligations to each other.
Map courtesy of Environment Canada
About Stephanie Boucher
Stephanie Boucher is a twenty-something Montreal native, and a freelance writer for Yellow Pages NextHome. She loves coming across the city’s many hidden gems while on her never-ending hunt for the perfect burger and/or nautical accessories for her wardrobe and her home. In her spare time, Steph can often be found on a sailboat, cooking up a storm, or attempting to stay fit.