Common Law In Ontario
What is a “common law relationship” in Ontario?
In Ontario, a common law relationship refers to a partnership between two individuals who are not legally married but live together in a marriage-like relationship. Common law relationships are also known as cohabitation relationships or common law marriages.
In Ontario, the Family Law Act governs the rights and obligations of common law partners in relation to various family law matters. Here are some key aspects of a common law relationship in Ontario:
Duration: In Ontario, a common law relationship is recognized after the partners have lived together continuously for a period of at least three years. However, if the partners have a child together and are in a relationship of some permanence, they are considered to be in a common law relationship regardless of the duration of cohabitation.
Rights and Obligations: Common law partners in Ontario do not have the same legal rights and obligations as married couples. For instance, there is no automatic right to an equal division of property or to spousal support upon separation. However, common law partners may still have certain rights and obligations based on their specific circumstances, such as property rights or support obligations for children.
Property Rights: Unlike married couples, common law partners do not have an automatic right to an equal division of property upon separation. However, they may be able to make a claim for a division of property under certain circumstances, such as when there is a jointly owned home or if one partner made significant contributions to the other partner’s property or assets.
Child Custody and Support: Common law partners have the same rights and obligations as married couples when it comes to child custody (decision making), access (visitation rights or parenting time), and child support. The best interests of the child are paramount, and the partners are expected to make decisions and provide financial support for their children in a manner consistent with the child’s well-being.
It’s important to note that the rights and obligations of common law partners can be complex and may vary depending on the specific situation. It is advisable for individuals in common law relationships to seek legal advice from a family lawyer to understand their rights, obligations, and any steps they may need to take to protect their interests in the event of a separation or dispute.
Common law separation
In Ontario, common law couples do not go through a formal divorce process because they are not legally married. However, if a common law couple decides to end their relationship, they may still need to address various legal matters, such as the division of property, child custody, and support.
Here are the general steps that common law couples in Ontario can take when separating:
Separation Agreement: Common law couples can create a separation agreement to address the division of property, child custody, access, and support. This agreement is a legally binding contract that both parties voluntarily enter into to resolve their issues. It is advisable to consult with a family lawyer to ensure that the separation agreement accurately reflects the parties’ intentions and protects their rights and interests.
Property Division: Common law partners can agree on the division of their property, assets, and debts in the separation agreement. If they are unable to reach an agreement, they may need to seek legal advice on their respective property rights and consider taking legal action to resolve the matter.
Child Custody and Support: If the common law couple has children together, they need to address child custody, access, and support arrangements. They can include these provisions in the separation agreement or seek legal advice on how to determine the best interests of the child and establish appropriate custody and support arrangements.
Independent Legal Advice: Each party should consider seeking independent legal advice before signing the separation agreement. This ensures that their rights and interests are protected and that they fully understand the implications of the agreement.
Filing with the Court (if necessary): In some cases, common law partners may need to file an application with the court to resolve outstanding issues, such as property division or child custody. This typically occurs when the parties are unable to reach an agreement through negotiation or mediation. The court will consider the relevant evidence and make a decision on the disputed matters.
It is important for common law couples to consult with a family lawyer who can provide guidance on the legal requirements and options available to them based on their specific circumstances. Legal advice can help ensure a fair and legally enforceable resolution to the separation process.
Common law property division
In Ontario, common law couples do not have an automatic right to an equal division of property upon separation as married couples do. However, common law partners may still have certain property rights and may be able to make a claim for a division of property under certain circumstances.
The property division for common law couples in Ontario is governed by the principles of trust and property law. Generally, the law focuses on determining each partner’s legal interest in the property based on their contributions and intentions.
Here are some factors that may be considered when determining property division for common law couples in Ontario:
Jointly Owned Property: If the common law partners jointly own property, such as a house or a bank account, they may have an equal legal interest in that property. In such cases, the property is typically divided equally unless there is evidence of a different intention or agreement between the parties.
Contributions: Contributions made by each partner, both financial and non-financial, may be considered. This can include financial contributions, such as mortgage payments, bills, and renovations, as well as non-financial contributions, such as homemaking or childcare.
Unjust Enrichment: If one partner can demonstrate that they have been unjustly deprived of a benefit or that the other partner has been unjustly enriched at their expense, they may be entitled to a share of the property.
Constructive Trust: Constructive trusts may be established if one partner can prove that they contributed financially to the initial purchase of property, subsequent payments for that property, or made other contributions to property that is registered solely in the other partner’s name. In such cases, the partner who made the financial contribution to propery not in their name may be entitled to a share of the property.
Resulting Trust: Resulting trusts may be established if one party can prove that they transferred an asset to another party gratuitously. This can commonly occur with vehicles and motorboats where one party may have registered a vehicle in the the other party’s name due to credit ratings, concerns for third party liability (such as business owners), and in other circumstnaces. This can also happen with real property for a variety of reasons. Sometimes business owners transfer their assets to their spouse to protect against liability to third parties. In cases where one spouse has dual citizenship and can be subject to additional taxation in a foreign jurisdiction, assets may have been transferred or kept in the name of the party with sole citizenship.
Joint Family Venture: This is a complicated legal remedy that came about to protect common law spouses from situations of great financial unfairness.
It is important to note that property division for common law couples can be complex and may depend on the specific circumstances of each case. If common law partners are unable to reach an agreement on property division, it is advisable to seek legal advice from a family lawyer who can provide guidance on the rights and options available to them.
Common law spousal support
In Ontario, common law partners may be eligible for spousal support (also known as alimony or maintenance) upon the breakdown of their relationship. Spousal support is financial assistance provided by one partner to the other to help with their financial needs and maintain a similar standard of living after separation.
When determining spousal support for common law couples in Ontario, the court will consider several factors, including:
Financial Need: The court will assess the financial needs and means of each partner. It will consider factors such as income, earning capacity, assets, and expenses to determine if there is a financial need for spousal support.
Length of the Relationship: The duration of the common law relationship is relevant when determining the entitlement and duration of spousal support. Generally, longer relationships are more likely to result in spousal support obligations.
Roles and Contributions: The court will consider the roles and contributions of each partner during the relationship, both financial and non-financial. This includes contributions to the family unit, such as homemaking, child-rearing, and support for the other partner’s career or education.
Economic Disadvantage: If one partner has suffered an economic disadvantage as a result of the relationship or its breakdown, the court may take this into account when determining spousal support.
Self-Sufficiency: The court will also assess the recipient partner’s ability to become self-sufficient over time. This may involve considering factors such as employability, skills, education, and the availability of suitable employment.
It is important to note that spousal support for common law couples is not automatically granted, and each case is assessed based on its specific circumstances. Spousal support may be awarded on a compensatory basis, to address economic disadvantages caused by the relationship, or on a needs-based basis, to provide ongoing financial support.
Common law partners can also negotiate and agree on the terms of spousal support through a separation agreement. It is advisable to consult with a family lawyer to understand the spousal support entitlement and obligations based on the individual circumstances and to ensure that the agreement is fair and legally enforceable.
Common law child support
In Ontario, common law partners are subject to the same child support obligations as married couples when it comes to supporting their children. Child support is the financial obligation of both parents to provide for the financial needs of their children after separation or divorce.
The determination of child support for common law partners in Ontario follows the guidelines set out in the federal Child Support Guidelines, which apply to both married and common law couples. These guidelines provide a framework for calculating the amount of child support to be paid based on the income of the parents and the number of children.
Key factors considered when determining child support in Ontario include:
Income of the Payor: The income of the parent who pays child support (the payor) is taken into account when calculating the amount of child support. This includes various sources of income, such as employment income, self-employment income, and other benefits or sources of revenue.
Child Access (Parenting Time): The amount of time the child spends with each parent is considered when determining child support. This includes the concept of “shared custody” or “split custody” where the child spends a significant amount of time with each parent.
Child-related Expenses: Additional expenses related to the child’s special needs, education, healthcare, and extracurricular activities. These expenses are typically apportioned between the parents based on their respective incomes and are paid in addition to child support.
It is important to note that child support in Ontario is considered the right of the child and is not negotiable between the parents. The amount of child support is generally determined based on the income information provided by both parents, and deviations from the guidelines are often not respected and overturned by courts.
In cases where common law partners are unable to agree on child support, they may seek the assistance of a family lawyer or turn to mediation or the court system to help resolve the issue.
It’s advisable to consult with a family lawyer who specializes in child support matters to ensure that the child support obligations are properly determined and to understand the specific requirements and guidelines in Ontario.