Common law ontario 6 months

You’re not legally married, but you may be considered to be in a common law relationship!

1. when you are cohabiting with a person who is not your legally married spouse for at least three years; or
2. you have a child by birth or adoption with a person and have cohabited together while in a relationship of some permanence.

Cohabitating means to live with a person in a conjugal relationship.

What does that mean? Essentially, a romantic relationship! How do you determine if you’re in one of these relationships:

• sharing households tasks like cooking, cleaning, and errands;
• sharing of financial responsibilities;
• social activities or a mutual friend group;
• attitude of the couple towards the children, if applicable; and
• how your friends, family and community view the relationship

The requirement of having an emotional and sexual aspect to the relationship eliminate long-term housemates from being considered common law in Ontario.