Common-Law Relationships: The union between common-law partners

Are you living with your partner without choosing marriage and without a child? You’re probably in a common-law relationship, also called a “de facto union” or a union between “de facto spouses.” This legal status gives you a lot of flexibility and freedom, but also few protections. 

What is a common-law relationship?

You’re in a common-law relationship if you and your partner meet these three criteria:

• You’re not married or in a civil union.   
• You didn’t have or adopt children together on or after June 30, 2025. 
• You’re making a life together, which means you’re living as a couple.  

Making a life together doesn’t necessarily mean you must live together. The law is more concerned with the official and public aspect of your relationship, your life as a couple, your shared plans and your shared expenses.

How long do you have to make a life together before you’re in a common-law relationship? It depends on the law in question. For example, under the Taxation Act, it takes a year, but under the Act respecting the Québec Pension Plan, it takes three years.

Advantages of common-law relationships

Common-law couples enjoy some benefits, although less so than couples who are married, in a civil union or in a parental union. Here are some benefits:

• The Canada Revenue Agency and Revenu Québec give common-law couples the same tax benefits as married couples. 
• Common-law couples can adopt children in Quebec.  
• Common-law couples can consent to medical treatment for their partner if they’re incapable of giving their consent. 
• Common-law couples can benefit from coverage under their partner’s private health or drug insurance plan. 

Limitations of common-law relationships  

No matter how long you and your common-law partner are together, you won’t benefit from the same protections as married couples, or couples in a civil union or parental union. Here are some examples: 

• You won’t benefit from the protection of the family residence if your partner is the sole owner or tenant of the residence. 
• You won’t have a right to the division of property if you separate. 
• You won’t have a right to a compensatory allowance for work you did during the common-law relationship that benefited your common-law partner. 
• You won’t have a right to ask for spousal support if you separate. 
• You won’t inherit property from your common-law partner if they die without a will. 

How to protect yourself in a common-law relationship 

Although a common-law relationship offers few protections, you and your common-law partner can give yourselves protections through written agreements. 

Cohabitation agreement 

You can create a cohabitation agreement, also known as an “agreement between common law partners” in which you and your partner agree on various aspects of your life together. You can also agree on what will happen if you separate, including the protection of the family residence, the division of property, and compensatory allowance or spousal support.  

Protection mandate  

You can prepare a protection mandate, which used to be called a “mandate in case of incapacity.” This notarized document gives instructions for looking after you and your property if you become incapable of making your own decisions. 

Wills 

A will is an essential document for common-law couples. It’s the only document that allows you to leave an inheritance to your common-law partner. If one of you dies without a will, the surviving partner won’t inherit anything from the deceased partner. This scenario can lead to complications and delicate situations. Here are examples: 

• Your common-law partner passes away without a will. You don’t inherit anything. 
• You co-owned your house with your common-law partner before they passed away. They didn’t have a will so all their property goes to their children. Now you are co-owner of the house with their children.  
• Your common-law partner didn’t finalize their divorce with their ex-spouse before passing away without a will. Since they weren’t divorced, the ex-spouse can inherit from your partner, claim the division of property or request spousal support from the estate. 

Life insurance 

You can buy life insurance to the benefit of your common-law partner. This will help them if you pass away, for example, by limiting the impact of losing your employment income, paying for your funeral expenses or covering taxes on the property you leave behind.  

Regardless of the situation, sound estate planning is a way to determine in advance what your common-law partner will get when you die. It also allows you to maximize the inheritance you leave them and avoid potential problems.