A recent family law decision out of Ontario is gaining attention for the court’s determination that the parties were common-law spouses despite one party’s insistence that they were merely roommates. This determination was made when deciding on the issue of entitlement to spousal support. However, the case also raises another question, due to a tangential… Continue reading Woman Ordered to Pay Support to Common-Law Spouse Despite Abuse Charge
Category: Common Law
What Makes a “Spouse”?
When you hear the word “spouse”, you might think of a married couple or at least a couple who lives together. But what if none of those factors exist? In a recent decision, some may find surprising, the Ontario Court of Appeal has ruled a couple to be spouses of one another, despite the fact… Continue reading What Makes a “Spouse”?
Common Law Relationships and Exempt Assets
In a recent case out of the Court of Appeal, the uncertainty surrounding financial separation in common law relationship was again reinforced. In the case of Strigl v. Howden, 2018 ABCA 337, Howden appealed the final order arising out of a morning chambers application, in which Justice Inglis Ordered the sale of a jointly held… Continue reading Common Law Relationships and Exempt Assets