Post: #1

Feeling down that you can't seem to enjoy the same rights as married couples? Tired of being discriminated out of marital bliss just because you didn't tie the knot? And what about the welfare of the children?


At last help is here!

Starting March 18 2013, New BC Family Law takes effect.

http://www.bcfamilylaw.ca/family-property/

http://www.xtra.ca/public/Vancouver/BCs_...12054.aspx

Its even going to correct declining marraige rates!

During debates for the new act last fall, Langley MLA Mary Polak suggested in the BC legislature that the new provisions for common-law relationships could inadvertently lead to higher marriage rates in BC.

“I'm told that common-law families in British Columbia are growing at a rate three times faster than the number of married couples. Who knows? For those who long for the nostalgic days when marriages, as they felt, were the traditional and best way to go, perhaps this will encourage more people to tie the knot,” said Polak on Nov 17. “But certainly, there will no longer be the potential for financial advantage being taken through avoiding marriage.”

Post: #2

My god, Canada.... what have you become.

Post: #3

So if you live with a woman for say 5 years and you seperate, it will be like a real divorce financially?
Is this for real?

Post: #4

I thought this was standard... Common law after 5 years she can take your shit hahaha!
Just don't have any mail coming to that address, shit gets crazy deny living there

Pretty sure this is how it works in Alberta

Post: #5

In some US states with common-law marriage provisions, she can take your shit after 30 days.

(Let's just say I was pretty darn happy one of my co-workers tipped me off about that little relic from the 19th century.)

Post: #6

I believe its two years.

Post: #7

AFAIK common-law marriage is not automatic just because you live together with a woman, at least not in the US. You have to hold yourself out to be married. This typically means referring to each other as spouses, wearing rings, having joint accounts, etc. If you always refer to her as your girlfriend in public, you cannot get a reputation for being married.

Maybe this BC law is different, I don't know.

Post: #8

this seems like the next logical step to me

if men are opting out of marriage and just living with a chick, governments realize that men are avoiding their grasp of government control into their lives. by making common law marriages all you are doing is giving the state further power into your relationships and by extention into your finances when things dont work out. get ready to pay alimony and court costs to your girlfriends!

Post: #9

Moral of the story: Never live with a chick.

Post: #10

Co-Habitation Agreements are like pre-nups. They are highly, HIGHLY recommended if you decide to co-habitat.

Post: #11

(02-10-2013 04:44 PM)Menace Wrote:  AFAIK common-law marriage is not automatic just because you live together with a woman, at least not in the US. You have to hold yourself out to be married. This typically means referring to each other as spouses, wearing rings, having joint accounts, etc. If you always refer to her as your girlfriend in public, you cannot get a reputation for being married.

Maybe this BC law is different, I don't know.

That makes it quite a bit different.
We need some clarification

Post: #12

Yes, it's the "hold yourselves out to be married" bit... Which, according to the local sheriff here, means "you've been cohabitating for 30 days." Apparently a former owner of my company had a thing for being Captain Save-a-ho and shacked up with an addict girlfriend of his for a couple of months. One day he came home and found her and most of his stuff gone, and when he went to the police he was told that they couldn't do anything about it because he and the girl were common-law married as they were not blood relatives and had been living together for more than 30 days.

Post: #13

Ovid what state is this? That seems like a really short time. Anyway, this also shows that good legal representation is important. Look at Newt Gingrich...he's been divorced twice, and he did not suffer financially even when his ex-spouses were nobodies and he made all the cash.

Post: #14

(02-10-2013 08:17 PM)Menace Wrote:  Anyway, this also shows that good legal representation is important. Look at Newt Gingrich...he's been divorced twice, and he did not suffer financially even when his ex-spouses were nobodies and he made all the cash.

Yeah, the moral of the story is: be aware that the wording of the law can always be twisted to your detriment as a man, and that things which seem very clear can be subject to "interpretation," especially if the local law enforcement take a dim view of cohabitation and want to force men into marriage. Best solution is definitely not to live with a girl if there I any possibility of such laws. (Or ever, really. It's way more headache than it's worth, IMO.)

Post: #15

This thread was better in General Discussion so more people can see it. This has nothing to do with travel.

Article about it. http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Weekend...story.html

Post: #16

Yet another reason why I only date foreign ESL students in Vancouver. Even if they live with me for a bit, they always eventually go home after less than 2 years. Their English isn't good enough to understand legalese anyways.