What’s the difference between marriage and common-law relationships? | Knowledge Gap

Are you basically married if you’re living in a common law relationship?

Nope. In Canada, marriages and common law relationships can look the same on the surface—but legally, they’re very different. And what counts as common law in the eyes of the federal government differs from the provincial. They both have their own set of rules to decide how this legal relationship starts and ends. Whether you’re living with your partner or just thinking about it, there’s a lot you should know before assuming you’re protected.

In this episode of TVO's Knowledge Gap, we break down the pros, cons, benefits, rights, responsibilities, and big misconceptions around common law relationships in Canada and the Province of Ontario.

0:00 Is Common-Law Basically the Same as Marriage?
0:10 Legal Definitions: Spousal vs. Legally Binding Partnerships
0:18 Federal vs. Provincial Differences
0:29 Federal Criteria for Common-Law Status
0:40 Benefits of Being in a Common-Law Union
0:54 Registering with the CRA
1:06 Provincial Differences: Ontario Example
1:21 Ontario’s Criteria for Common-Law
1:31 Similarities Between Common-Law and Marriage
1:39 Health Decisions and Spousal Support
1:53 Key Differences When Relationships End
2:01 Equalization in Marriage
2:20 No Equalization in Common-Law
2:37 Unjust Enrichment Claims
2:49 Inheritance Rights in Common-Law
2:55 Ending a Common-Law Relationship
3:08 Child Support Responsibilities
3:20 Protecting Yourself: Cohabitation Agreements
4:01 Summary: Common-Law vs. Marriage

About Knowledge Gap
There are so many things you learn in school. How to do algebra, how to spell ‘rollercoaster’, why mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell. That’s all well and good, but school doesn’t teach you everything. Sometimes there are things you wish you were taught but weren’t (“adulting” topics) because you can’t possibly learn everything you’ll need in life before graduation. And maybe there are things you were taught but didn’t listen to. (I mean, who really cared about percentages until they had to calculate tip at a restaurant?)?

That’s where we come in!?

“Knowledge Gap” aims to fill in the stuff you didn’t learn - or didn’t want to learn - in school by giving viewers crash courses on topics to help them navigate and understand the grown-up world they now live in.

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