Difference between revisions of "Married Spouses and the Law on Marriage"

This page discusses the legal requirements of a valid marriage, void marriages, voidable marriages (there is a difference) and marriages that are invalid, as well as the legal rights resulting from marriage.

The legal requirements of a valid, legal marriage are governed by the common law, the federal ''Marriage (Prohibited Degrees) Act'', the federal ''Civil Marriage Act'' and the provincial ''Marriage Act''. The difference between the first two pieces of legislation and the last is that under our Constitution, only the federal government has the authority to pass laws dealing with marriage and divorce, while only the provincial governments have the authority to pass laws dealing with the mechanics of how marriages are performed.