Difference between revisions of "Family Relationships"
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==Different Rights and Responsibilities== | ==Different Rights and Responsibilities== | ||
Unmarried | ===Married Spouses and Unmarried Spouses==== | ||
Married spouses and unmarried spouses have exactly the same rights in British Columbia under the provincial ''Family Law Act''. Both may: | |||
#be the ''guardians'' of any children then happen to have, and as guardians have parental responsibilities and parenting time with respect to those children; | |||
#have ''contact'' with a child if they happen not to be guardians; | |||
#ask for or be responsible to pay ''child support''; | |||
#ask for or be responsible to pay ''spousal support''; | |||
#share in ''family property'' and any ''family debt''; or, | |||
#apply for ''protection orders'' if they feel they are at risk of family violence. | |||
The only legal differences between married spouses and unmarried spouses are that only married spouses must get a ''divorce'' to end their relationship with one another and only married spouses can ask the court for orders under the federal ''Divorce Act''. That's it. | |||
===Other Unmarried Relationships=== | |||
Although people who are not spouses can have all sorts of legal relationships with each other, from co-owning land or running a business together, from a family law perspective, the only important relationship an u | |||
==A Few Surprisingly Common Misunderstandings== | ==A Few Surprisingly Common Misunderstandings== |