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Difference between revisions of "Separation and the Law"
From Clicklaw Wikibooks
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→Becoming an unmarried spouse
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Someone who is separated but still married can become a spouse in an unmarried relationship. Not everyone is in a rush to get a divorce once a marriage breaks down, and some people don't get around to getting a divorce until many years have passed since they separated. | Someone who is separated but still married can become a spouse in an unmarried relationship. Not everyone is in a rush to get a divorce once a marriage breaks down, and some people don't get around to getting a divorce until many years have passed since they separated. | ||
If you are separated from your married spouse, you are still married and will continue to be married to that person until you get a divorce. If you | If you are separated from your ''married spouse'', you are still married and will continue to be married to that person until you get a divorce. If you start a new romantic relationship while separated from your ''married spouse'', this new partner can become your ''unmarried spouse'' if: | ||
*you live with the new person in a "marriage-like relationship" for more than two years, or | |||
*you have a child with the new person. It does not matter whether you're divorced or not. | |||
If you find that you're married and also in a new relationship that qualifies as a spousal relationship: | If you find that you're married and also in a new relationship that qualifies as a spousal relationship: | ||
*you may have an obligation to pay child support for your partner's children as a stepparent, | *you may have an obligation to pay child support for your new partner's children as a stepparent, | ||
*you will have an obligation to support any children you and your partner have together, | *you will have an obligation to support any children you and your new partner have together, | ||
*you may have an obligation to pay spousal support to your partner, and | *you may have an obligation to pay spousal support to your new partner, should you separate, and | ||
*there may be family property and family debt | *there may be a requirement to share family property and family debt with your new partner, should you separate. | ||
These obligations are in addition to whatever obligations you have to your married spouse and any children from your marriage. | These obligations are in addition to whatever obligations you have to your married spouse and any children from your marriage. | ||
