If you have ever gone through a divorce, you know how wrenching and emotional it can be. It can cost you friendships and can bring a new level of stress to your life. In 2011, a census was done on woman in Canada under the age of 50 and it shows that there has actually a drop in the number of divorces by this gender group. Instead, they are entering into common-law relationships instead. In other words, lots of Canadian women are only living with the love of their lives, not marrying them.
The census, called the Household Survey, seemingly proves that 11 percent of Canadian women were living in common-law arrangements. This is up from a 3.8 percent in 1981. Approximately 14 million women aged 15 and over participated in the survey. Even though we are all aware that the younger crowd, more and more, are choosing to live together without the benefit of marriage, you may be surprised to know that older women are also doing this.
Women from the ages of 50 to 54 show 1.7 percent lived with their chosen partners in 1981. However, in the 2011 census, a full 11 percent of this age group were living with their partners and not participating in marriage. Many of them, about half, were divorced or separated from a previous marriage.
However, if you are currently in a marriage that obviously isn’t going to work out, you may need to do some research on the Divorce Act of Canada to see what you need to know. A lawyer can also provide answers to questions you may have.
Source: CBC News, “Common-law relationships on the rise, divorce falling,” Nov. 10, 2015