1. Families Today

2. Family Structure in Canada

3. Cohabitation Common-law relations: an intimate relationship between two individuals who are not legally married There are no rights or obligations to protect a couple living together Cohabitation: the legal description of two people involved in a common-law relationship Under special circumstances the couple are recognized as spouses, which gives certain rights and obligations under the law Financial support Child support Access to property

4. Domestic Contracts A domestic contract : a legal agreement that defines rights and obligations of married or cohabitating partners Cohabitation agreement: a type of domestic contract that sets out the rights and obligations of both partners. Marriage contract: a domestic contract that deals with specific aspects of the marriage, including the division of property in the event of a divorce, separation, or death

5. Same-Sex Relationships On July 20, 2005, Canada became the fourth country in the world and the first country in the Americas to legalize same- sex marriage nationwide with the enactment of the Civil Marriage Act which provided a gender-neutral marriage definition. Most legal benefits commonly associated with marriage had been extended to cohabiting same-sex couples since 1999.

6. Ending a Marriage Had enough here are your options: Divorce Annulment Separation

7. Divorce the legal termination of a marriage The process Petition for divorce: a document providing reasons for the divorce and arrangements for support payments and child support Separation agreement: a domestic contract that sets out the terms and conditions of the separation, dealing with issues such as support payments and division of assets and property A waiting period, of 31 days The certificate of divorce: a legal document that terminates a marriage.

8. Marriage Breakdown Adultery: sexual intercourse by a married person with someone other than his or her spouse Living separate and apart- for a period of one year You can start the divorce proceeding but the year must go by with the couple being separate and apart Cruelty: the mental or physical behaviour of one spouse causing harm to the other,making staying together intolerable Physical abuse Psychological abuse Financial abuse Sexual abuse

9. How not to get a divorce Collusion: an agreement between the spouses to deliberately lie or deceive the court in order to obtain a divorce Condonation: one spouse forgives the other for an act that is being used as grounds for divorce Connivance: one spouse encourages the other to commit an act that would constitute grounds for divorce