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ARTICLE · 23 JANUARY 2020

Heads Up On "Shacking" Up

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Whether it's a first relationship for a millennial or a second or subsequent relationship for others including baby boomers and seniors, these days more and more couples are choosing to live common...

CanadaFamily and Matrimonial
Marly Peikes
Marly Peikes
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Whether it's a first relationship for a millennial or a second or subsequent relationship for others including baby boomers and seniors, these days more and more couples are choosing to live common law rather than marrying. According to a 2017 census, 21.3% of all couples in Canada were living common law in 2016 compared to 6.3% in 1981. There is also a rise in people living common law before marriage. According to the census, 39% of married people aged 25 to 64 lived common law for an average of 3.6 years prior to marrying.

There may be a myriad of reasons for living common law depending on circumstances, but one myth that needs to be unraveled is the notion that it is simpler not to get married. Common law relationships have a unique set of considerations.

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