Dates for Prior Canadian Common-Law Marriage

[cwulff 0]

Hi there,

First post here. I'm working on my g-325a (I'm the fiancée outside the country) and one of the things I'm struggling with is the questions around former husbands and wives.

I was previously in a seven-year relationship that the government would consider a common-law marriage (and we filed taxes that way) without ever officially getting married (or divorced). So I think I should be putting her in as a former wife, but we don't have any 'real' dates to determine when we 'got married' and when we 'got divorced'.

Any thoughts on how to handle that?

Many thanks for all of your writing and sharing on here - I've found it invaluable so far.

Christopher

[Kathryn41 3,207]

The official definition for a common law marriage in Canada varies - for tax purposes it is after one year of living together or the date of a child being born together while you are co-habiting - which ever is earliest. http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/tpcs/nc...f/mrtl-eng.html

Then, it also varies by Province so you need to check and see what the definition of common law marriage is in the Marriage Act for your Province - for example, in Ontario I believe it is living together for at least 3 years establishes a common law marriage.

[trailmix 77]

Hi there,

First post here. I'm working on my g-325a (I'm the fiancée outside the country) and one of the things I'm struggling with is the questions around former husbands and wives.

I was previously in a seven-year relationship that the government would consider a common-law marriage (and we filed taxes that way) without ever officially getting married (or divorced). So I think I should be putting her in as a former wife, but we don't have any 'real' dates to determine when we 'got married' and when we 'got divorced'.

Any thoughts on how to handle that?

Many thanks for all of your writing and sharing on here - I've found it invaluable so far.

Christopher

Hi Christopher,

I would recommend that you ignore that in terms of the paperwork. It is not a legally recognized 'marriage' in the U.S. - also you have no marriage certificate or divorce certificate to back it up.

[Kathryn41 3,207]

Actually, Trailmix's advice is excellent.

[cwulff 0]

That's what I was hoping would be the case. Thanks very much for your help.

CW

Hi there,

First post here. I'm working on my g-325a (I'm the fiancée outside the country) and one of the things I'm struggling with is the questions around former husbands and wives.

I was previously in a seven-year relationship that the government would consider a common-law marriage (and we filed taxes that way) without ever officially getting married (or divorced). So I think I should be putting her in as a former wife, but we don't have any 'real' dates to determine when we 'got married' and when we 'got divorced'.

Any thoughts on how to handle that?

Many thanks for all of your writing and sharing on here - I've found it invaluable so far.

Christopher

Hi Christopher,

I would recommend that you ignore that in terms of the paperwork. It is not a legally recognized 'marriage' in the U.S. - also you have no marriage certificate or divorce certificate to back it up.