Shared Expenses/Financial Support

[jessica653]

We're doing the common-law route. Haven't yet decided between Inland and Outland but I'm currently in the country.

I'm frankly panicking. I have found the part of the checklist (bottom of 7c) where you need to provide two of the following:

1) Documents showing recognition as spouses.
2) Evidence of financial support/shared expenses.
3) Letters from family etc.
4) Proof of past cohabitation.

We aren't spouses and our cohabitation is current, so our only options are 2 and 3. Problem is I don't think we have enough for 2.

I (principal applicant) have been the main provider for our whole relationship. I pay all of rent (though both names are on lease) and WiFi, and we have no other bills as they are included in the lease. My partner provides for her own basic needs, gives me cash, and for the last few months has sent me $40 a week e-transfer. There are a few times she has sent me more money, such as one occasion she sent me just under $1000 in two payments a few days apart, but I don't remember why.

A couple months ago we did get a shared savings account but we don't really use it as it's difficult to determine what to use it for.

Now my partner is about to start a job, she will likely start giving me regular e-transfers for rent, but we can't afford to wait much longer before applying.

 

[armoured]

We're doing the common-law route. Haven't yet decided between Inland and Outland but I'm currently in the country.

I'm frankly panicking. I have found the part of the checklist (bottom of 7c) where you need to provide two of the following:

1) Documents showing recognition as spouses.
2) Evidence of financial support/shared expenses.
3) Letters from family etc.
4) Proof of past cohabitation.

We aren't spouses and our cohabitation is current, so our only options are 2 and 3. Problem is I don't think we have enough for 2.

I (principal applicant) have been the main provider for our whole relationship. I pay all of rent (though both names are on lease) and WiFi, and we have no other bills as they are included in the lease. My partner provides for her own basic needs, gives me cash, and for the last few months has sent me $40 a week e-transfer. There are a few times she has sent me more money, such as one occasion she sent me just under $1000 in two payments a few days apart, but I don't remember why.

A couple months ago we did get a shared savings account but we don't really use it as it's difficult to determine what to use it for.

Now my partner is about to start a job, she will likely start giving me regular e-transfers for rent, but we can't afford to wait much longer before applying.

One partner providing financial support for the other (i.e. paying rent for shared living space) IS financial support/shared expenses. One partner is supporting the other. (If it were, ahem, subsidies for 'services', that would be an entirely different matter)

Obviously it CAN be beneficial to showing the relationship goes both ways if eg one partner pays rent, the other some other expenses. You can just write a note that eg that one partner typically pays/buys groceries or other expenses out of pocket and the other rent and others.

But it is NOT required that all expenses be shared nor that the financial abilities of each partner be identical. (Sharing without specific regard for precise financial equality is, like, kind of the point of a marriage-like relationship).

To give an example: if one partner was unable to work for whatever reason and the other paid all expenses, that IS sharing.