Qualified as a common-law relationship?

[b1005]

Hello everyone!

Me and my Canadian boyfriend (met online, visit each other every month now) have been together for only a few months in a long distance relationship (I'm an American citizen.) Since we live in different countries we started to talk about our future to avoid complications down the line. We decided that if we are still together (which we strongly believe,) we will live in Canada instead of the US. I am wondering if our plan will qualify us as a common-law relationship in the future.

We are both university students, but he will graduate first. After my graduation, we plan to live in the same apartment and work together in Taiwan for a few years. Since we will be living/working together in a country other than each of our own, would this still qualify us as a common law relationship? Just making sure.

Thank you.

 

[scylla]

Yes - that would qualify you as common law. Once you've lived together for a year continuously - you're common law. You can live anywhere in the world.

 

[Aquakitty]

Just remember to save some hard evidence of the length of your relationship, like a 1 year lease signed together.

 

[canadianwoman]

You are planning ahead, which is good. I suggest that from now on you keep all evidence of communication with each other, and all evidence of trips taken to visit each other. Once you live together, get good proof that you are cohabiting, such as a joint lease, utilities in both names (or some bills in your name, and some in his, going to the same address), letters with the envelopes addressed to you two at the same address, a joint bank account, joint credit cards, etc. You will have to prove two things: that you have lived together for 12 consecutive months, and that your relationship is genuine. Take lots of photos, go on little trips together, etc.