Property division: Married couples
When you and your spouse separate or divorce, or when your spouse dies, the way property is divided depends on whether you were married or in a common-law relationship.
Married means you had a marriage ceremony performed by someone with the legal power to marry you, like a judge, justice of the peace, or religious official.
Couples who live together as partners, but have not legally married, are sometimes said to be living “common-law”.
To learn about property division for common-law couples, read Property division: Common-law couples.