Casamento e família
Stable union and marriage
A common relationship is when two people live together without being civilly married. Quebec law officially calls these couples “de facto couples” or “common law.” In order to be considered a common-law couple, it is not always necessary to live together. A couple can be considered to be in a common-law union without living under the same roof; there is no minimum period of time required for a couple to be considered a “common law couple.” This is because common-law couples have the same advantages as married couples, and in many cases, this means access to certain government benefits.
“Civil unions” are different from “de facto couples.” A couple can live together without being married. Even if they have been together for years and have several children together, they are never considered de facto married. This means that if they separate, couples in a civil union will not have some of the protections they would have if they had gotten married civilly.
“De facto couples” do not have protection from the family home if the house or apartment is in the name of only one person, or from a division of property in the event of separation. One partner is not entitled to a “compensatory allowance” for the domestic work that enabled the other to work. They are also not entitled to claim government assistance payments from the other partner, nor will they receive an inheritance in the event of their death if they are not named as an heir in the will.
Child custody or guardianship
In Quebec, no single custody model is preferred by the courts. Each case is unique and the only criterion taken into account before a court makes its decision is the best interests of the child. Unless proven otherwise, the court assumes that both parents have adequate parental capacity. Judges must decide what type of custody is in the best interests of the children, given all the circumstances.
There are three types of custody:
- exclusive custody, where one of the parents assumes more than 80% (292 days) of the child's custody time;
- sole custody with visitation rights and extended leave, where the non-custodial parent assumes more than 20% (73 days) of the custody time, but less than 40% (146 days);
- shared custody, where each parent assumes between 40% (146 days) and 60% (219 days) of the child's custody time.
You may authorize grandparents to maintain or develop a personal relationship with your child if you believe it is in the child's best interests. The child's consent is required if the child is 10 years of age or older, unless the child is unable to express his or her wishes. You may authorize your former spouse to maintain a personal relationship with your child under the same conditions and if he or she is an important person to your child. Personal relationships may be maintained by any appropriate means. Physical presence is not required.
The wishes of a child aged 14 or over must be respected with regard to personal relationships with grandparents or the parents' former spouse. Consequently, no agreement is possible if a child aged 14 or over refuses it. Furthermore, the child, from the age of 14, may terminate the agreement without further formality, regardless of whether a court order has been issued or not.
Rapto internacional de menores
Seu ex-cônjuge é culpado de sequestro internacional se, sem o seu consentimento, ele ou ela mantiver seu filho fora do Canadá. Além disso, ele ou ela pode ser culpado de descumprimento de uma decisão judicial sobre custódia. O seu ex-cônjuge também pode tentar obter a custódia no país em questão.
Neste caso, você deve registrar uma queixa na polícia. Você também pode solicitar a assistência da Autoridade Central de Quebec sob certas condições. Se por algum motivo disserem que não podem agir, outras organizações poderão prestar assistência. Você tem uma série de opções legais se seu ex-cônjuge mantiver seu filho em outra província ou território do Canadá. As opções diferem dependendo da sua situação específica, por exemplo se:
- Você não possui nenhum documento legal que lhe conceda a custódia do seu filho;
- Você tem um acordo já homologado que lhe dá a guarda do seu filho;
- Você estava em um relacionamento de fato, mas tem uma decisão judicial relativa à custódia;
- Você ainda é casado ou já é divorciado e tem uma decisão judicial relativa à custódia.
Seja qual for a sua situação, você deve consultar um advogado. Para contato com o Ministério da Justiça a respeito deste tema:
Email: Enlevement.enfant@justice.gouv.qc.ca
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