I have been asked several times how it can be the case that the Balanced Refugee Reform Act (BRRA) which was to be in force in June 2012 can be extended beyond that date.  For those of you involved in the refugee field you will recall that the legislation was originally scheduled for implementation in December 2011. […]

Note that in British Columbia the new Family Law Act (not yet in place) will give common law couples rights similar to married couples’ rights.

Cohabitation agreements help give common-law spouses same rights as married couples

Before moving in together, couples should recognize that common-law spouses do not have the same property rights as married people.

When Maria Prieto and her boyfriend James Agnew decided to buy a condo and move in together three years ago, Agnew suggested the pair get a cohabitation agreement.

Prieto admitted she didn’t know what that meant, but once it was explained to her she agreed to it right away…