MONTREAL — A government-mandated committee said Quebec’s family law regime should be updated to better reflect today’s reality of increased common-law marriages and children born under such unions.
The panel of experts was convened following the high-profile divorce case involving a woman and her common-law partner, a prominent Quebec businessman who contended he should not have to pay alimony because they were never legally married.
It was widely known as the Eric vs Lola case, because the pair was not identified under a court order to protect the identities of their three children.
The advisory committee released a 600-page report today containing 82 recommendations.
Among them are the creation of a mandatory parental regime, which would set out obligations towards children born during a common-law union as well as parents following a split – to a certain point.
The report also suggested that a parent at an economic disadvantage due to end of a relationship would have the right to claim compensation for the time spent taking care of children instead of pursuing a career.
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