Grace Choi Discusses Major Changes Affecting Common-law Couples under B.C.'s New Family Law Act

Published: Thursday, 21 March 2013

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Under B.C.'s new Family Law Act, couples who have been cohabiting for over two years now share the same rights and legal responsibilities as married couples. Davis LLP's Grace Choi has made several media appearances to discuss the major changes under the new legislation, which she calls a "wholesale, dramatic, landscape shift" from the previous Family Relations Act in an interview with the Globe and Mail.

"People should not enter into cohabiting relationships lightly," Choi tells the Georgia Straight. "They should consider them to be of the same sort of legal effect as getting married."

Appearing on CBC News to discuss the implications for B.C. couples in common-law relationships, Choi comments that the new act was brought in to "reflect more about what was going on in society":

Extra footage from the interview, in which Choi underscores the difference between the old and new legislation, is available here:

A segment from the interview also aired on The National on March 18, 2013.

More on B.C.'s New Family Law Act and How It Could Affect You

Choi is the author of two articles which provide further insight into B.C.'s hotly discussed new act:

Heads Up! Big Changes to Family Law in B.C. >

We're Not Living Together – She's Just My Housekeeper / Roommate / Girlfriend >