Difference between revisions of "Children Born to Unmarried Spouses (No. 147)"

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Children Born to Unmarried Spouses (No. 147) (view source)

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'''The above was last reviewed for legal accuracy by Zahra H. Jimale.'''
'''The above was last reviewed for legal accuracy by Zahra H. Jimale.'''
This script discusses issues relating to the children of unmarried parents who qualify as spouses. The topics discussed include:
*child support
*guardianship and the care of children
*adopting a child or your spouse’s child
*safety concerns
==Who is a “spouse”?==
Under the provincial ''Family Law Act'', “spouse” includes people who are married to each other as well as:
*people who have lived together in a marriage-like relationship for at least two years; and,
*except for the parts of the act about property and debt, people who have lived together in a marriage-like relationship for less than two years if they have had a child together.
==Does an unmarried spouse have to pay child support?==
The unmarried parents of a child, whether they’re spouses or not, each have a legal responsibility to support their child. This obligation lasts until their child reaches the age of majority, 19 in BC. They may also have to support their child after the age of 19 if the child is financially dependent on them because of disability or illness, or because the child is pursuing post-secondary education.
==What about support for a stepchild?==
A person who is the spouse of a parent may have to pay support for the parent’s child. A stepparent who qualifies as a “parent” as defined by the provincial ''Family Law Act'' has this obligation. The definition of a parent includes the unmarried spouse of a parent as long as the spouse has contributed to the support of the child for at least one year and the claim for child support is brought within one year of the stepparent’s last contribution to the support of the child.
The rules on child support are a bit different for stepparents. To find out more about child support upon separation, go to script [[Child Support (Script 117)|117]] on “Child Support”.
==How are the children cared for if you break up?==
If you and your spouse cannot decide who the children should live with or how their time should be shared, then a mediator can help you decide, or a judge will make a decision according to what’s in the best interests of the children. The court can also make decisions about how often the children will see each parent (called parenting time or contact) and how parenting decisions about the children will be made (called parental responsibilities). For more information, refer to script [[Children Born Outside Marriage (Script 140)|140]] on “Children Born Outside Marriage” and script [[Custody and Access, Guardianship, Parenting Arrangements and Contact (Script 142)|142]] on “Custody and Access, Guardianship, Parenting Arrangements and Contact”.
==Can unmarried spouses adopt a child?==
Unmarried spouses have the same rights as married spouses to adopt a child. Refer to script [[Adoption (Script 145)|145]] on “Adoption” for more information on this topic.
==What if you want to adopt your spouse’s child?==
You can only adopt your spouse’s child if the child’s other parent is prepared to give up his or her rights. If the other parent is agreeable, you can adopt your spouse’s child. It’s important to know that when you adopt a child, you get all of the obligations of a parent of the child, including the obligation to pay child support and contribute to the cost of the child’s expenses. Note that a child 12 or older must be willing to be adopted and has to give consent.
==What if you want to place your child for adoption?==
Usually both parents have to agree to the adoption. Before a court will make an adoption order, the judge must be satisfied that the other parent has been told about the adoption and has been given an opportunity to say whether he or she agrees. For more information, refer to script [[Adoption (Script 145)|145]] on “Adoption”.
==What rights do you have to be kept safe from an abusive ex-spouse?==
If you or your children are being threatened by your former spouse, you can apply for a protection order under the ''Family Law Act'' and you can file a report with the police. You can get a court order saying that your spouse must stay away from you and your children. If your spouse breaks this order, he or she can face criminal charges. For more information, refer to:
*script [[Applying for a Peace Bond and Filing Assault Charges (Script 217)|217]] on “Applying for a Peace Bond and Filing Assault Charges”
*script [[Family Violence (Script 155)|155]] on “Family Violence”
*script [[Reporting Suspected Child Abuse (Script 156)|156]] on “Reporting Suspected Child Abuse”
==Can you use your spouse’s last name?==
Yes. In fact, you can call yourself any name you choose, so long as you don’t do it to break the law or to cheat anyone. However you won’t be able to get government identification documents in any name other than your legal name. You can apply for a legal name change if you wish. For more information, refer to script [[Changing Your Name (Script 161)|161]] on “Changing Your Name”.
==Can your children use your spouse’s last name?==
You can also use whatever last name you want for your children. You can apply to legally change the children’s last name to your spouse’s last name, as long as your spouse doesn’t mind. The Director of Vital Statistics can process a change of name for your children even if the children’s other parent doesn’t consent, but you have to convince the Director that the children’s names should be changed. Children over the age of 12 also have to agree to the legal change of their name.
For more information on this, see the Vital Statistics Agency’s website at [http://www.vs.gov.bc.ca www.vs.gov.bc.ca], or call the main office in Victoria at 250.952.2681.
==Where can you get help or more information?==
*Family Justice Counsellors in Family Justice Centres throughout BC can help you with custody, child support, and related issues. Their services are free. Call 604.660.2421 in the lower mainland, 250.387.6121 in Greater Victoria, or toll-free 1.800.663.7867 elsewhere in BC, and ask to speak with a Family Justice Counsellor in the Family Justice Centre nearest you.
*Also see the Family Justice website at [http://www.ag.gov.bc.ca/family-justice www.ag.gov.bc.ca/family-justice].
*Read the booklet “[http://www.legalaid.bc.ca/publications/pub.php?pub=347 Living Together or Living Apart: Common-law Relationships, Marriage, Separation, and Divorce]” by the Legal Services Society of BC and available free on their website at [http://www.legalaid.bc.ca www.legalaid.bc.ca]. To find it, click “Our publications”, then under “I want to find a publication by subject” click “Family law”.
*Also see the Legal Services Society’s Family Law in BC website at [http://www.familylaw.lss.bc.ca www.familylaw.lss.bc.ca] — under “Your legal issue,” click “[http://www.familylaw.lss.bc.ca/legal_issues/commonLaw.aspx Common-law relationships]”.
*Visit the wikibook [JP Boyd on Family Law|JP Boyd on Family Law], hosted by Courthouse Libraries BC.
[updated November 2014]
{{REVIEWED | reviewer = JP Boyd}}
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