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*'''Unmarried adults.''' Unmarried adults probably think of themselves as boyfriends and girlfriends. They may have lived together, but not for too long. Sometimes unmarried adults involved in a family law problem <span class="noglossary">will</span> have been together only for a very short while ― perhaps just long enough to make a baby. | *'''Unmarried adults.''' Unmarried adults probably think of themselves as boyfriends and girlfriends. They may have lived together, but not for too long. Sometimes unmarried adults involved in a family law problem <span class="noglossary">will</span> have been together only for a very short while ― perhaps just long enough to make a baby. | ||
*'''Unmarried spouses.''' Unmarried spouses are not legally married. Unmarried spouses have lived together in a loving relationship, and, for most purposes of the ''[[Family Law Act]]'', must have lived together for at least two years | *'''Unmarried spouses.''' Unmarried spouses are not legally married. Unmarried spouses have lived together in a loving ― or at least marriage-like ― relationship, and, for most purposes of the ''[[Family Law Act]]'', must have lived together for at least two years. If they produce a child while living together, they become unmarried spouses even if they've lived together for less than two years. | ||
*'''Married spouses.''' Married spouses have been legally married by a marriage commissioner or a religious official licensed to perform marriages, and their marriage has been registered with the government where they were married. | *'''Married spouses.''' Married spouses have been legally married by a marriage commissioner or a religious official licensed to perform marriages, and their marriage has been registered with the government where they were married. | ||
*'''Parents.''' Parents are people who have had a baby together, sometimes including people who helped as the donor of sperm, the donor of eggs, or as a surrogate mother. Parents may be unmarried adults, unmarried spouses, married spouses, or complete strangers. What matters is that they have a child. | *'''Parents.''' Parents are people who have had a baby together, sometimes including people who helped as the donor of sperm, the donor of eggs, or as a surrogate mother. Parents may be unmarried adults, unmarried spouses, married spouses, or complete strangers. What matters is that they have a child. |