Family
Family members have rights and responsibilities towards each other. Families can be:
- married couples with or without children
- couples who live together with or without children
- parents who live on their own with children
- parents that do not live with their children
If a family relationship breaks down, there can be disagreements about things like:
- where children will live
- who will stay in the family home
- support for children and other family members
Sometimes, these things can be settled by agreement. In many cases, couples will need to use a family dispute resolution process to try and resolve their issues before applying to court. If they still cannot come to an agreement, either party can ask the court to decide what should happen.
For more information about family law, see Family Law Saskatchewan.
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Parents have certain responsibilities towards their children. This is true whether the parents live together or have never lived together.
Married couples and couples who have lived together for 2 years or more are considered spouses by the law. Couples who have lived together for 1 year and had a child together can also be considered spouses in some cases. This means they have specific rights and obligations to each other.
Spouses can each own their own property and take out loans in their own names. However, there are special rules to deal with family property and the family home. Each spouse is usually entitled to half the value of the family home. Each spouse is also entitled to half of any increase in value during the relationship of any other family property.
Family violence can harm family members including children, even if it is not directed at them. When deciding on parenting arrangements, the court will consider family violence. There is help available for people living with family violence.