Under the Family Law Act in BC, a couple is considered to be in a common law relationship if they have lived together in a marriage-like relationship for a continuous period of at least two years. If the couple has lived together for less than two years, they could still be considered common-law spouses if they have a child together. It sounds simple, but there are many factors involved that need to be considered before determining whether the relationship was “marriage-like”. Fortunately, the courts have provided the following factors to consider in order to determine whether a relationship is “marriage-like”: