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43% of Canada's common law couples are in Quebec, data shows

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Quebec accounts for 43 per cent of Canada's common law couples, according to new data from Statistics Canada.

In fact, Canada ranks first among G7 countries when it comes to this type of union, largely because of Quebec.

Common law relationships generally refer to two people who make a life together without being married.

According to Educaloi, an independent Quebec organization made up of legal experts, Quebec law officially calls "common law" couples "de facto" unions or "de facto couples."

The rights and responsibilities associated with a common law or de facto union differ from province to province.

For example, Quebec's Justice Ministry states that "under the Civil Code, de facto spouses do not have the same rights and responsibilities as spouses in a marriage or civil union, however long they have been together."

It goes on to explain that "if your de facto spouse dies, you will not automatically inherit, unless you are named in the will," however all children have the same rights whether or not their parents are married.

To learn more about the latest findings, watch the video above.  

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