Reece.... laws vary from state to state which is why I said for him to check the laws in his state.  As it turns out, he doesn't even live in the US of A.... so he needs to check the laws of Canada and the province he lives in which is BC.
 
 
Here in NC the time limit is 7 years.  And I can not buy real estate of any kind without my wife signing as well.  I wanted to buy a house to rent out for income and the bank required both of us to sign according to NC state law.

That's why he needs to run the opposite direction fast. I doubt he would be on the hook for something a common law wife did after they were no longer together. Probably best to consult an attorney just in case. In any case run!

http://resources.lss.bc.c...r-Living-Apart-eng.pdf

In Ontario a split from common law and a split from marriage are very similar, yet different. The devil's in the detail. For example, when I split from my wife 15 years ago she could claim half of my future earnings from retirement pensions. If it had been common law she would not have been able to go after it. 
 
The large print giveth, and the small print taketh away. Do some fact checking before you make a move of any kind.

Thanks for all your support guys.

I've been MIA - away for a few days.

She just had major surgery on Nov. 19, and I've been at the hospital for 2 straight days, plus the night before, guess who had to stay over?

So I've not been able to read anything here for a few days, and I'm posting this without reading anything added lately, which I will do afterwards.

In case anyone's still interested, there are a few things that make this more complicated:

Complication # 1. She's partially handicapped because of a horrendous car crash when she was just 7 years old. This gave her permanent injuries - no use of her left arm, and a walk with a limp.
She also suffered a small head injury, because not only didn't her Dad put a seat belt on her - she didn't even have a seat! Just a chair in a van.

A woman in oncoming traffic fell asleep at the wheel on the highway, and had crossed the yellow line.
Her Dad swerved to avoid her, but at 100 KMH - [60MPH] the van caught the dirt shoulder embankment and tumbled over & over. She was tossed around like rag doll and eventually literally flew out the van, hitting her head first, which is believed to be what opened the back van door that she then flew out of.

But other than her obvious physical injuries, no one would think she had a head injury. She's very well spoken and quite articulate.

Before we met, she had been attacked several times and severally taken advantage of - [imagine judgment day for those who do things to a tiny, defenseless handicapped woman who can neither run away nor fight off any attacker - that can't end well for them!].

In fact, when she came to me, the first thing she said she need wasn't a boyfriend, room mate or husband - but a protector.

I felt much compassion & empathy for her. Then of course we started getting along a bit too well, and - well - you know how that goes.

So I've been taking care of her for the past 5 years, she's very proud and delighted to introduce me as her husband and no one's even come close to doing anything to her - [oh except for one guy - reminds me - I still gotta deal with him].

Both her and her Mother have spoken many times to my face extolling my virtues and their appreciation in 'rescuing her' from a world that is continually hard, physically abusive & just downright terrible to her, and for keeping her safe, warm & happy since.

Because of my concern, efforts & subsequent love for, her confidence & self-assuredness has grown for the 1st time ever in her life - to the point where she's lost 100 pounds on the treadmill I bought her, now often doing 2-3 miles a day on it, and is down to her ideal weight.  
She also volunteers a few places which she's always wanted to do.

So overall we've had a superb relationship - all until she went and bought an iphone 5.  

This where and how she's reconnected with her Mother, which I would never normally be against - except for how the last last 3 years has gone with them 2.

As trouble has progressed, I told her, "You know, we were perfectly happy once - until you bought your effen' iphone".

She actually agreed, but did that change anything?  - no.

The 2 of them are glued to them. Before that, she barely had any contact with her Mother - and we were happy.

I've even told her numerous times, "You know, if we part & go our own separate ways, it'll be because of your Mother and you!"

Complication # 2. My health has deteriorated drastically over the past 2 years - [gee, wonder why?], and I've been reduced to working just one day a week, or less. I might have fibromyalgia, which hits fewer men than women.

In her compassionate stages, which is most of the time, she's quite concerned and vows to take care of me for the rest of my life, promising to never put me in an old age home 10, 20 or 30 years from now, should things get progressively worse.

So at this point in time, I have neither the physical health nor the spondulicks needed to actually up & move out - not just yet anyway.
 
I've been doing a lot of thinking - too much perhaps, and have decided that despite her offer, I cannot stay in an unhealthy relationship that's damn near killing me.
Before I 'rescued her 5 years ago', my mental/emotional and physical health were all excellent. Now they've all gone for ****!

So as she's been getting better, and I've been getting worse.

I've started working on plans to live alone again - something that ALWAYS makes me happy. I did this when I left my ex-wife and boy did it pay off big time - even though I had to walk away from $50,000 or more. But before long, I couldn't be happier.

Here we go again I guess.
 
Unfortunately, I am stuck here until my finances improve, which I expect will take some time.

So I'm gonna have to tough it out, and just 'detach' from her, which is not want I would have wanted, but I don't see any other choice.

I also don't see this relationship as salvageable anymore, despite the mention of counseling.

Seems too much damage has been done, and now my mental, emotional & physical heath have suffered from it all.  No wonder I haven't done any music for about a year now.

I need to take care of myself. So I've just gone into self-repair mode.

To bad I'm gonna have to break her heart next year, but the thought of living alone again and focusing solely on my music & motorcycles sure has a nice ring to it!

Thanks again for the support Buds.

Jim 

Well...there you go...truth is always stranger than fiction.

I'm thinkin' - no more women after this.
 
I've been with women most of my life - and never been dumped.
 
But maybe now it's time to just forget that whole project and stay single & happy after this.

Good luck with everything. I think you're making the right decision. It went from an equal partnership to 2 against 1. That's not a healthy situation, and if she's unwilling to change it, I guess you'll have to. You'll be better off without that kind of headache.

Wish i could help Jim
 
If I lived in Canada i might be able to, as i'm married to a divorce lawyer, but UK law is vastly different to what we see in North America.
 
There osi ni such thing as a common law wife/husband here any more - the concept was dumped about 10 years ago, not that this helps you in any way.
 
My gut reaction is to simply walk. Keep your dignity & your self esteem, don't be taken for a ride by ANYone, no matter how needy they are.

Bristol_Jonesey
 
  i'm married to a divorce lawyer....
 

 
 
Hmm, you didn't really think that one through did ya ?..... ;)