Correct "marital status" for separated common-law

[mongorjo]

Could someone help me understand if I picked the right option? I was in a common-law union, but we separated two years ago.

In Brazil, common-law relationship separations don't require the involvement of a court. You go to a notary's office and sign the papers to be officially "separated."

In my EE profile, I selected the option "Separated," but I felt like its description was a bit strange:

Separated means that two people are married but no longer living together, and they do not wish to live together again. They may be waiting for a divorce or have not yet decided to divorce.

We're neither married anymore nor waiting for a "divorce." We've already separated.

When I look at the next possible option, Divorced, it's even farther away from my situation since no court has ever been involved:

Divorced means that a court has granted a divorce and that a marriage has ended. The two people are no longer married.

Did I select the correct option?

PS: Sorry if this seems duplicated, I couldn't find any other thread with this answer.

 

[moscatojuices]

This is a total gray area

 

[CanGoldDigger]

I guess it's Single

 

[moscatojuices]

I actually think its Separated. Here's why; thought about it lots today.

The CRA provides guidance that relationships must follow a "natural progression" when it comes to how they change. i.e. Single -> Married -> Separated -> Divorced etc.

In my case:

Single -> Married -> Separated -> Divorced -> Common-Law -> Separated.

You can't be Single, because CRA defines Single as "A person who has never been married and is currently not in a common law relationship."

So I've been married, BUT I'm not in a common law relationship.

Hence separated, and its consistent with my CRA status too, so I'm gonna go with that.

 

[CanGoldDigger]

Makes sense.