Am I responsible for my common-law partner's debts in Ontario if we separate?

Generally, each person is liable only for debts in their own name. Unlike some aspects of marriage, common-law status in Ontario does not automatically make you responsible for your partner's individual credit card debt, personal loans, or other obligations signed solely by them. This is a basic principle of contract law — you can only be bound by a debt you personally agreed to.

However, there are important exceptions. If you co-signed or guaranteed a debt, you are jointly liable regardless of your relationship status. Joint credit cards, joint lines of credit, and joint mortgages create shared obligations. If both names appear on the account or the loan agreement, both partners are responsible to the lender even after separation.

Separation does not automatically remove your name from joint debts. Even if a separation agreement requires your former partner to pay a joint debt, the lender can still pursue you if payments are missed. The safest approach is to pay off or refinance joint debts as part of the separation process, removing one party's name entirely. A lawyer can help structure a separation agreement that addresses shared liabilities clearly.