We lived together for two years but never married. Do I have a support claim?

Under Ontario's Family Law Act, a common-law partner can claim spousal support only if the couple cohabited continuously for at least three years, or if they are in a relationship of some permanence and have a child together. A two-year cohabitation without a child does not meet the three-year threshold and would generally not give rise to a spousal support claim under provincial law.

If your relationship lasted less than three years and you have no children together, you may not be entitled to spousal support — regardless of any financial sacrifice you made. This is a meaningful difference from married spouses, who can claim support after any length of marriage.

That said, you may have other legal remedies if money or assets were mixed during the relationship. Unjust enrichment claims, trust claims, or property-related arguments can sometimes succeed for short-term common-law partners who made contributions to a shared home or business. These are separate from spousal support and are more complex. Speaking with a lawyer early is important, since limitation periods can limit how long you have to bring any claim.