Most (59%) Unmarried Co-Habitants Believe Their Rights Are The Same As The Those Of A Married Couple

Toronto, ON - The majority of unmarried Canadians who have lived with a romantic partner (59%) believe they have the same rights as a married couple in the event of a separation, according to a recent survey conducted by Ipsos Reid on behalf of lawyers.com.

The study found that nearly half of Canadian adults (48%) have lived with a romantic partner without being married at some point in their lives. And, among these Canadians, six-in-ten (59%) believed that in the case of a separation, their relationship would qualify for the same rights as a married couple.

Further, only one-third (30%) of Canadians that have lived with an unmarried romantic partner had a co-habitation agreement with their partner. Over half of Quebecers (57%) had such an agreement , which is significantly higher than residents of other provinces (ranging from 16% in B.C. to 22% in the Prairies).

• Canadians between the age of 18 and 34 are least likely to believe that co-habitants have the same rights as a married couple in the event of a separation (47%), while two-thirds (66%) of Canadians at least 55 years old believe this.
• Canadians at least 55 years old are least likely to have lived with a romantic partner to whom they were not married (35%), while those under the age of 55 were significantly more likely (57%). Additionally, some regional differences were observed:
• Unmarried Canadians in Quebec and British Columbia are most likely to have lived with a romantic partner out of wed-lock (59% and 55%, respectively), while those in Ontario and the Prairies are least likely to have done this (42% and 41%, respectively).

These are the findings of an online survey of 1,184 Canadian adults over the age of 18. With a sample of this size, the results are considered accurate to within 1772.8 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what would have been, had this entire population been polled. The online survey was conducted between April 27th and May 1st, 2006.

For more information please contact:
Paul Orovan
Research Manager
Ipsos Reid Public Affairs
(416) 324-2900
[email protected]

Ipsos Reid
Ipsos Reid is Canada's market intelligence leader, the country's leading provider of public opinion research, and research partner for loyalty and forecasting and modelling insights. With operations in eight cities, Ipsos Reid employs more than 300 research professionals and support staff in Canada. The company has the biggest network of telephone call centres in the country, as well as the largest pre-recruited household and online panels. Ipsos Reid's marketing research and public affairs practices offer the premier suite of research vehicles in Canada, all of which provide clients with actionable and relevant information. Staffed with seasoned research consultants with extensive industry-specific backgrounds, Ipsos Reid offers syndicated information or custom solutions across key sectors of the Canadian economy, including consumer packaged goods, financial services, automotive, retail, and technology & telecommunications. Ipsos Reid is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group.

To learn more, please visit www.ipsos.ca.

Ipsos
Ipsos is a leading global survey-based market research company, owned and managed by research professionals. Ipsos helps interpret, simulate, and anticipate the needs and responses of consumers, customers, and citizens around the world.

Member companies assess market potential and interpret market trends. They develop and build brands. They help clients build long-term relationships with their customers. They test advertising and study audience responses to various media. They measure public opinion around the globe.

Ipsos member companies offer expertise in advertising, customer loyalty, marketing, media, and public affairs research, as well as forecasting, modeling, and consulting. Ipsos has a full line of custom, syndicated, omnibus, panel, and online research products and services, guided by industry experts and bolstered by advanced analytics and methodologies. The company was founded in 1975 and has been publicly traded since 1999. In 2005, Ipsos generated global revenues of e717.8 million ($853.8 million U.S.).

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