What is the parental union patrimony?
The core of this new regime is the creation of a parental union patrimony. Celui-ci s’applique automatiquement aux conjoints de fait qui deviennent parents d’un enfant né à compter du 30 juin 2025.
This patrimony specifically includes:
- The principal residence
- The secondary residences
- The furniture
- The vehicles used by the family
This patrimony is comparable to the family patrimony (for married couples), but more restricted. Il n’inclut pas le partage des REER, des fonds de pension, des gains inscrits au Régime de rentes du Québec, ni des biens reçus par succession ou des donations (avant ou pendant l’union).
The goal is to fairly distribute the economic disadvantages that can arise during a separation.
Who does it apply to?
The parental union regime automatically applies to de facto spouses who:
- become parents of a child born on or after June 30, 2025;
- live together;
- present themselves publicly as a couple.
What if your child was born before June 30, 2025?
If your child was born before that date, the parental union regime does not automatically apply to you. However, you have the option to voluntarily join it. To do so, you will need to formalize your agreement either through a notarized deed or a written contract signed in front of two witnesses.
What are the protective measures provided for in the parental union regime?
Protection of the family residence
If you are a co-owner
You’re already protected because one spouse cannot sell or mortgage the property without the other’s consent.
If the house belongs to a single spouse
Une particularité de ce régime est qu’un conjoint ne peut vendre, louer ou hypothéquer la résidence où l’autre conjoint a emménagé sans obtenir son consentement. This measure aims to prevent the non-owner and the children from suddenly finding themselves without housing in the event of a separation.
If you are tenants
The same principle applies. Même si un seul des conjoints est signataire du bail, le logement est protégé par ces mesures assurant la stabilité résidentielle des enfants et de l’autre parent.
Succession Rights in the Absence of a Will
En l’absence de testament, le régime d’union parentale accorde des droits de succession aux conjoints de fait. The surviving spouse will inherit one-third of the deceased spouse’s estate, while two-thirds will go to the children.
Establishment of a compensatory allowance
In the event of a separation, if one of the spouses has become more enriched compared to the other during the union, the other person may be entitled to financial compensation. This compensatory allowance is meant to correct economic imbalances created by living together and the career or life choices made for the benefit of the family.
Is it possible to opt out of this regime?
Yes.
It is possible to opt out of certain portions of the parental union regime, but this action does not end all of the protections offered by the parental union.
Measures such as the compensatory allowance, succession rights, and the protection of the family residence remain applicable.
Pour vous soustraire au patrimoine d’union parentale, vous devez impérativement consulter un notaire afin de formaliser votre décision par un acte notarié. Parents have a 90-day period following the birth of the child to complete this process with a notary so that the parental union patrimony will be considered as having never existed.
Si vous avez des questions ou souhaitez mieux comprendre les implications de ce régime pour votre situation spécifique, n’hésitez pas à consulter un de nos courtiers.