A registered domestic partnership is a formal status created through provincial registration. It can give partners access to provincial rights and obligations that ordinary common-law partners may not have, including aspects of matrimonial property law, while remaining legally distinct from marriage.
Sources checked September 29, 2026.
Registration
The status is created through registration rather than simply by living together for a period of time.
- Vital Statistics
- eligibility
- formal registration
Property rights
Provincial legislation that applies to married spouses can apply to registered domestic partners, including the Matrimonial Property Act.
- matrimonial assets
- matrimonial home
- pensions
Support and parenting
Parenting and Support Act rights and obligations can apply to domestic partners and parents.
- spousal support
- child support
- parenting arrangements
Termination
A registered domestic partnership can end through specified statutory events rather than a divorce proceeding.
- statement of termination
- separation period
- marriage or registered agreement
Comparison with common law and marriage
The three statuses overlap in some areas but are not interchangeable across federal and provincial law.
- common-law relationship
- registered domestic partnership
- marriage
Official sources
- Nova Scotia Family Law — Registered Domestic Partnership
- Nova Scotia Family Law — Common Law & Domestic Partnerships
- Nova Scotia Family Law — Legislation