What to take with you if you leave your relationship

If you plan to leave your marriage or common-law relationship, and you want your children to live with you, you need to take them with you when you go.

Here are some of the important documents and belongings you should take with you:

• Financial information, such as your tax returns for at least three years, bank account statements, investments, debts, and copies of recent pay stubs
• Your CareCard (medicare card)
• Your passport, your children's passports, and any immigration papers you may have
• Your children's birth certificates and CareCards (medicare cards)
• Your children's clothing, furniture, or personal belongings
• Photocopies of information about income and assets in your partner's name alone, such as pay stubs, tax returns, company records and ledgers, bank accounts, investments, and RRSPs (also write down your partner's Social Insurance Number, CareCard number, and date of birth — this can be useful later if you have a dispute about money and property, or if you need to find your partner)
• Medications and prescriptions for you and your children