I don't know if you guys remember me talking about a friend of mine from Canada.  As a quick recap, she basically cheated on her boyfriend of more than 10 years, left him for a new guy, and apparently according to Canadian law, can sue her now ex-boyfriend for SPOUSAL SUPPORT!

I think the original purpose of spousal support is that a married woman, especially ones raising kids, can sue the husband for running off with someone else?  I mean I don't really understand Canadian law or anything, but it sounds to me like their version of the alimony.

In the case of this "friend" of mine, because she and her ex-bf have co-habitated for more than 3 years, somehow that counted as common law marriage.  And even though they have no kids together, she decided to sue him anyways because she really needs the money.

Well, I just found out earlier today that their lawyers have finally agreed to settle out of court to the tune of a $25k lump sum, to my "friend".  It's half of what she was hoping to get.  Actually, she wanted way more than that, then tampered down her expectations, but still got half of what she wanted.

I basically tried to console her that it's still better than nothing, and it would not cause her any further legal fees by going to trial.  Honestly though, I was shocked how much she was getting considering that she basically had NO CASE.

As for this "friend" and I, we are not really friends anymore.  I guess we still talk on occasion, held together only by whatever friendship we once had in the past.  But she's really turned into something different... and not in a good way.  She is still clueless about money, other than the fact that she's now having to actually struggle financially because her new hot boyfriend doesn't make any money, but hey at least he's great in the sack or so she says.

And though I was certainly no fan of her ex-boyfriend either, to be perfectly fair, he did take care of her financially.  He clothed her, fed her, put a roof over her head, and basically paid for all of her living expenses.  He even took her traveling all over the world, at least once a year, even though she insisted that she didn't care about that.  OK, whatever you say.

Point is, imagine being someone who has technically done nothing wrong, and has paid for everything, only to find out she cheated on you with someone else, and is now coming back to sue YOU for SPOUSAL SUPPORT!  Without actual marrage or any kids involved?

What a crazy world we live in.