A common-law spouse may receive compensation if he or she has, for example, worked for his or her spouse and thus enabled him or her to add to his or her property and thus division of property based solely on ownership would be unjust.
Vabaabielupartner võib saada kompensatsiooni juhul, kui ta on näiteks oma tööga aidanud teisel vabaabielupartneril vara suurendada ja vara jagamine vaid omandiõiguse alusel oleks sellest tingituna ebaõiglane.