Common law relation - Job application

m00c0w04

I am applying for a job and I need to obtain a countersignatory. The guidelines state that it cannot be somebody related to me by birth, marriage or common law. I understand common law to be where an unmarried couple are cohabiting?

I'm looking to use my cousin's ex-partner (whom he has kids with) as my countersignatory, but I'm unsure as to whether or not I'm related to her by common law. They have been separated, and living separately, for 2-3 years now, so I'm thinking that she would qualify as a countersignatory, but the fact that they have kids together has thrown me a bit :huh:

What do you guys think?

Many thanks.

westv

I didn't think "common law" had any legal basis.

hcb42

can you not use anyone else to avoid the problem altogether?

Sounds distant enough to me, but to be squeaky clean, I wouldnt use them personally.

SueC_2

I'm intrigued.... what kind of job application requires a countersignatory...?

Sorry, I know that's no help in answering your question whatsoever, but I have genuinely never heard of such a thing!

m00c0w04

hcb42 wrote:

can you not use anyone else to avoid the problem altogether?

It turns out that I can't use the person that I had in mind anyway

SueC wrote: »

I'm intrigued.... what kind of job application requires a countersignatory...?

It's a low level governmental job, but it requires vetting, so it's to obtain a reference for that. I'm having a really hard time finding somebody suitable because the requirements are so stringent.