In July 2009, the Quebec Superior Court issued its decision in the landmark case on the legal status of de facto (or “common law”) unions in the province of Quebec. The Court dismissed the constitutional challenge launched by a Quebec woman which seeks to have unmarried couples treated the same as married couples when their relationships end. That ruling is being appealed to the Quebec Court of Appeal. In this article, Anne-France Goldwater and Marie-Hélène Dubé summarize the arguments they presented in the lower court. [Follow-up: On November 3rd, 2010, in a unanimous judgment the Quebec Court of Appeal overturned the ruling in first instance, and gave the Quebec government one year to provide spousal support rights to common law couples.] [Follow-up: on January 18 2012, the Supreme Court heard oral argument on the respective appeals of Lola, Eric and the Quebec government. A judgment is expected later in 2012.]