▁children ▁of ▁either ▁and / or ▁both ▁sp ouses ), ▁a ▁common - law ▁couple ▁( with ▁or ▁without ▁children ▁of ▁either ▁and / or ▁both ▁partners ) ▁or ▁a ▁l one ▁parent ▁of ▁any ▁mar ital ▁status , ▁with ▁at ▁least ▁one ▁child . ▁A ▁couple ▁may ▁be ▁of ▁opposite ▁sex ▁or ▁same ▁sex . ▁A ▁couple ▁family ▁with ▁children ▁may ▁be ▁further ▁class ified ▁as ▁either ▁an ▁int act ▁family ▁in ▁which ▁all ▁children ▁are ▁the ▁bi ological ▁and / or ▁adopted ▁children ▁of ▁both ▁married ▁sp ouses ▁or ▁of ▁both ▁common - law ▁partners ▁or ▁a ▁step family ▁with ▁at ▁least ▁one ▁bi ological ▁or ▁adopted ▁child ▁of ▁only ▁one ▁married ▁sp ouse ▁or ▁common - law ▁partner ▁and ▁whose ▁birth ▁or ▁ad option ▁preced ed ▁the ▁current ▁relationship . ▁Ste pf amil ies , ▁in ▁turn ▁may ▁be ▁class ified ▁as ▁simple ▁or ▁complex . ▁A ▁simple ▁step family ▁is ▁a ▁couple ▁family ▁in ▁which ▁all ▁children ▁are ▁bi ological ▁or ▁adopted ▁children ▁of ▁one , ▁and ▁only ▁one , ▁married ▁sp ouse ▁or ▁common - law ▁partner ▁whose ▁birth ▁or ▁ad option ▁preced ed ▁the ▁current ▁relationship . ▁A ▁complex ▁step family ▁is ▁a ▁couple ▁family ▁which ▁contains ▁at ▁least ▁one ▁bi ological ▁or ▁adopted ▁child ▁whose ▁birth ▁or ▁ad option ▁preced ed ▁the ▁current ▁relationship . ▁These ▁families ▁contain ▁children ▁from : ▁▁ ▁each ▁married ▁sp ouse ▁or ▁common - law ▁partner ▁and ▁no ▁other ▁children ▁ ▁one ▁married ▁sp ouse ▁or ▁common - law ▁partner ▁and