Marriage breakdown is based on any one of the following three "grounds."

• Cruelty or
• Adultery, or
• Separation for one year.

You Only Need One Of The Three Grounds As A Reason To Get Your Divorce.

Adultery and Cruelty are difficult to prove and lead to expensive court battles.

Separation divorces are quick, easy cheap. Just prove you have been separated for a year and the divorce will be granted for that reason alone.

Separation for one year:

You have lived "separate and apart" for a year having decided the marriage is over. Living "separate and apart" does not necessarily mean living in separate homes. You can live separate and apart while sharing a home.

It is also possible to claim that although you only recently moved out and live in a different home, the marriage broke down and was essentially over at some time in the past, regardless of living arrangements

You do not need a separation agreement to prove separation, but it may useful if things get hostile.

However, A Separation Agreement Is Definitely Recommended. Separation agreement kit Click here Click Here To See The CanLaw Separation Agreement

There Are No Winners In Court:

Getting involved with the courts in a contested divorces is a lousy, destructive, enervating, expensive, frustrating, and time wasting nightmare that will last for years.

Do you know, for example, that a prolonged divorce or family court battle often will wipe out your resources completely? Can you afford to spend $50,000 or more on legal costs? How would that help your children? Or be in their "best interests?"

Dealing with divorce is very trying and hard on both parties. It is not just the divorce, it is also the custody and access and support battles that follow and drag on for years. Dealing with the many unknowns make it more upsetting.

It is well worth your time to review these pages and educate yourself on the rules, the process and the grounds for divorce, custody and support. It will give you a sense of control again and make life a little easier for you during the nightmare called divorce.

"Hell hath no fury like the

lawyer of a woman scorned"

DO YOUR OWN UNCONTESTED DIVORCE

Be smart and avoid court battles by doing your own divorce.

Yes, you can do your own divorce Click here the easy way - - Uncontested Divorce: for a few hundred dollars or pay others tens of thousands. The choice is yours.

Do You Need To Divorce?

Reconciliation attempts are generally required. Consider marriage counselling, or even a trial separation before you take the final plunge.

A divorce is merely an order dissolving a marriage and signed by a judge under the federal law

known as the Divorce Act

• Divorce, legal separation agreements, and annulment
• Parental Alienation
• Grandparent Rights
• Same-sex couples
• Common Law Spouses
• Negotiation and Drafting of Agreements
• Adoption
• Family Mediation
• Partition of the Family Patrimony and Matrimonial Regimes
• Child Custody Law
• Recognition of Paternity
• Alimony
• Private international law: foreign matrimonial regimes, foreign child custody and child support
• Representation Before the Courts
•  
• Matrimonial Regimes of Quebec
•  
• Representation of Children Before the Courts by a Family Court Lawyer
•  
• Youth protection (DYP)
• Family Residence

You Should Seriously Consider Using Separation As Your Ground For Divorce

Most divorces in Canada are based on the grounds of separation for a year or more. Proving cruelty or adultery will be expensive, slow, frustrating and very difficult.

This does not mean that you should not file for divorce on the grounds of cruelty or adultery, but why go to all the trouble?

Most People Find It Faster, Simpler And Much Less Expensive To Simply Separate For A Year And Then Plead Separation As The Grounds For Divorce.

A Separation Agreement Is Definitely Recommended.

It Helps Prove The Separation Is Real and Has Been For the Required Year.

If your divorce is simple and there are no major problems, you can do it yourself and seek an uncontested divorce with or without the help of a lawyer or paralegal.

BUT, regardless, it is prudent to spend a little money and consult with a divorce lawyer or paralegal and have your options explained before you act.

A lawyer will explain how the law applies in your situation and how to protect your rights. You can then choose the right course of action for your situation.

Find divorce legal information and resources including law firm, lawyer and attorney listings and reviews on CanLaw.com

You can file for divorce with or without the involvement, consent or cooperation of your spouse.

Your Separation Agreement will help you resolve property, custody and support matters. However you do not need a legal document that says you are separated, as there is no "legal separation" in Canada.

Divorce in Canada is controlled by the  Click here Divorce Act

However each province also has its own Family Law Acts, which will affect your divorce in some manner.

How Do You Determine When The One Year Waiting Period Started And Ends?

The clock starts running when you decide that the marriage is over and there can be no reconciliation. You do not have to be physically living in separate homes to be "separated."

Your separation can mean living in separate bedrooms, or as one of you moving out and living elsewhere.

A Long Separation

Doesn't Mean You're Divorced

Some uninformed people will say that if they are separated for a long period of time, say ten or twenty years, that their marriage is nullified. This is not true.

Marriages do not just dissolve or evaporate. A divorce granted by a judge is the only way that your marriage will be terminated under the eyes of the law.

Divorcing When You Didn't Marry In Canada

If you didn't marry in Canada, you can still legally get a divorce here. Divorce in Canada is based on residency, not the place of marriage. So, if you or your spouse has lived in Canada for at least one year you can obtain a divorce here.

Citizenship:

You do not have to be a Canadian citizen to apply for a divorce in Canada, but you must reside here. Canadian Divorce Laws

MARRIAGE IS THE FIRST STEP

 ON THE ROAD TO DIVORCE

Half of all marriages now end in divorce. Some 50% of Canadian children have had their fathers driven out of their lives by their own mothers.

Common Steps To Divorce.

Decide to Divorce.

Research the rules by browsing CanLaw; it is rich with free information.

Attend to property issues with a Click here CanLaw Separation Agreement.

Decide if you really need a lawyer to prepare your divorce documents. If both parties agree to an uncontested divorce you probably do not need a lawyer.

Actually read some of the how-to's and reports. 20 minutes of reading will save you thousands of dollars

Canada is a society in which the politically weak, (visible minorities and women) merely by being so, are automatically in the right.

Click here Contested Divorce:

A contested divorce occurs when the parties cannot agree on all of the issues. It can easily cost you $50,000 because this is where lawyers get involved in a lengthy court battle. A contested divorce will involve considerable time, money and frustration. They often turn into major battles and both parties end up losers.

The Steps To Take In Divorce

Each province has it's own way of doing things. Basically in each province the steps are:

• File your first set of papers in the right court.
• Wait for clearance from the Divorce Registry in Ottawa.
• While you are waiting you conduct 'service' on your spouse according to the rules of court procedure. Click here Go here to Find a Process Server on CanLaw
• Wait the prescribed number of days and hope the other side does what you want.
• File the second set of papers and your Affidavits.
• File Motions and financial statements as requested.
• Wait for a court decision
• When Are You Divorced? Divorce becomes final 31 days after the judge signs the order.
• Once the judgment is final you can apply for a certificate of divorce. You cannot remarry until you have that certificate. You will need proof of your Canadian Divorce.