Separation or Divorce

How to proceed smoothly through a separation or divorce

The decision to separate or divorce is a very difficult one to make, particularly if children are involved. In any separation and divorce, there are complex issues to sort out, including child custody and access to children (visitation), child and spousal support, division of assets, property and debts, business issues, and other issues. We have the experience and knowledge to help you proceed smoothly through your separation or divorce.

Separation means to cease living together and conducting yourselves as spouses, with the intention not to live together again. This may include situations where you continue to live in the same residence for the time being, but “separate and apart under the same roof.” The intention to separate need not be joint and mutual, but one party must withdraw from the matrimonial relationship with the intent of permanently ending the marriage.

Divorce is the termination of the legal relationship of marriage between spouses due to the breakdown of marriage, based on the grounds of any one of the following:

1. Separation of one year or more, by naming a date of separation related to a significant event indicating the breakdown of the marriage (for example, irresolvable disagreement that affects your ability to remain spouses, or one party moving out of the home, or permanently separating your finances, or other significant events.
2. Adultery, which must be proven and naming the other party to the adultery.
3. Physical or mental cruelty, which must be proven.
4. Drug or alcohol addiction.
5. Homosexuality.

Although all of these grounds of marriage breakdown are available, the commonly used one is separation for at least one year preceding the granting of the divorce order. Please note that you may commence an application for divorce at any time after separating, even if you have not yet lived apart for one full year.

The Divorce Act encourages attempts at reconciliation by allowing spouses to cohabit for a single period, or a total of several periods, amounting to no more than 90 days without interrupting the one-year separation period relied upon to establish the breakdown of marriage.

To apply for divorce, either spouse should be ordinarily resident in Ontario for at least one year before the commencement of the divorce proceeding. It means that the party claiming a divorce can rely on his or her residence in Ontario or the residence of the other spouse in Ontario, to obtain a divorce in Ontario.

Either spouse may apply for divorce as early as the day after separation begins, but the final divorce order cannot be granted by the court until one year of separation has expired.

Simple Divorces

If neither spouse disputes the ground for divorce, and if they are able to reach an agreement on all issues, in particular regarding children and financial arrangements, it is possible to request an uncontested divorce without requiring the parties to attend court. In an uncontested divorce application, the only request is for a divorce without claims for other issues. However, even in an uncontested divorce the parties should retain a family law lawyer to ensure that all procedures and deadlines are met and followed correctly, and to ensure that the divorce order actually means what the parties intended.

In an uncontested divorce, it takes approximately 3 to 4 months before your divorce will be finalized by the court, but there is no guarantee about timing. If the client is planning to remarry, the client should not make any definite plans for a specific wedding date until receiving the final divorce order from the court.

Other Divorces

When the client and spouse cannot come to an agreement regarding more complex issues of their divorce, or if they have competing claims, they may require negotiation or legal representation in court to reach a resolution. The Howard Nightingale Professional Corporation family law team is sensitive to the client’s unique situation, and will protect their interests as aggressively as necessary. If the client is required to go to court for a contested divorce, the client will want Howard Nightingale Professional Corporation’s experienced family law litigation team on their side.

Separation Agreements

The most common domestic contract negotiated between couples is a separation agreement. To enter into a separation agreement, you and your partner must have cohabited and must now be living separate and apart. However, couples who continue to live under the same roof may still be considered to be living separate and apart if they are living independent lives.

Separation agreements deal with custody and access to children, financial support arrangements, division of property, and estate considerations. However, be aware that a family court may disregard provisions in a separation agreement regarding children, where it is in the best interest of the children to do so.

Whether it is a marriage contract, cohabitation agreement or separation agreement, to be considered a valid domestic contract in Ontario, the following conditions must be met:

1.  The domestic contract must be in writing, signed by both parties and their signatures witnessed by other persons.
2. Both parties must participate in the negotiation of terms of the domestic contract and have reasonable time to consider the terms of the domestic. contract (without being under pressured to sign because of an imminent deadline such as the wedding date set to occur just a few days away).
3. Both parties must enter into the domestic contract voluntarily, without fear, threats, duress or influence by the other.
4. Both parties must understand the terms of the domestic contract and how such terms may affect them in future; to do so, both parties should have independent legal advice from separate lawyers, to explain the terms of the domestic contract and their respective rights and obligations under family law.
5. Both parties must provide full disclosure of their circumstances, including all information regarding their finances.
6. The domestic contract must be reasonable and fair, taking into consideration the parties’ individual circumstances.

Amending or Setting Aside Domestic Contracts

If you have already entered into a domestic contract, but you have concerns about its fairness or validity, Howard Nightingale Professional Services can review your existing domestic contract and advise you of your options. You may wish to amend the domestic agreement between you and your spouse or have the domestic contract set by the court.

If you and your spouse wish to amend the domestic agreement, under appropriate conditions Howard Nightingale Professional Corporation can prepare an amending document, revising the terms of the domestic agreement in writing.

If your spouse is not agreeable to voluntarily amending the domestic contract, an application may be made to the family court to set aside the domestic contract for one of three reasons:

1. One party has failed to disclose to the other significant assets or debts that existed at the time the contract was entered into.
2. One party did not understand the nature or consequences of the contract, and did not have independent legal advice before signing.
3. For general reasons under contract law, such as undue influence, mistake and,
4. misrepresentation

The family court may set aside the domestic contract if the terms of the domestic contract result in unconscionable (unreasonable) circumstances for either party.

Due to the court’s power to set aside agreements, parties should not enter into agreements for which there has been little or no financial disclosure. In addition, parties should be wary of signing a domestic contract when one party refuses to obtain independent legal advice from a lawyer regarding his or her rights and obligations under the contract.