Toronto Divorce Lawyers: Do You Meet the Criteria for Divorce in Canada?
If you're considering filing for divorce in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, it's crucial to understand the legal requirements outlined in the Divorce Act, the federal law dealing with divorce matters. To be eligible for divorce in Canada, you must meet the following criteria: 1. You and your spouse must be legally married in Canada or another country. 2. At least 1 spouse must have resided in Canada for at least 1 year immediately prior to filing for divorce. 3. At least 1 spouse must intend to make the separation permanent, with no possibility of reconciliation. It's important to note that a divorce in Toronto will be granted by the court even if one party does not want the divorce. However, a court may refuse to grant a divorce if proper child support is not being paid before the divorce is granted. The Divorce Act in Canada recognizes three valid grounds for divorce: 1. Adultery 2. Abuse or cruelty 3. Separation Scarborough Divorce Process in Canada: Steps for Getting a Divorce in Toronto , Ontario Although each divorce situation is unique, there are common steps required when filing for a contested or uncontested divorce in Canada. If you have a Separation Agreement it should be filed with your Application for Divorce. These steps remain consistent regardless of individual case circumstances. However, the duration of the process depends on how quickly disputes between spouses are settled. The more complicated the issues or the more unreasonable one or both parties are, the longer it will take to resolve separation-related matters, ultimately increasing the associated costs. Toronto Divorce Lawyers Simple Steps: 1. Filing for Divorce: One spouse (the applicant) files for divorce by submitting the required documents to the court. 2. Serving Documents: The applicant serves the divorce documents to the other spouse (the respondent). 3. Response: The respondent has 30 days to respond to the divorce application. 4. Negotiations and Settlement: Both parties negotiate and attempt to reach an agreement on issues such as property division, support, and child custody. If successful, an uncontested divorce can proceed. If not, the divorce becomes contested. 5. Contested Divorce Proceedings: If negotiations fail, the case goes to court for a judge to make decisions on unresolved issues. 6. Divorce Judgement: Once all issues are resolved and the required waiting period has passed, the court grants a divorce judgment finalizing the divorce.