How can I file for a divorce in Ontario?

eligibility criteria

If you want to officially end your marriage, you can file for divorce with an Ontario court, as long as you meet the eligibility criteria:

1. You must be legally married in Canada or in any other country outside of Canada.

2. They have broken up or intend to break up for good with zero chance of getting back together.

3. You or your spouse have been a resident of Ontario for at least 12 months prior to your application.

Note: If you are not legally married then Canadian divorce laws do not apply to you, you may need to apply for an annulment.

An exception to the one-year residency requirement is if both parties live outside of Canada and the country where they currently live does not recognize a Canadian marriage. In such circumstances, the parties may end their marriage under the Civil Marriage Act and would be entitled to file for divorce in Ontario using existing forms from the Ministry of the Attorney General.

How do I start a Divorce process?

Before starting a divorce process, it is always recommended that you speak with a good Divorce Lawyer in Toronto. Shaikh Law’s divorce lawyers in Toronto come highly recommended and have a good reputation in GTA. An experienced divorce attorney can help you with family law and divorce forms and can protect her rights under family law.

To start the divorce process, you must:

1. Talk to a Toronto divorce lawyer

2. Complete divorce petition forms.

3. File the application in an Ontario court.

4. Pay the Divorce in Ontario Cost $632 court fees.

5. Follow court rules and procedures given to you.

Divorce in Ontario Costs

Total court fees are CAD$632.00 to obtain a divorce in Ontario. The first payment of $212 is due at the time of application. This fee includes court fees of $202 plus $10 for the federal Department of Justice to issue a certificate of divorce from the Central Divorce Registry. The second installment of court fees of $420 must be paid before the divorce judge reviews the divorce petition.

The Parties may pay court fees in cash, check or money order made out to the Minister of Finance or by card. There is a provision if a party is unable to pay court fees, then the party may apply to the court for a fee waiver.

The legal fees for lawyers to file a divorce vary from one law firm to another in GTA. Some attorneys would charge upwards of $2,000 for legal fees plus court fees and disbursements, such as process service costs. Some law firms charge excessive legal fees for simple work. If you are looking to file for a simple or joint divorce in Ontario, then you do not need to pay such a significant amount in legal fees. Among other law firms in GTA, the Shaikh Law Firm in Toronto stands out as being the most competitive and reasonable in terms of its fee structure. They are not the cheapest divorce lawyers in Toronto, but in fact, they are not the most expensive.

Shaikh Law has a transparent fee structure, published on its website. If you would like more information on their legal fees and divorce costs in Ontario, please visit their website. They have two packages for Simple and Joint Divorce. If you opted for the Basic Package, they will prepare the entire Divorce Petition and all supporting documents, and provide you with a personalized consultation to meet your needs. The Basic package does not include the cost of notification of processes and abbreviated filing. You would have to do all of that yourself. You can choose their complete package for Divorce, where they offer a comprehensive service, from an extensive consultation to filing documents to providing you with a copy of the Divorce Order. If you choose their complete package, you must visit their office once to sign the documents, and they will take care of the rest. Shaikh Law divorce attorneys also offer payment plans of $250 payable in three installments. Overall, their Legal Service has been ranked on Google as one of the best in the area.