Frequently Asked Questions
About Our Services
1. How do your divorce services work?
SplitEasy was established to assist spouses in Ontario who are going through separation and divorce without a lawyer. First, we can help you choose the divorce forms for your situation. Once you purchase the form or package, we contact you to gather the relevant information. Then we will complete the forms for you and provide clear instructions about what to do next.
2. How much do your divorce services cost?
Our services range from as low as $29 for the preparation of a single form to $999 for a complete package.
3. Why do these forms cost hundreds of dollars when they are free online?
Unless you are a lawyer, have a lawyer, or have a legal background, preparing your divorce forms may be confusing and frustrating. SplitEasy was established to solve that problem and make your divorce process much easier.
SplitEasy is a reliable and affordable alternative to lawyers or do-it-yourself divorce kits. Our experienced team of divorce professionals has prepared thousands of Ontario divorce forms which the courts have accepted. We help you choose the divorce forms for your situation. Once you purchase the form or package, we will gather the relevant information from you, complete the forms for you, and provide clear instructions about what to do next.
4. Can I change my answers later?
SplitEasy will entertain any reasonable request for one round of edits to your divorce forms, provided such requests are made within 72 hours from the time you receive your completed divorce form.
5. Will my documents be reviewed by a lawyer?
SplitEasy is able to prepare your court forms quickly and affordably because we do not provide legal advice or representation. However, you can hire a lawyer who offers unbundled or limited scope services to review your forms once they are completed. Unbundled or limited scope services allow you to control your costs because the lawyer only helps with certain tasks at your request. Look for a seasoned, senior lawyer who expertly answers your questions and quickly resolves your issues.
6. What if I have legal questions before or during the process?
SplitEasy is a document preparation service for divorce forms. We can guide you to the documents that you need, but we do not offer legal advice. Many SplitEasy customers ask their legal questions to a lawyer who offers unbundled or limited scope services. Unbundled or limited scope services allow you to control your costs because the lawyer only helps with certain tasks at your request. Look for a seasoned, senior lawyer who expertly answers your questions and quickly resolves your issues.
7. Is technical support available?
If you experience technical difficulties, contact us, and we will get back to you as quickly as possible.
8. What kind of software will I need?
SplitEasy customers do not require any software to use our services. All you need is an email address. However, if a customer wishes to make further revisions or modifications to a divorce form provided by SplitEasy, they will need to use Microsoft Word or an equivalent platform.
9. How does payment work?
Secure payment can be made by PayPal or credit card. All payments are in Canadian dollars.
About The Divorce Process
1. I want information, but I am not sure about getting a divorce at this time.
SplitEasy is a document preparation service for divorce forms. We can advise you on the documents that you need, but we do not offer legal advice. If you want to learn about the divorce process in Ontario, these flowcharts are very helpful. Also, the Ministry of the Attorney General offers a valuable ebook and guide. If you want someone to answer questions about your specific situation, we recommend using a lawyer who offers unbundled or limited scope services. Unbundled or limited scope services allow you to control your costs because the lawyer only helps with certain tasks at your request. Look for a seasoned, senior lawyer who expertly answers your questions and quickly resolves your issues.
2. Am I qualified to get a divorce?
If you want an Ontario judge to end your marriage officially, you can apply for a divorce if you meet these three eligibility criteria:
1. You were legally married in Canada or any other country.
2. You intend to separate permanently from your spouse or have already separated with no reasonable prospect of reconciliation.
3. You or your spouse have lived in Ontario for at least the 12 months preceding your application for divorce.
3. What is legal separation, and do I need a separation agreement?
You don't have to go through a formal process or get a document to legally separate. A Separation Agreement is a contract that finalizes all of the decisions related to parenting of your children, financial support, and the division of assets. The only thing that a Separation Agreement does not do is dissolve a marriage. To legally end your marriage, you must apply to the court for a Divorce Order.
Here's how to know if you need a Separation Agreement:
If you have no minor children, no assets to divide, and no support claims, then you do not need a Separation Agreement and can apply for a Divorce Order.
If you have no minor children but you have assets to divide or have made an agreement about financial support, then a Separation Agreement is not mandatory but is strongly recommended.
If you have minor children, then the court requires you to create a Separation Agreement that details your parenting arrangements and child support agreements before you can obtain a Divorce Order.
If you and your spouse agree on some issues, but not all issues, you can create a Separation Agreement about the issues you agree on and then get help from a family law professional or ask a judge to decide the other issues.
SpiltEasy can save you time and hassle by creating a Separation Agreement for you. Once your Separation Agreement is complete, SpiltEasy will provide you with instructions for signing it. We encourage you to have a lawyer review the Separation Agreement before you sign it. If you are on a budget, you can hire a lawyer who offers unbundled or limited scope services to review it. Unbundled or limited scope services allow you to control your costs because the lawyer only helps with certain tasks at your request. Look for a seasoned, senior lawyer who expertly answers your questions and quickly resolves your issues.
4. Do I have to be separated for a certain amount of time before applying for my divorce?
According to the Ministry of the Attorney General:
"In most cases, in order for a divorce to be granted, you must have lived separate and apart from your spouse for at least one year. While you can begin the divorce process before this period has passed, it cannot be completed until the year has passed.
Where another basis for the breakdown of the marriage has been established, such as adultery or mental or physical cruelty, the court can grant the divorce at any time, although additional steps will be necessary. You should speak with a lawyer for more information regarding the process for obtaining a divorce on one of these bases."
5. Am I considered separated even though my spouse and I still live together in our home?
According to the Ministry of the Attorney General:
"You may be considered to be living separate and apart while continuing to live in the same home, although it will depend on the facts in your case. Generally, the courts require clear evidence that spouses are no longer living together in a spousal relationship when they continue to live in the home. If you are not sure about whether you would be considered separated in your circumstances, you should speak with a lawyer."
6. I don’t know which Divorce form I need. Can you help?
Yes. Check out our Ultimate Guide to Divorce Forms in Ontario. If, after reading that, you’re still not sure which form you need, contact us.
7. We are separated and have a Separation Agreement. Now I want to get a divorce. How can I get started?
You can get started by purchasing SpiltEasy’s Divorce Bundle. Then we will contact you to gather the relevant information, complete the forms for you, and provide clear instructions about what to do next.
8. My spouse and I do not agree on support, property, or custody. My spouse started the divorce proceedings by filing an Application. What form do I need?
You need SpiltEasy’s Answer Bundle. Once you purchase the Answer Bundle, we will contact you to gather the relevant information. Then we will complete the forms for you and provide clear instructions about what to do next.
9. I think I am in a common-law relationship. Is the divorce process different for me?
Ontario's family laws do not require any formal or legal step for people to become common-law spouses. You are considered common-law spouses if:
· You have a child together
· You have been living together for at least 3 years, whether or not you have a child together.
There is no formal or legal step to end a common-law relationship. You are no longer common-law spouses if you stop living together as a couple. But if this happens, we strongly recommend you create a Separation Agreement or obtain a court order to resolve the legal issues like parenting plans, support and property rights.
10. My partner and I agree on all issues of parenting, support, and property. Can we proceed with a joint divorce?
If you agree on all issues, then we recommend that you enter into a Separation Agreement, if you have not done so already. It is the experience of SplitEasy that joint divorce applications can become complicated. Therefore, once the Separation Agreement is signed, we recommend that one spouse file the Application For Divorce in order to obtain a Divorce Order (the legal document that ends the marriage).
11. My partner does not accept that I want a divorce. Can I get a divorce anyway? How do I start the process?
In Ontario, either spouse has the freedom to end a relationship and apply for a Divorce Order. You do not require the agreement or consent of the other spouse. We recommend that you create a Separation Agreement to document the terms of your separation if you don't have one already. Once the Separation Agreement is complete, you can purchase SplitEasy’s Application For Divorce Bundle. Then we will contact you to gather the relevant information, complete the forms for you, and provide clear instructions about what to do next.
12. Does it matter where we got married?
In order to obtain a Divorce Order in Ontario, the marriage must be considered a valid marriage under Ontario law in order to obtain a divorce order. Ontario law recognizes government-issued marriage licenses/certificates from most countries. To show the marriage is valid under Ontario law, the spouse who is applying for the divorce order must file in court the original marriage license or certificate of marriage.
13. My spouse lives outside of Ontario, and I would like to get a divorce. What documents would I need?
First, we recommend that you create a Separation Agreement to document the terms of your separation. Then, if you have resided in Ontario for at least one year, you can commence an Application of Divorce in order to obtain a divorce order.
14. I don't know my partner's address. Can I still use these forms?
In order to complete an Application for Divorce, the address and location of the other spouse is required. One of the necessary steps of the process requires personal delivery of the application for divorce upon the other spouse. In cases where a spouse's whereabouts are unknown, the spouse seeking a divorce order should consult a lawyer and obtain legal advice on how to obtain a divorce order without such information.
15. What is the difference between a simple sole/uncontested divorce and a simple joint divorce?
A sole application for divorce is one where only one spouse is the applicant, and the other spouse is the respondent. A joint application for divorce involves both spouses being applicants. We have found that a joint application can become unnecessarily and unexpectedly complicated. We find that the sole Application for Divorce is simpler and faster; therefore, we recommend that one spouse purchase SpiltEasy’s Application Bundle in order to obtain a divorce order (the legal document that ends the marriage).
16. What are the court costs?
According to the Ministry of the Attorney General:
"In total, court fees are $632 to obtain a divorce in Ontario. The first payment of $212 is due when the Application For Divorce is filed, which includes court fees of $202 and $10 that is collected for the federal Department of Justice. Additional court fees of $420 are paid before the divorce is reviewed by the court."
17. Does SplitEasy cover court fees?
SplitEasy is a document preparation service. Once your document is completed, we provide you with instructions on what to do next. The customer is responsible for paying the appropriate court fee at the time of filing their divorce form.
18. How long does it take to get a divorce?
According to the Ministry of the Attorney General:
"A divorce will not be granted unless you have been separated from your spouse for at least one year or you have established one of the other bases for a breakdown of the marriage (adultery or mental or physical cruelty). If you have already been separated for at least a year, an Application For Divorce that does not include other claims, such as parenting, support or division of property, can usually be completed within six months. If your application includes other claims, the time that it takes to complete the case will depend on how complicated the issues are and whether the parties can agree on all or some of the issues."
19. I am in an abusive relationship, and I want to get divorced. What should I do?
If you have experienced domestic abuse, we do not recommend that you use our services. You have the right to emergency legal services through Legal Aid Ontario. You can talk to a lawyer for two hours for free. A women's shelter, Legal Aid's toll-free service, or a community legal clinic can tell you how to get this free legal service. Also, Luke's Place offers several resources, including an informative workbook for women who have experienced violence or abuse in their relationship. For 24-hour a day telephone support, call the distress line in your region or The Assaulted Women's Helpline at 1-800-863-0511
20. I need a divorce, but I cannot afford it. What are my options?
The Ministry of the Attorney General offers information on what you can do if you want a divorce but cannot afford the court fees fee.
This website describes the options you have if you need legal advice but cannot afford a lawyer:
21. Does my partner need to sign these documents?
For a Separation Agreement to be valid in Ontario, it must be in writing and signed by both spouses after each spouse has received independent legal advice. In Ontario, either spouse can apply for a Divorce Order without the consent or signature of the other spouse.
*Disclaimer: SplitEasy is not a lawyer or law firm, and its services, website, and forms are not a substitute for the advice of a lawyer.
If you can’t find the answer to your question, contact us at
sales@spliteasy.ca
Use left/right arrows to navigate the slideshow or swipe left/right if using a mobile device