My Ontario Divorce.com is a leading resource for a do it yourself divorce in Ontario. We also have a wealth of information on Ontario divorce forms. Visit us today at http://myontariodivorce.com for more information.
2. What Is a Do-It-Yourself
Divorce?
Even though divorce is a fairly common
occurrence amongst married couples, it can still
have a devastating effect for everyone involved.
Many people envision divorce as a knock down,
drag out court battle, where each spouse is
trying to get as much as they can from the other.
3. What Is a Do-It-Yourself
Divorce?
This is how it happens sometimes, but it
doesn’t have to be that way. If both
parties are intent on ending the
marriage, you can even use a do-it-
yourself divorce. Essentially, a do-it-
yourself divorce is a legal divorce where
you and your spouse do most of the
work and no legal assistance is
required.
4. Contested or Uncontested?
One of the first things you’ll need to
figure out when you want to file for
divorce is whether the divorce is
contested or uncontested. Basically, an
uncontested divorce means that both
parties want a divorce and there are no
disputes in terms of child support or
custody, spousal support or property
issues. In contrast, a contested divorce
is when one of the parties does dispute
one of the claims or wishes of the other
party.
5. Contested or Uncontested?
If the process seems amicable and uncontested, it’s probably a
good candidate for a do-it-yourself divorce. If it seems as though
the process will be full of snags and disputes, a do-it-yourself
divorce probably isn’t the wisest choice. Uncontested generally
means hassle-free, and a do-it-yourself divorce is about as hassle-
free and it gets. If you and your spouse agree on all the issues of
the divorce, it shouldn’t be necessary to go to court and you can
get all the forms you need online for a smooth and easy do-it-
yourself divorce.
6. Contested or Uncontested?
If either spouse seems to feel resentment
or anger toward the other, the DIY method
probably isn’t a good idea. It’s also best to
stay away from the DIY route if you feel like
your spouse may be hiding assets from
you, because you’ll end up missing out on
what is rightfully yours.
7. How to Do-It-Yourself
For a true, do-it-yourself divorce,
you’ll have to look online. With
online services, you can find which
forms apply to your situation, then fill
them out and either print them out
and mail them or email them to their
destination.
8. How to Do-It-Yourself
The fees you pay may vary a little
depending on how quickly the
documents are prepared and the
divorce is granted. Taking some time
to research the service ahead of time
can help you out a lot in the end.
Online reviews and testimonials will
help to guide you to a reliable service
you can trust.
9. Are You Really Sure?
Even though a do-it-yourself divorce is
relatively quick and easy, it’s always a
good idea to make sure that you and your
spouse are sure that this divorce is the
right way to go. Things like mediators,
counselors, a brief period of separation,
financial advisors and even parenting
classes can help to get things back on
track.
10. Are You Really Sure?
In some cases divorce may be the only way
to go, but try not to jump to that solution just
because you can do it yourself. Divorce is
a heavy decision, so give it the time and
consideration it deserves.
11. Conditions for a Divorce
Anyone who is divorced or has looked into it knows that you must
meet certain conditions, even if the divorce is completely
uncontested. In Canada, you will only be granted a divorce if the
marriage has broken down. And in the Divorce Act, there are only
three suitable reasons for the breakdown of a marriage:
– Adultery – this occurs when your spouse has a voluntary sexual relationship with
someone else while the two of you are married.
– Cruelty – this may include mental abuse, physical abuse or a combination of the
two.
– Separation – for this to come into play, you and your spouse must have lived
apart for at least one year.
12. Conditions for a Divorce
If cruelty or adultery are the reasons that
the divorce is desired, then you will most
likely need legal help and shouldn’t bother
with a do-it-yourself divorce. If the
separation is the only reason and the
situation is not emotionally charged, go
online and see if the DIY method is right for
you.
13. Further Reading…
My Ontario Divorce.com is a leading
resource for a do it yourself divorce in
Ontario. We also have a wealth of
information on Ontario divorce forms. Visit
us today at http://myontariodivorce.com for
more information.