Contested Divorce

How Long Does a Contested Divorce Take in Ontario?

Ontario-Divorce-Process
 

Filing the Divorce Application

The process begins when one spouse files a divorce application with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.

  • Initiating the Divorce: The applicant completes and files a Form 8 (General Application) along with other necessary documents.
  • Serving the Documents: The other spouse (the respondent) must be formally served with the divorce papers, often by a process server.
  • Response Deadline: The respondent has 30 days (or 60 days if served outside Canada or the U.S.) to file a response.

This stage typically takes 2 to 4 weeks, depending on how quickly service is completed and whether the respondent meets the deadline.
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