Dealing With Separation and Divorce

The following information and Web sites will help you understand the legal issues and processes of separation and divorce in Ontario. Before making critical decisions, you should understand your rights and obligations and the services that are available to help you. Using these links, you will be able to find information about issues that may be important to you, including the care and support of your children, support for you or your spouse/partner and the division of your property. You will also find information about how to find a lawyer and resolve legal issues.

This resource is not intended to offer legal advice. For legal advice consult a lawyer.

Quick Links

• What You Should Know about Family Law in Ontario - a booklet about family law
• Where Do I Stand? - A Child's Legal Guide to Separation and Divorce
• Divorce Law: Questions and Answers - a booklet offering basic information about the current divorce process in Canada
• Ontario's Child Support Guidelines
• Federal Child Support Guidelines
• Obtaining a Marriage Certificate for a Divorce
• Obtaining a Copy of my Divorce Order
• Changing your Name after Divorce
• Getting Remarried in Ontario after a Divorce

Help with unpaid Support

Ontario is working hard to get parents the financial support they need to maintain their families and fully participate in community life.
 
The Family Responsibility Office (FRO) of the Ministry of Community and Social Services is responsible for enforcing:

• court orders for child and spousal support;
• domestic contracts that are filed with the courts; and
• court orders made in reciprocating jurisdictions that have been registered in Ontario.

The FRO is changing the way we work to improve services and supports to families in Ontario. Improvements will increase efficiency, enforcement and compliance.  Some of these changes include:

• implementation of a new Integrated Service Delivery Model (ISDM Technology) that will provide a proactive case management approach along with supporting technology to improve client service and enforcement;
• legislation to amend the Family Responsibility and Support Arrears Enforcement Act, 1996
• operational efficiencies to improve client service;
• providing clients with better access to their own case information through the automated telephone enquiry system; and
• improving client outreach and distribution of information.

For more information about legislative amendments, please see About the Family Responsibility and Support Arrears Enforcement Amendment Act, 2005.

Family Responsibility Office
P. O. Box 220
Downsview, Ontario M3M 3A3
(8:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Mon. to Fri.)
Tel.: 1-800-267-7263 (automated service)
(416) 326-1818
(8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Mon. to Thur. and
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Fri.)
Tel.: 1-800-267-4330 (live agent)
(416) 326-1817
Fax: (416) 240-2401