"Property & Finances" covers how a couple's property, debts and financial affairs are generally sorted out when a marriage or eligible common-law relationship ends in Ontario. Which rules apply depends heavily on relationship type: married spouses generally go through equalization of net family property, a process that shares the growth in each spouse's net worth built up during the marriage, rather than dividing every asset in half. Common-law partners are not covered by that statutory scheme and instead generally rely on ownership rules and claims like unjust enrichment.
A few themes run through nearly every property matter, whichever category applies. The matrimonial home is treated as a distinct, more protected category of property. Full financial disclosure from both partners is essential before any settlement or equalization figure can be trusted — and incomplete disclosure is one of the most common sources of later disputes. Property claims are also subject to real time limits under the Family Law Act, so acting early matters even while parenting or support issues are still being worked out.
Someone starting out generally wants to understand, in order: whether married or common-law rules apply; the basic idea of equalization versus a common-law property claim; that the matrimonial home has special rules; and why disclosure and documentation matter from day one. A common mistake is assuming property is simply split down the middle, asset by asset — in most married-spouse cases it's the overall net-worth figures that get equalized, not each item, and a spouse can keep an asset outright while owing (or being owed) a payment to balance things out. From there, the guides below cover pensions, businesses, investments, debts, gifts and inheritances in more depth. If you're ready to start organizing your own situation, the Property Division Wizard walks through a series of guided questions to help. For a shorter, plain-language starting point, see the Property & Finances Insights hub.