Separation Agreements
Drafting and reviewing separation agreements — the foundation document for most Ontario separations and the key to a smooth uncontested divorce.
Get the agreement right before you file.
A separation agreement is a binding contract between spouses setting out the terms of their separation: parenting, support, property division, and any other matters. It is the document most Ontario couples sign first — and it is the foundation of a straightforward uncontested divorce later on.
What the firm does
- Drafts separation agreements from scratch based on negotiated terms.
- Provides Independent Legal Advice (ILA) on an agreement drafted by the other side or by a mediator.
- Reviews existing agreements for enforceability and common defects.
Why ILA matters
An agreement signed without independent legal advice can later be set aside on the ground that one party did not understand what they were signing, or did not have full financial disclosure. Each spouse should have their own lawyer review the agreement and sign an ILA certificate — it is the single most important protection against the agreement being challenged years later.