In Canada, either spouse may apply to a superior court for an order for divorce without going to court. However, if there are children of the marriage, a desk order for divorce will be granted only if the issue of child support is settled first.

If you have not yet settled the issues relating to your children, you are not ready to for a no court divorce. You can resolve the outstanding legal issues about children and property division through mediation or collaborative law. Once you have a formal Separation Agreement, you are ready to start a no court divorce.

The signed Separation Agreement is usually submitted to the court with the application for a desk order for divorce to show the court that there are no outstanding legal issues between the parties about any children of the marriage.

To apply for a divorce in British Columbia, it is not necessary that you were married in British Columbia. You can be married anywhere in the world and still be entitled to apply for a divorce in British Columbia but only if you have resided in British Columbia for at least the past 12 months. The other spouse can live anywhere in the world, so long as one spouse meets the British Columbia resident criteria.

The most commonly used grounds for divorce is separation for one year. A spouse can commence a divorce application immediately after ceasing to reside as a spouse with the other party, but the request for a final order for divorce cannot be made until one year has passed since the date of separation.
There are other grounds for divorce available under the Divorce Act (Canada), such as mental cruelty and adultery. However, if you apply for a divorce on these grounds, you will likely have to make a court appearance to prove the allegation. Therefore, an over-the-counter desk order for divorce will not be available in a divorce application made on grounds other than a one year separation.

Resolution Place charges a flat rate of $950 for legal fees to commence the action for a no court divorce and to obtain the order for divorce.
You will also be required to pay court filing fees in the amount of $280 and applicable taxes on the legal fees.

To start the no court divorce process please contact andrea@nocourt.ca and ask that a No Court Divorce Retainer Agreement be emailed to you, or call Resolution Place.