New Rules for Ontario Divorce start September 2011
The Ontario Government is rolling out an initiative that requires spouses to attend a mandatory information session prior to filing for divorce. The plan to roll out these new divorce rules in Ontario was announced in December 2010 after the idea was tested in Milton and Brampton, Ontario.
According to the Ministry of the Attorney General, the rule will not go province-wide until September 2011. The requirement does NOT apply to 'simple' divorces. It only applies if you are asking for something in addition to divorce (such as spousal support, child custody/access support, division of property, etc.). It also does not apply to joint divorces. Also, it is not mandatory mediation nor do both spouses have to attend together.
The session is designed to introduce spouses to alternative dispute resolution options, so they can (ideally) pursue a path that doesn’t include a drawn-out courtroom battle. The Ontario Government hopes that this new requirement will relief the pressure on the Ontario’s family court system.
INTEGRATED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURT - Toronto, ON
The Integrated Domestic Violence Court provides a single judge to hear both the criminal and the family law cases (excluding divorce, family property and child protection cases) that relate to one family where the underlying issue is domestic violence.
The goals of this court are a more integrated and holistic approach to families experiencing domestic violence, increased consistency between family and criminal court orders and quicker resolutions of the judicial proceedings.
This court is located at 311 Jarvis Street in Toronto and sits every other Friday. A Community Resource Coordinator will assist the parties in finding community resources and services. Participation in this court is voluntary; all parties must consent before the family and criminal cases will be transferred.
link to Ontario Court of Justice IDV Court
Tel: (905) 728-4968
email: info@vpcc.ca