Ontario Rolls Out Divorce Process Changes

As reported by Divorce Magazine in December of last year, the Ontario Government has begun rolling out changes to the province’s divorce process in the Brampton and Milton family courts, with an eye to making the process simpler, faster, cheaper and more civilized. 

The changes bring together stakeholders from key groups involved in the divorce process, including: judges, senior lawyers (called “Dispute Resolution Officers”), Legal Aid Ontario staff, mediators and court employees. The group will provide mandatory information sessions for divorcing spouses, which will cover: 

• dispute resolution options, such as mediation

• the impact of separation and divorce on children

• a review of the appropriate services available by the courts and other service providers

Each family will also have their divorce situation evaluated, and receive specific recommendations on how to move forward.

It’s expected that results and other lessons learned at these two family courts will guide how changes are implemented at other Ontario family courts in the future.

Divorce Magazine will continue to follow this story and publish updates as they become available.