# What Is the Quickest Way to Get Divorced in Ontario? Most people don't want a long, drawn-out court battle. They just want their divorce finished so they can move on with their lives. If that's you, here's the honest answer: there's no magic shortcut, but there are clear things that make divorce faster or slower. Understanding them can save you months of unnecessary waiting. This article focuses on speed for married spouses who want a divorce order from the court. If you're common-law, you don't need a divorce order at all since you were never legally married. ## The one-year separation requirement Across Canada, the main ground for divorce is breakdown of the marriage, which is usually shown by one year of separation. This is the part most people can't speed up. In practice, the quickest path for most people is to live separate and apart for at least one year, then apply for a simple or [joint divorce](/glossary#letter-j) with no major disputes about children or property. You can start preparing forms and gathering documents before the year is over. But the court normally needs that separation period to be complete before granting the divorce. The clock starts when you separate, not when you file. Other grounds for divorce exist in the law, including adultery and cruelty. But they usually don't make things faster in real life because they're harder to prove and often create more conflict. Most lawyers will tell you to just wait out the year. ## The biggest factor in speed: contested vs. uncontested Whether your divorce is contested or uncontested is the single biggest factor in how long it takes. A divorce is usually uncontested when both spouses agree on the fact of separation, there are no active disputes before the court about parenting, support, or property, and either one spouse applies and the other doesn't file an answer, or both file a joint application together. Uncontested divorces are generally done on paperwork only. No one has to go to court for a trial. A judge reviews the documents and signs a divorce order if everything is in order. This can take a few months once you file. If there are ongoing fights about children, support, or property, your divorce is more likely to be contested. That means more forms and steps, [case conferences](/glossary#letter-c) and possibly motions, and longer timelines with more risk of delays. Contested divorces can take a year or more just in court proceedings, on top of the separation period. For more on what makes divorces expensive and slow, see our guide on the [least expensive way to get divorced in Ontario](/blog/least-expensive-way-to-get-divorced-in-ontario). ## Get the paperwork right the first time Courts can only go as fast as the paperwork allows. Simple mistakes can add weeks or months to your timeline. To avoid delays, use up-to-date family law forms for Ontario. Make sure names, dates, and addresses match your marriage certificate and identification exactly. Include all required attachments, such as a certified marriage certificate and any existing orders or agreements. If you have children, make sure child support arrangements meet the Child Support Guidelines, or clearly explain any differences. Mistakes like missing signatures, incomplete addresses, or wrong form versions can result in your documents being returned or your case being placed on hold. Every rejection means starting that step over again. Free guided pathways and court guides can help you fill out forms correctly, especially if you're self-represented. Our guide on [how to file for divorce in Ontario without a lawyer](/blog/how-to-file-for-divorce-in-ontario-without-a-lawyer) walks through the process step by step. ## Simple divorce vs. joint divorce In Ontario, couples who want a quick, uncontested divorce typically use one of two processes. **Simple divorce** is filed by one spouse. You use this when you're only asking for a divorce, not for orders about property, support, or parenting. The other spouse is served with the documents and has a set time to respond. If they don't respond, the case can proceed as uncontested. This works well when you've already sorted out other issues through a separation agreement or when there simply aren't other issues to resolve. **Joint divorce** is when both spouses apply together as co-applicants. This is often used when both of you agree that the marriage is over and just want the divorce order. Because both are signing, there's usually no need for formal service between you. It can be slightly faster because you skip the waiting period for a response. Both options can be relatively quick once the one-year separation period has passed and the forms are complete. For many people, the entire court process after filing takes two to four months for an uncontested divorce, though this varies by courthouse. ## Can you get divorced before other issues are resolved? Sometimes disputes about parenting, support, or property drag on for years. In some cases, you may be able to keep working on those issues through negotiation, mediation, or court while asking the court for a divorce order alone. This is called "divorcing the divorce" from the other issues. It can make sense if you want to remarry, if there's a benefit to being officially divorced for tax or other reasons, or if you just want the psychological closure of having the marriage legally ended. However, in other cases it may be better to wait. For example, losing spousal status could affect benefits, pension rights, or certain claims. This is very fact-specific, and you should talk to a [family law lawyer](/blog/how-to-choose-a-divorce-lawyer-in-ontario) before making this decision. ## What actually slows things down Your divorce is more likely to be slow if one or both spouses refuse to provide full financial disclosure. Without complete information, you can't finalize support or property issues, and the court won't approve agreements where disclosure hasn't happened. Serious disputes about children also slow things down significantly. Parenting assessments, involvement from the Office of the Children's Lawyer, and contested custody battles can add a year or more to your timeline. Procedural issues cause delays too. Someone frequently cancelling or failing to attend court dates, mediation, or evaluations. Forms that are incomplete or repeatedly rejected. Long gaps between steps because life gets in the way. You can't control your ex. But you can respond to requests and deadlines on time, keep your paperwork organized, use checklists and guided tools to avoid resubmissions, and stay realistic about focusing on the issues that matter most rather than fighting about everything. If you're dealing with a spouse who seems determined to drag things out, our guide on [high-conflict divorce in Ontario](/blog/high-conflict-divorce-in-ontario-who-can-help-and-how) has strategies for managing that situation. ## What if you're too overwhelmed to keep things moving? It's hard to see it or admit it, but sometimes the delay isn't your ex or the court system. It's you. You know you need to fill out forms or respond to something, but you can't make yourself do it. The pile of paperwork feels insurmountable. Weeks go by, then months. If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. Divorce is exhausting, and executive function tends to collapse under stress. A [divorce coach](/blog/do-i-need-a-divorce-coach) can help you break things into small steps, keep track of deadlines, and actually get the paperwork done. They're not a lawyer, but they can help you use your lawyer time more efficiently and avoid the kind of delays that happen when you're too overwhelmed to act. ## The bottom line For most people, the quickest way to get divorced in Ontario is an uncontested simple or joint divorce after one year of separation. That's the baseline. From there, minimizing disputes about children, support, and property can significantly reduce time and stress. Accurate, complete paperwork and up-to-date forms help your file move through the court system faster. And staying organized and responsive prevents the kind of delays you can actually control. If your situation is genuinely simple, the court process after filing can take as little as two to four months. If there are disputes or complications, it can take much longer. The fastest divorce is usually the one where both people have accepted that the marriage is over and are willing to cooperate on the practical details. If you can get to that place, everything else moves faster. ## Frequently Asked Questions **How long does a divorce take in Ontario?** For an uncontested divorce, expect the court process to take two to four months after filing, assuming your paperwork is complete and there are no issues. Add the one-year separation period that must pass before you can file, and you're looking at roughly 14 to 16 months total from separation to divorce certificate. **Can I start the divorce process before one year of separation?** You can prepare your documents and get everything ready, but the court generally won't grant a divorce until the one-year separation period is complete. In rare cases involving adultery or cruelty, you could theoretically file sooner, but these grounds are difficult to prove and often create more conflict than they're worth. **What's the fastest possible divorce in Ontario?** If you've been separated for a year, both agree on everything, file a joint application with perfect paperwork, and get lucky with court processing times, you could potentially have a divorce order in six to eight weeks after filing. Realistically, two to four months is more common. **Does it matter which courthouse I file at?** Processing times vary by courthouse. Some are faster than others depending on their caseload. If timing is critical, you could ask a lawyer which locations tend to process uncontested divorces more quickly. **What if my spouse won't cooperate?** If your spouse refuses to respond to the divorce application, you can usually proceed anyway after the response period expires. The divorce itself can go through. However, if there are disputes about children, support, or property, those will need to be resolved separately, either through negotiation, mediation, or contested court proceedings.