The courts want to honour the sanctity of contracts and the true intentions of those who are subject to their terms. However, they are under an obligation to ensure justice is upheld, which means that they will void a cohabitation agreement if it is not up to the legal standards of Ontario.
In Ontario, it is possible for you and your spouse to draft and file a separation agreement without the direct involvement of lawyers, especially if your separation is uncontested, and both parties are in agreement regarding the terms of the agreement.
Unlike married couples, common-law couples (couples who live together but are not married) are not entitled to the equalization of their family property.
Does a separation agreement needs to be notarized in Ontario? The short answer is no. Formally, a separation agreement is only required to be written down and signed by both parties and it must be witnessed by any person above the age age of 18.
Separation Agreements for Common Law Couples. For common law couples—i.e., couples who have lived together but never married— there is no formal process that must be followed in order to separate, and no need for divorce. Common-law couples can dissolve their union at any time, with no required legal action.
If it was not advised upon by a qualified lawyer, or if one party was not honest about financial disclosure, the court may refuse to honour it. Where one party did not receive adequate consideration or if the document itself did not meet other necessary legal requirements it could be invalidated.
Common law couples are not legally required to split property acquired when they lived together. Furniture, household items and other property belong to the person who bought them. Common law couples do not have the right to split an increase in value of the property they brought with them to the relationship.
Yes you may make the separation agreement in a handwritten format and it must be signed by both of you and you may file it with the divorce papers.
How To Write a Separation Agreement Name and address of both spouses. Details of the marriage. Beginning date of the separation. Statement of the intention to separate. Terms of use of the agreement. Specifications regarding the division of assets and the shared financial or child responsibilities of both parties.