Last updated: June 2026
Divorce and separation are the legal processes through which married or common-law couples in Ontario bring their relationship to an end. Divorce formally dissolves a legal marriage under Canada's federal Divorce Act, while separation establishes arrangements relating to parenting, child support, spousal support, and property issues. Whether you're in Toronto, Markham, North York or elsewhere in Ontario, these legal principles apply province-wide.
A contested divorce in Ontario typically proceeds through a series of court stages:
Each stage serves a different purpose, and an experienced lawyer uses every step to maximize a client's position. At the conference and motion stages, important interim orders can be obtained — including disclosure orders (requiring the other party to disclose finances), orders for sale, and business valuation orders. These orders not only build the foundation for a strong case at trial, but often push the matter toward settlement before trial is ever needed.
The parties cannot agree on issues such as property division or parenting arrangements, and the court must intervene to decide.
The parties have already resolved property division and parenting matters themselves — no court decision is needed. A divorce order is typically issued within 3 to 6 months of filing. A separation agreement isn't strictly required, but signing one helps prevent future disputes.
When both parties are able to negotiate their own resolution, a separation agreement can be signed. It addresses far more than property division — it can also cover child support and other matters.
Importantly, a separation agreement can be filed with the court and registered with Ontario's Family Responsibility Office (FRO) — which assists with enforcing support payments. If the other party falls into arrears, FRO has the authority to garnish wages, intercept funds, and take other enforcement action to ensure the support arrangement is actually carried out.
Mia He is licensed in both Ontario and China, and provides full service in Mandarin and English — making the entire process clear and accessible to Chinese-speaking clients. This is one of the reasons we're trusted by the Chinese community in Toronto and Markham.
Before taking on a case, Mia He takes the time to fully understand your situation, analyze the issues, and outline a strategy. A retainer agreement is only signed once you fully understand the case itself, the proposed approach, and the legal process ahead — ensuring you're informed at every step, not pushed forward without understanding what's happening.
Throughout your case, Mia He handles the file personally, communicates with you directly, and provides timely updates. From your first consultation to the resolution of your case, you are always dealing with Mia He herself — not handed off to someone else.
With 15+ years of family law litigation experience and 20+ court hours per month, she follows a "Smart Advocacy" approach — resolving what can be resolved at the negotiating table without wasting your time or money, and advocating firmly in court when necessary. She has particular expertise in complex divorces involving overseas assets and business valuation (CBV) disputes.
We provide divorce and separation legal services to clients in:
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