Collaborative Practice
Collaborative Practice is a voluntary process in which separating spouses (both married and common law) settle the issues arising from their relationship or marriage, without resorting to Family Court.
/ Divorce & Separation
DIY Divorce
Going through a divorce can be a difficult and emotionally draining process. At Galbraith Family Law, we understand what you are going through.
We are here to make the divorce process as simple as possible and help in any way we can to ease the stress for you. That is why we’ve created the DIY Divorce package. Whether you’re trying to cut down on legal fees or you don’t need our assistance for every step of the divorce process, you now have the option to pick and choose which of our services you need.
The DIY Divorce Process
The first step is to complete a separation agreement that resolves the legal issues between you and your soon-to-be ex. For example, if you have children you will need to determine a parenting schedule and how parenting decisions will be made. Other issues may include child support, spousal support, division of property, and equalization of property. If you need help to finalize your separation agreement, we will be pleased to assist you.
If you have all of the issues resolved in a legally binding separation agreement, we will explain the divorce process. You can do it yourself or have us finalize the divorce for you. A divorce is obtained in Family Court and takes about 6 to 9 months to obtain depending on the judges’ workload.
Bring your list of questions, and you will leave with answers.
Confident in their professionalism and support from the very beginning
First off, I was very impressed with Galbraith’s online persona/presence. Speaking over the phone, again I was impressed with the warmth and clarity of communications. While my separation agreement is yet to be actually started, the quality of my early exchanges with Galbraith have been such that I feel confident in their professionalism and flexibility, and have every expectation of a satisfactory outcome.
Katherine Ellis
Frequently Asked Questions
Not always. If you and your spouse agree and your situation is straightforward, you can handle much of the process yourself. Many people opt for a DIY divorce in Ontario to keep costs down, then bring in a lawyer only for the parts they'd rather not do alone, such as reviewing the separation agreement or finalizing the paperwork.
Unbundled legal services in Ontario let you hire a lawyer for specific tasks rather than for the entire file. For example, you might draft your own separation agreement and pay a lawyer only to review it, or ask them to handle the court filing while you manage the rest. It's a compromise between full representation and going it alone.
DIY works best when things are simple and cooperative. Where there are significant assets, a business, complex parenting issues, or real disagreement, an affordable divorce in Ontario, handled with some professional help, is often the safer choice, since mistakes in an agreement can be costly and hard to undo later. A brief consultation can help you determine which camp you're in.
Yes, and that's exactly what the DIY package is built around. You can get limited-scope divorce help in Ontario for just the steps you want support with, whether that's finalizing the separation agreement, explaining the court process, or completing the divorce, while doing the rest yourself to save on fees.
Questions?
Contact us
At Galbraith Family Law, we have years of experience helping individuals and families navigate complex legal matters with clarity and support. Whether you're facing divorce, separation, or other family issues, our experienced team is here to guide you.
We proudly serve clients in Barrie, Newmarket, Oakville, and St. Catharines, Ontario.
