Foreign divorce will generally be recognized by Ontario Court, if a party or both parties lived in a country where they obtained the divorce, for at least 1 year before the start of the divorce proceedings.
If neither of the parties lived in the country for a year, the divorce may still be legal if the person seeking divorce, can prove they have a “real and substantial connection” with the country. A party being served with a foreign divorce must immediately seek legal help.
If a party obtained a divorce outside of Canada, they must obtain an authorization from the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services before they can get a marriage license in Ontario. This requires an opinion letter on their foreign divorce by a lawyer. We at Shuter law have the expertise to provide this service.
If you have questions about foreign divorce, or have been served with one, please contact us for consultation.