What percentages of marriage end in divorce in Canada?

Thinking about getting a divorce? You are not alone. According to the latest Statistics Canada data, approximately 38 per cent of all marriages end in divorce with the divorce rate peaking around 41% in the 1980s. While the total divorce rate has been steady, there has been a steady increase in the divorce rate for three-year marriages. The divorce rate tends to decrease as the length of the marriage increases.

How long does the average marriage last in Canada?

The average duration of marriages in Canada remains steady around 14 years with 42% of the divorces occurring for marriages lasting between 10 and 24 years.

What’s the most common age for divorce?

The average age of people at the time of divorce is 41.9 years of age for women and 44.5 years of age for men. The average age a person gets married is 27.6 years of age for women and 30.2 years of age for men. The average age at marriage and the average age at divorce have both increased slightly since 2006.

Which profession has the highest rate of divorce?

In Canada, there are no reliable statistics on the divorce rate by profession. However, data from the United States show that the professions with the highest divorce rates include dancers and choreographers, bartenders, gaming managers and service workers, and nurses.

How long do you have to be separated before divorce in Canada?

In Canada, under the Divorce Act, you have to be separated for one year to get a divorce. However, there are exceptions to this rule. These exceptions include if a spouse committed adultery, or if a spouse has treated the other spouse with physical or mental cruelty that renders the continued cohabitation of the spouses intolerable. 94% of all divorces in Canada use the separation of one year as the reason for divorce.

How much does divorce cost in Canada?

The cost of a divorce in Canada varies depending on the complexity of the divorce. If you and your spouse agree to a divorce, a party can file for divorce on an uncontested basis. To obtain an uncontested divorce, matters relating to parenting, support, and division of property must be resolved, usually by way of a Separation Agreement. According to the 2018 Canadian Lawyer’s Magazine Legal Fees survey, the national average for an uncontested divorce is around $1,600 and the cost of a contested divorce ranges from $7,500 to $12,500. If the divorce proceeds to trial, the costs could increase dramatically. These fees do not include disbursements which are out of pocket costs.

Should you require any advice on a separation or divorce, please give M.J. O’Nions Lawyer and Mediator a call at 604-449-7779. We would be honoured to help.