We got married in another province or country — can we get divorced in Ontario?

Yes. The Divorce Act is a federal statute that applies across Canada. You do not need to have been married in Ontario to divorce in Ontario — what matters is your current ordinary residence. At least one spouse must have lived in Ontario for at least one year immediately before starting the divorce application.

If you were married outside Canada, Ontario courts can still grant you a divorce provided you meet the residence requirement. However, there are additional considerations: the court must be satisfied that the marriage is legally recognized in Canada. Most marriages legally performed in other countries are recognized in Canada, though there can be exceptions (for example, a marriage that would not be recognized under Canadian law for substantive reasons).

Your marriage certificate from the other province or country will need to be produced. If it is in a language other than English or French, a certified translation is required. In some cases, additional documentation may be needed to satisfy the court that the marriage was valid.

If both spouses now live in different provinces, either province where a spouse has resided for a year can have jurisdiction. If both provinces meet the requirement, practical factors — like where lawyers, shared property, or children are located — often determine where to file.