OurSeparation Guide
How to Use the Calculator and Agreement Builder
A public, browsable guide to what each section asks for, why it matters, and what to prepare before creating an Ontario separation agreement.
Have nearby before you start
- Last 3 years of tax returns (T1)
- Most recent CRA Notice of Assessment
- Recent pay stubs
- List of assets and debts
- Supporting property documents
- Other party email address
Jump to a section
Preparation
Before You Start Your Ontario Separation Agreement
What documents and information to gather before creating your separation agreement online — tax returns, Notices of Assessment, pay stubs, asset and debt lists.
Calculator
Using the Ontario Support Calculator
How the OurSeparation calculator works: income, parenting time, separation date, and the high/mid/low SSAG ranges it produces.
Tab 1
Info: Names, Dates, Children, and Relationship Basics
The first tab of the Ontario separation agreement builder — full legal names, dates of birth, occupations, parental titles, and the three key relationship dates.
Tab 2
Parenting: Decisions, Schedule, Holidays, and Special Clauses
How to set up parenting arrangements in your Ontario separation agreement — decision-making, schedule templates, summer plans, transportation, holidays, and special clauses.
Tab 3
Property: Assets, Debts, Documents, and Equalization
How property division and equalization work in an Ontario separation agreement — Net Family Property, valuation, supporting documents, and how to divide each asset.
Tab 4
Income Disclosure: Tax Returns, Notices of Assessment, and Pay Stubs
Why financial disclosure matters in an Ontario separation agreement, what counts as full disclosure, and what each document proves.
Tab 5
Child Support: Monthly Support, Section 7 Expenses, and Arrears
How child support is calculated in Ontario using the Federal Child Support Tables, what Section 7 special expenses are, and how to settle retroactive support.
Tab 6
Spousal Support: Structure, Amount, Duration, and Reviews
How spousal support works under the SSAG in Ontario — who pays whom, how much, for how long, and what structure to choose (release, time-limited, indefinite, lump sum).
Tab 7
Additional Terms: Insurance, Disclosure, Tax, and Dispute Resolution
The short but important clauses at the end of an Ontario separation agreement — life insurance, future disclosure, tax provisions, and dispute resolution.
Tabs 8 and 9
Preview and Sign Your Ontario Separation Agreement
How to review the final rendered agreement, download the PDF, and sign electronically. Why independent legal advice matters before signing.
Ontario Family Law Glossary
Short, single-concept pages that explain the terms that appear throughout the process.
Glossary
Cohabitation Date
Cohabitation date is the day you and your partner started living together as a couple — with the intention to be in a committed relationship, not just as roommates.
Glossary
Date of Separation
The date of separation is the day you and your partner decided the relationship was over. Almost every clause in your separation agreement refers back to it.
Glossary
Equalization Payment
An equalization payment is one cash payment from one spouse to the other to make sure each of you walks out of the marriage with the same value of property growth.
Glossary
Net Family Property
Net Family Property is what each of you has — assets minus debts — on the separation date, minus what you brought into the marriage.
Glossary
Section 7 Expenses
Section 7 expenses are the "extras" — daycare, medical, post-secondary, big extracurriculars — that are paid on top of the basic monthly child support amount, usually split based on each parent's share of combined income.
Glossary
Rule of 65
The Rule of 65 says spousal support is often indefinite when the recipient's age plus the length of the marriage adds up to 65 or more at the date of separation.
Glossary
SSAG
The Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines (SSAG) is a non-binding framework that gives a low, mid, and high range for spousal support based on income, relationship length, and whether children are involved.
Glossary
Federal Child Support Tables
The Federal Child Support Tables are the official Canadian schedule that sets the basic monthly amount of child support based on the payor's annual income, the number of children, and the province.
Common questions
Do I need a lawyer to use OurSeparation?
No, but each party should get independent legal advice (ILA) before signing. ILA means a lawyer who works for you reviews the agreement and explains what you are agreeing to. Most Ontario family lawyers do ILA for a flat fee of $300 to $800 per party.
Is an online separation agreement legally binding in Ontario?
Yes. Once both parties sign — ideally after independent legal advice — an Ontario separation agreement is a binding contract under the Family Law Act. Electronic signatures are valid under Ontario's Electronic Commerce Act.
What if we do not agree on everything?
Save the sections you agree on, leave the unresolved items blank, and return after discussion, mediation, or legal advice. The agreement waits for you.
Can we change the agreement later?
Yes. Most agreements include language allowing amendment when there is a material change of circumstances — a job loss, relocation, income change, retirement, or a parenting change.
Who can see the documents we upload?
Only you and the other party once invited. Uploaded files are stored encrypted in Supabase Storage and served only to authenticated users who own the agreement.
How is child support calculated in Ontario?
Child support follows the Federal Child Support Tables — a fixed monthly amount based on the payor's annual income, the number of children, and the province. Section 7 expenses (daycare, post-secondary, big medical or extracurricular costs) are paid on top, usually split proportionally to each parent's income.
How is spousal support calculated in Ontario?
Spousal support uses the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines (SSAG), which produce a low, mid, and high range based on income, relationship length, and whether children are involved. Most agreements use the mid range. Duration runs from half to all of the relationship length, with indefinite support possible under the Rule of 65.