An uncontested divorce (also known as a desk order divorce or simple divorce) in British Columbia means that you and your spouse agree on all issues related to your separation and the divorce itself. This includes matters such as child custody and parenting arrangements, child support, spousal support, and the division of family property and debts.

To qualify for an uncontested divorce in BC, you generally must meet the following criteria:

• Mutual Agreement: You and your spouse must agree on all terms of the divorce. If there are any outstanding disputes, your divorce would be considered contested.

• Grounds for Divorce: The most common ground is that you and your spouse have lived separate and apart for at least one year before the divorce is granted. You can start the divorce application process before the full year is up, but the divorce order won’t be issued until the one-year mark has passed.

• Residency: At least one spouse must have been ordinarily resident in British Columbia for a minimum of one year immediately before the divorce proceedings are started.

• Marriage Certificate: You will need to provide your original government-issued marriage certificate (or a certified copy).

• Reasonable Arrangements for Children: If you have dependent children, you must satisfy the court that reasonable arrangements have been made for their financial support (child support) and parenting time, in accordance with the Child Support Guidelines.

SimplySplit helps you prepare the necessary court documents based on your agreement, making the process smoother if you meet these qualifications.

SimplySplit specializes in preparing the comprehensive set of legal documents required by the BC Supreme Court for an uncontested, desk-order divorce. Our service includes:

• Accurate Document Preparation: We meticulously prepare all necessary forms and affidavits based on the information you provide, ensuring they meet court standards and requirements.

• Guidance on Information Gathering: We guide you on what information and supporting documentation (like your marriage certificate or separation agreement details) are needed to complete your divorce papers correctly.

• Streamlined Process: Our goal is to simplify the paperwork aspect of your divorce, making it less daunting and more manageable for you.

Important Clarification: SimplySplit provides document preparation services only. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice or legal representation. If you have legal questions, require advice on your specific situation, or need assistance negotiating terms with your spouse, we strongly recommend consulting with a qualified family lawyer in British Columbia.

SimplySplit offers a transparent, flat-fee pricing structure for our uncontested divorce document preparation services. Our goal is to provide an affordable alternative to high legal fees for the paperwork portion of your divorce.

Our current flat-fee packages are:

• Joint Application (no children): [Insert Price, e.g., $450]

• Sole Application (no children): [Insert Price, e.g., $600]

• Joint or Sole Application (with children): [Insert Price, e.g., $650]

These fees cover the preparation of all necessary court documents for your uncontested divorce application.

Please note: The SimplySplit service fee is separate from the mandatory court filing fees payable to the BC Supreme Court. As of [Insert Current Year or check latest], these court filing fees are approximately [Insert Current Court Filing Fee Amount, e.g., $290-$350, but verify this]. You will be responsible for paying these court fees directly to the court when you file your documents.

The timeline for an uncontested divorce in BC involves two main stages:

• Document Preparation with SimplySplit: Once we have all the necessary information and supporting documents from you, SimplySplit typically prepares your complete set of divorce documents within 5-7 business days.

• Court Processing Time: After you file your completed documents with the BC Supreme Court, the time it takes for a judge to review your application and issue the divorce order can vary. Generally, for an uncontested desk order divorce where all paperwork is in order, you can expect the court processing time to be approximately 3 to 6 months. However, this timeline can be affected by the specific court registry’s workload and other factors, so it is an estimate.

Therefore, the total estimated time from starting your document preparation with us to receiving your final divorce order is typically in the range of 3.5 to 6.5 months, assuming no complications or rejections by the court.

IFor a truly uncontested divorce in British Columbia, where you and your spouse are in full agreement on all issues (property, debts, support, children), many individuals find they can navigate the process of filing the necessary paperwork without hiring a lawyer to represent them throughout, especially when using a professional document preparation service like SimplySplit.

SimplySplit prepares your court documents based on the information and agreements you provide. Our service is designed to ensure your paperwork is accurate and complete according to court standards.

However, it is very important to understand:

• SimplySplit is not a law firm and cannot provide legal advice. We cannot advise you on your rights, tell you what you should agree to, or represent you in court.

• If you have any legal questions, are unsure about any aspect of your separation agreement, or feel you need advice specific to your situation (especially concerning complex financial matters or children’s issues), it is always recommended that you consult with an independent family lawyer. A lawyer can provide legal advice tailored to your circumstances and ensure your rights are protected.

You can choose to use SimplySplit for document preparation and still consult a lawyer for independent legal advice before signing any agreements or filing your documents.

To prepare your uncontested divorce documents accurately, SimplySplit will require specific information and some supporting documents from you (and your spouse, if applicable). Generally, this includes:

• Personal Information: Full legal names, dates of birth, addresses, and contact information for both spouses.

• Marriage Certificate: Your original government-issued marriage certificate (or a certified true copy from the Vital Statistics agency where you were married).

• Date of Marriage and Separation: The date and place you were married, and the date you officially separated.

• Details of Children (if applicable): Full names and birth dates of any dependent children of the marriage, and details of existing parenting arrangements and child support agreements.

• Separation Agreement (if you have one): If you have a written and signed separation agreement outlining the division of property, support, etc., providing a copy is very helpful.

• Financial Information (if relevant to your agreement): Depending on the complexity of your situation and if spousal support or specific property divisions are involved, some financial disclosure details might be needed to properly reflect your agreement in the court forms.

We provide a clear checklist and questionnaire to guide you through gathering all the necessary details once you engage our services.

Once SimplySplit has prepared your complete package of uncontested divorce documents, we will provide them to you for review and signature.

The next steps generally involve:

1. Review and Signing: You (and your spouse, if it’s a joint application or if they need to sign certain forms) will carefully review all documents for accuracy and then sign them as required. Some documents will need to be sworn or affirmed before a lawyer, notary public, or commissioner for taking affidavits.

2. Filing with the Court: You will then need to file the signed original documents with the appropriate BC Supreme Court registry. This involves paying the mandatory court filing fees.

3. Serving Your Spouse (for Sole Applications): If you are filing a sole application (meaning only one spouse initiates the paperwork), your spouse will need to be formally served with a copy of the filed Notice of Family Claim. There are specific rules for how this must be done.

4. Waiting Period (for Sole Applications): After service, your spouse has 30 days (if served in Canada) to file a Response if they wish to contest the divorce. If no Response is filed, the divorce can proceed as uncontested.

5. Submitting Final Documents: After any applicable waiting periods, the final set of documents (including affidavits and the draft divorce order) are submitted to the court for a judge’s review.

6. Judge’s Review and Order: A judge will review your application. If all paperwork is in order and the judge is satisfied that all requirements are met (including reasonable arrangements for children), they will sign the Divorce Order.

7. Divorce Becomes Final: Your divorce typically becomes final 31 days after the date the Divorce Order is granted by the judge.

SimplySplit provides instructions on the general filing process. However, the actual filing of documents and payment of court fees is your responsibility. We are here to ensure your documents are prepared correctly to facilitate a smooth process once they reach the court.