Does It Affect Whether You Can Divorce?
Generally, no. The legal grounds for divorce under the federal Divorce Act — living separate and apart for at least a year, adultery, or cruelty — apply the same way regardless of whether a marriage lasted two years or twenty. A short marriage doesn't generally make a divorce application faster or slower on its own, and a long marriage doesn't generally make it harder to obtain. See our guide to divorce in Ontario for the general process.
Where Length Tends to Matter More: Spousal Support
Marriage (or relationship) length tends to matter more in the context of spousal support, where it's one of several factors that can influence both entitlement and the general range for amount and duration, often referenced through the (non-binding) Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines. Generally speaking, longer relationships, and particularly those involving significant interdependency or role specialization, tend to be associated with longer potential support durations, while shorter relationships tend to be associated with shorter ones — though this is a general tendency, not a fixed formula, and depends heavily on the specific circumstances.
What About Property Division?
Ontario's equalization scheme for property division is generally based on comparing each spouse's net worth at the date of marriage and the valuation date (generally the separation date), rather than being structured around how long the marriage lasted as such. A longer marriage can mean more time for net worth to grow and be shared, but the underlying mechanism doesn't change based on marriage length — it's the same equalization approach whether the marriage was short or long.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get divorced faster if I was only married a short time?
Generally, no. The one-year separation requirement, or the other legal grounds, apply regardless of how long the marriage lasted.
Does a long marriage mean a longer or harder divorce process?
Not generally, in terms of the divorce itself. It can mean more complexity in related issues like property or support simply because there's more history and more shared finances to work through.
Does marriage length affect how much spousal support I might pay or receive?
It can be one relevant factor among several, generally influencing the range for amount and duration under the advisory guidelines, though it isn't the only consideration.
Is there a minimum marriage length before spousal support applies?
There's no fixed minimum stated in the legislation itself; entitlement generally depends on the specific circumstances, including but not limited to the length of the relationship.
Does property division change for a very short marriage?
The underlying equalization mechanism generally works the same way regardless of length, though a shorter marriage may mean less accumulated growth in net worth to share, simply as a practical matter.