Registering your Separation Agreement

Many people ask what they should do with their separation agreement once it has been signed. Most just assume it should be filed or registered somewhere. Actually it is not necessary to file or register an agreement unless you need help enforcing it.

If child or spousal support is provided in the agreement, most provinces have a maintenance enforcement program which collects the payments if the agreement is registered. If some terms of the property division are not being adhered to, an action can be taken in court by filing the agreement and asking the court to enforce it.

However, if all is going well and both parties are abiding by the terms of the agreement, you may never need to file or register it at all.