Canada · Territory guide
Separation and divorce inNorthwest Territories.
Family law is provincial. Here is how it works in Northwest Territories: the property rules, support, how to file, what it costs, who enforces it, and every FairWell guide and tool set up for Northwest Territories.
Official source: www.justice.gov.nt.ca · Court forms: www.nwtcourts.ca
Property division
The Family Law Act divides family property equally between spouses, including common-law partners who have lived together for two years or have a child together.
Child and spousal support
Federal Child Support Guidelines; territorial Children's Law Act adopts them for unmarried parents. Divorce is federal under the Divorce Act: one year living separate and apart (or adultery or cruelty). Child support for divorcing parents follows the Federal Child Support Guidelines; spousal support is guided by the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines.
Filing for divorce
Court: Supreme Court of the Northwest TerritoriesDivorce is filed in the Supreme Court in Yellowknife; circuit sittings serve other communities. Fees in the low hundreds.
Pensions
Pension division on agreement or order.
Deadlines
Family property applications must be brought within two years of divorce or two years of separation, whichever comes first (Family Law Act s. 38(3)).
Enforcement and legal aid
Support is enforced by the Maintenance Enforcement Program. Support orders and filed agreements can be registered with the provincial maintenance enforcement program, which collects through wage garnishment, licence suspension and federal interception. Legal aid: Legal Aid Commission of the NWT.
Official guidelines and tools
The government and court sources for child support, spousal support, the family law statute and self-help. Use these to check any estimate, including ours.
Common questions
How is property divided in a Northwest Territories divorce?
The Family Law Act divides family property equally between spouses, including common-law partners who have lived together for two years or have a child together.
How do I file for divorce in Northwest Territories?
Divorce is filed in the Supreme Court in Yellowknife; circuit sittings serve other communities. Fees in the low hundreds. File in the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories.
When does child support end in Northwest Territories?
Child support usually continues until the child reaches the age of majority, which is 19 in Northwest Territories. Under the Divorce Act it can continue past that age if the child cannot become independent because of illness, disability or another cause, and courts often treat reasonable full-time post-secondary studies as such a cause.
What happens to property when unmarried couples separate in Northwest Territories?
The Northwest Territories' Family Law Act covers common-law spouses (couples who lived in a marriage-like relationship for at least two years, or for less time with a child together) the same as married spouses, so they are generally entitled to a share of property acquired during the relationship. An application to divide property generally must be made within two years of separating.
How long do you need to live in Northwest Territories to file for divorce?
You or your spouse must have lived in the Northwest Territories for the past 12 months to file for divorce. Divorces are handled by the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories, not the Territorial Court.
Official help: Government of the Northwest Territories: Family Law in the NWT guide. Rules change, so confirm with a family lawyer in Northwest Territories before you rely on them.
Read next
Guides for Northwest Territories
Filing for an uncontested divorce in Canada
GuideWhat divorce costs in Canada
GuideChild support in Canada
GuideSpousal Support Advisory Guidelines explained
GuideProperty division across Canada
GuidePensions and CPP credit splitting
GuideSeparation and Canadian taxes
GuideIndependent legal advice
GuideCommon-law separation guide
GuideYour separation date controls everything
GuideHidden assets: warning signs
GuideJoint debt at separation
GuideWhen your ex won't pay
GuideSeparating when there is abuse
Professionals
Family lawyers, mediators and coaches in Northwest Territories
Family lawyers
Listings marked Verified have been checked against the law society directory. Each lawyer sets their own fees.
DirectoryMediators
Family mediators for parenting and financial issues. Listings marked Verified have been checked against their association.
DirectoryDivorce coaches and counsellors
Decision support, communication and co-parenting help. What a coach does.
Are you a professional in Northwest Territories? List your practice.
Northwest Territories
Get organised in Northwest Territories
Guided questions for separation agreements, parenting plans and financial disclosure, linked to the official sources on this page and organised into a plain-language summary for a local family lawyer, who prepares the agreement and advises you.
Sources and further reading
This page is legal information, not legal advice. It summarises how the process works in Northwest Territories so you can plan; the official sources above are where current fees, forms and deadlines live, and they are the final word if anything here differs. When you're ready, the assessment and FairWell's guided questions link to the rules for Northwest Territories; a local lawyer prepares any agreement and advises you before you sign.