Canada · Province guide
Separation and divorce inQuebec.
Family law is provincial. Here is how it works in Quebec: the property rules, support, how to file, what it costs, who enforces it, and every FairWell guide and tool set up for Quebec.
Official source: www.quebec.ca · Court forms: www.justice.gouv.qc.ca
Property division
Quebec is a civil law jurisdiction. The family patrimony rules are mandatory for married and civil-union spouses and divide the family residences, furniture, vehicles and retirement plans equally regardless of the matrimonial regime. Other property follows the regime chosen (partnership of acquests by default). De facto (common-law) spouses have no property sharing rights, though the 2024 reform introduced a parental union regime for parents who cohabit.
Child and spousal support
Quebec has its own child support model, the Quebec model, based on both parents' incomes and custody time, used for Quebec-resident parents; the federal guidelines otherwise apply. Spousal support is available to married spouses only. 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: Superior Court of QuebecDivorce applications are filed in the Superior Court under the Code of Civil Procedure; joint applications on a draft agreement are common and notaries can prepare them. Free mediation sessions are offered to parents through the provincial program.
Pensions
Family patrimony includes registered retirement plans and QPP credits; QPP credits are split on divorce.
Deadlines
Family patrimony and regime partition claims are generally tied to the divorce; get advice on specific limits.
Enforcement and legal aid
Support is enforced by the Revenu Quebec, Programme de perception des pensions alimentaires. 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: Commission des services juridiques (legal aid).
Read next
Guides for Quebec
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
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Documents built for Quebec
Separation agreements, parenting plans and financial disclosure structured to Quebec's requirements and linked to the legislation above, then reviewed by a local family lawyer.
Sources and further reading
This page is legal information, not legal advice. It summarises how the process works in Quebec 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 the documents are built for Quebec and reviewed by a local lawyer before you sign.