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One flat fee, one shared agreement
Why starting together can reduce cost, stress, and uncertainty
The cost of separation or divorce in Canada can vary widely, largely depending on the process you choose and when professional support is involved. Some couples resolve matters quickly with minimal assistance, while others involve lawyers early and incur significant fees long before decisions are clear.
Traditional litigation, particularly when disputes escalate to court, can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Mediation and collaborative processes are often more affordable, but they still involve professional fees for lawyers, mediators, and other specialists. In many cases, a substantial portion of those costs comes from gathering information, organizing documents, and preparing drafts before meaningful advice can even begin.
Estimated Cost of Family Law Processes (per person)
A more efficient approach is to complete that foundational work first.
Using a structured platform to organize information, explore options, and draft a first version of a separation agreement allows couples to focus professional time where it truly adds value. Most people still benefit from legal advice to finalize an agreement, but by preparing in advance, that advice can be targeted and efficient rather than exploratory.
In practice, most family law matters do not end up in court. It is commonly estimated that approximately 95 percent of family law cases settle without going to trial. Most disputes are resolved through negotiation, mediation, or collaborative approaches, with or without lawyer representation, resulting in agreements reached outside of court.
As illustrated in the graph above, people take different paths to resolution. Some couples resolve matters quickly on their own and spend the least amount of time and money. Others hire lawyers to negotiate on their behalf or participate in mediation. A smaller group remains in conflict longer and may proceed all the way to the Supreme Court of British Columbia, with correspondingly higher legal costs.
While most people will never go to trial, being on a more adversarial path for even a short period of time can significantly increase expenses. The key difference is rarely whether people reach agreement, but how much time, money, and emotional energy they spend getting there.
These high settlement rates highlight the importance of focusing on cost-effective and cooperative solutions as early as possible in the separation process. Starting with structure and shared information can reduce uncertainty, narrow issues, and prevent unnecessary escalation.
Helpful in every scenario
In many circumstances, Divii may be all you need to reach agreement. In more complex situations, Divii helps you define your interests, settle as many details as possible, and clearly isolate the unresolved issues that require the support of a lawyer. Even in those cases, completing this work in advance often results in a more efficient process and lower overall legal costs.
A single flat fee and one shared agreement reflect a simple reality: separation requires two people to reach agreement, and the earlier that work is done collaboratively and with structure, the more control you retain over both the process and the outcome.