The orders

In Nova Scotia, a judge will usually give you two orders when your divorce is final:

  • the Corollary Relief Order, and

  • the Divorce Order.

A Corollary Relief Order (CRO) is issued in almost every divorce in Nova Scotia. The CRO addresses the issues that have been decided, either by agreement, or by a judge during a trial. These issues include things like parenting arrangements (decision-making responsibility and parenting time), financial support, and division of property, pensions, and debts.

A Divorce Order is given at the end of every divorce matter in Nova Scotia. This Order confirms that you and your spouse were married but are now divorced. If either party has applied for a legal name change as part of the divorce, this information will also be included in the Divorce Order.

The Divorce Order becomes effective 31 days after being issued. This allows either spouse with the opportunity to file a Notice of Appeal of the divorce.

When your divorce is finalized, you get a Divorce Order and a Corollary Relief Order whether your divorce was contested or not. Generally, the only difference is when your divorce is uncontested, you (and perhaps your spouse) have prepared the draft orders and have sent them to the court to be signed by a judge. If your divorce was contested and was decided in a trial, and neither party had a lawyer, then the court will prepare the orders.

If there is no appeal filed, your Certificate of Divorce will be mailed out automatically sometime after the 31st day. This Certificate is what you will need in the future if you get remarried. Your Certificate of Divorce shows that you are divorced from your former spouse and are legally able to get married again.

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