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Nova Scotia Legal Resource
Family law guide

Starting a separation in Nova Scotia

A practical starting point for organizing your questions and finding the official resources relevant to a separation.

Separation can bring together several different questions: living arrangements, parenting, support, property, and which documents to prepare. The legal rules that matter depend on your circumstances and on whether a federal or provincial law governs the particular issue.

Three practical starting points

Identify the questions

Separate immediate concerns, such as living arrangements or safety, from longer-term questions about finances, parenting and property.

Keep the relevant records

Gather dates, existing agreements, court orders, financial records and any information that may affect the questions you need answered.

Verify the official process

Consult the current family-law and court resources for the type of application or agreement involved. Forms and procedures can change.

Official sources and further information

Use these sources to check current rules and instructions. This guide intentionally does not prescribe a legal decision for a particular person's circumstances.

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Explore Family Law

Legal information, not legal advice. This site is independent and is not operated by the Government of Nova Scotia or a court. Rules, forms and deadlines may change. Use the official sources and obtain advice about your own situation when necessary.