Hi, my name is Ash Mazinani. I'm a divorce and family lawyer in Toronto. One of the most common misunderstandings that clients bring to my office is that they tell me that they were told or that they read online that they need to wait one year after their separation before they hire a lawyer or go to family court. This is based on a misunderstanding of the law. The law in Ontario provides that the court cannot grant a divorce order until at least one year after the date of separation unless special circumstances apply. However, the divorce is usually the last thing that happens in a family court case. The fact that you have been separated for less than a year does not mean that you are unable to hire a lawyer or go to court to deal with your issues. Contact Mazinani & Associates for more information.