Marriage Agreement (Ontario)

A marriage agreement (often called a “domestic contract”) is a written contract between spouses setting out how financial and other issues will be addressed during the marriage and/or in the event of separation or divorce. Common terms address:

• ownership and division of property;
• treatment of debts and expenses; and
• whether spousal support will be paid, and on what terms (subject to enforceability rules).

A properly drafted and executed marriage agreement can reduce uncertainty and help manage risk by clearly setting expectations in advance.