Divorce In US, moving to Canada, Need help

[landa 1]

Hello guys, we filed for divorce here in the US and i am going to Canada. What do i do once i go to Canada. Just fill the divorce form and have me and my ex wife sign and send to CRA? or is there anything else I need to do? I would appreciate your help. Thanks. We were married in Canada.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Your divorce in the US will be valid in Canada. You need to wait for the divorce to be finalized in the US. Until then you are still married. Once the divorce is final, then you can notify the various agencies of your new status. Until that happens you are separated.

When you talk about filing with CRA are you talking about your Canadian taxes? If so, you would use your regular tax return to notify them of any change in status and that would be filed by the deadline date for the tax year in which you returned to Canada. There should be no reason for your ex- wife to do or sign anything once you are divorced. When you return to Canada be sure to tell the border authorities that you are a returning resident. Your eligibility for Provincial health care will be determined by the date you are shown as returning to Canada (in Ontario it would be 3 months after you returned that you would again be eligible to apply for Provincial health coverage). Your returning resident date is also used to calculate OAS benefits later in your life so be sure you have proof - a stamp or notation in your passport - that shows when you officially return to Canada. (This has nothing to do with divorce, just in re-establishing yourself back into Canadian society).

Are you also an American citizen or just a Canadian citizen? If you are an American citizen you will still have obligations to the US even if you no longer live here (eg the IRS).

Good luck.

Edited June 17, 2012 by Kathryn41

[landa 1]

Your divorce in the US will be valid in Canada. You need to wait for the divorce to be finalized in the US. Until then you are still married. Once the divorce is final, then you can notify the various agencies of your new status. Until that happens you are separated.

When you talk about filing with CRA are you talking about your Canadian taxes? If so, you would use your regular tax return to notify them of any change in status and that would be filed by the deadline date for the tax year in which you returned to Canada. There should be no reason for your ex- wife to do or sign anything once you are divorced. When you return to Canada be sure to tell the border authorities that you are a returning resident. Your eligibility for Provincial health care will be determined by the date you are shown as returning to Canada (in Ontario it would be 3 months after you returned that you would again be eligible to apply for Provincial health coverage). Your returning resident date is also used to calculate OAS benefits later in your life so be sure you have proof - a stamp or notation in your passport - that shows when you officially return to Canada. (This has nothing to do with divorce, just in re-establishing yourself back into Canadian society).

Are you also an American citizen or just a Canadian citizen? If you are an American citizen you will still have obligations to the US even if you no longer live here (eg the IRS).

Good luck.

Hi Kathryn,

So, I do not have to fill form, just when i am filing taxes, write divorce instead of married. Also, which agencies do i notify about the divorce? I know right now i want to go to canada. If that is the case what do i fill in the forms they make you fill on the plane, do i say i am a us visitor? Also, what if i decide to be near bc, in washington state, do I still say i am visitor? until i go find a place in the US? appreciate your help. i am going nuts lol