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→Bars to divorce
Sections 10 and 11 of the ''[[Divorce Act]]'' describe the circumstances when the court may not make a divorce order. Under section 10(1) and (2), the court must be satisfied that there is no possibility that the spouses can reconcile and continue their marriage. Under section 11(1), the court must be satisfied that:
====Reconciliation====
Under section 10(1) of the ''[[Divorce Act]]'', the court must be satisfied that "there is no possibility of the reconciliation of the spouses" before it hears any evidence in support of a divorce claim. Under section 10(2), if the court thinks that reconciliation is a possibility, it must "adjourn the proceeding to afford the spouses an opportunity to achieve a reconciliation."
====Collusion, connivance and condonation====
Under section 11 of the ''[[Divorce Act]]'', if the court finds that there has been ''collusion'', ''connivance'' or ''condonation'' in an application for a divorce order, the court must not make the order.
"Condonation" means ''forgiveness''. If a spouse's adultery or cruelty has been ''condoned'' by the spouse asking for the divorce, the bad behaviour has been forgiven. If the bad behaviour has been forgiven, then the marriage hasn't broken down. If the marriage hasn't broken down, there's no ground on which the court can make a divorce order.
====Inadequate child support====
Section 11 of the ''[[Divorce Act]]'' also requires the court to be satisfied that "reasonable arrangements" have been made for the support of any children before it can grant an order for divorce. As you might expect, a ''reasonable arrangement'' usually means that child support is being paid according to the [[Child Support Guidelines]]. If you have children, you will usually have to show that the children are being provided for as the Guidelines require before you can get a divorce. (Remember that under the Guidelines, the table amount of child support payable for incomes of less than $12,000 per year is zero.)
Here are some cases that show how tricky this can get.