The general rule here comes from the common law. Without a specific clause preserving some or all of the terms of a separation agreement, the agreement will be void if the parties reconcile and resumed married liferesume their relationship and live as a couple. This rule was upheld in a 2003 decision of the Ontario Court of Appeal, in ''Sydor v. Sydor''. In that case, the court held that unless a separation agreement contains a term to the effect that the agreement will survive reconciliation, the agreement will be void when the couple reconciles, notwithstanding a term of the agreement that it is a "full, final and conclusive settlement" of all issues arising from the marriagetheir relationship.

The upshot of all this is that if you believe there's a chance that you and your partner spouse might get back together at some point in the future , and you want your separation agreement to survive your reconciliation, you must put a term to that effect in your separation agreement. Without it, your agreement will be worthless if the relationship breaks down again at some point afterwards.