A Petition is the commencement document for a family law file in the Court of Queen’s Bench for Saskatchewan. It outlines one party’s claim, which can include, divorce, custody, parenting time, child support, spousal support, division of property, and other family law issues. A Petition must be served on you personally.

Being served with a Petition can be unsettling. The bold font, capital letters, and warnings on the first page can make you feel overwhelmed, irritated or angry, especially if you were not expecting to be served. You may disagree with the Petition or feel that it is inaccurate. You may be tempted to ignore the Petition and deal with your ex on your own time when you feel ready.  Remember, a Petition is just a claim. It outlines what your spouse is asking for, but that does not mean they will get it.

If you receive a Petition, it is important that you do not ignore it. There are clear timelines for response set out in the Petition and consequences for failure to respond. Ignoring the Petition will not make it go away. In fact, it can make things worse and actions can be taken against you without you knowing.  It is important to respond to the Petition, either directly by filing your own material, communicating with your spouse’s counsel or obtaining counsel of your own.

If you have been served with a Petition and need assistance with next steps, please contact our family law team at www.mckercher.ca/familylawsask.