If you want to get divorced in Canada, you have to follow the provisions of the Divorce Act which is the federal law that governs all divorces in the country. According to this act you have to show that there has been a breakdown of the marriage before filing the divorce application. Two main legal reasons are cited for the break down; it can be either a marital offence by a spouse or separation of the marriage partners for at least a year, with the notion that your marriage has ended. There are other reasons too. Your spouse has committed adultery and you are not willing to forgive him/her or he/she has been mentally and physically cruel to you, making it impossible for you to continue living together. Cruelty can be either being physically violent or causing extreme mental torment.