You need to talk with a lawyer............every province/state is different and every individual circumstance is different. The good news is most lawyers are free for the first 1/2 hr............but time it as they won't tell you when your time is up..............bring all the documents you think you'll need and preferably photocopies as lawyers are a pain in the bu** to get anything back from.

Married 15 years..................divorced but lived together for several years afterwards to "raise the children".....................during that time I saved like crazy and had enough for a downpayment on my own home. I do have rights to the original home but chose to gift it to him............I wanted the children to have two homes to go to.............and had no desire to "stick it" to him.........................now I'm in the process of buying "my" second home(investment purposes).....................the point is, you .Do recover from major financial setbacks..................remember what really counts........................the children, freedom and peace of mind