Justin Trudeau’s romance with Katy Perry has put his old relationship status back under the microscope.
The former Canadian prime minister and Sophie Grégoire Trudeau announced their separation in 2023 after 18 years of marriage. Since then, both have moved forward publicly, while continuing to co-parent their three children.
Now, as Trudeau’s relationship with Perry keeps drawing attention, one question keeps popping up: why are he and Grégoire Trudeau still not legally divorced?
The answer is less dramatic than people may think. Experts say many separated couples stay legally married for months, years, or even longer, especially when kids, money, benefits, and personal timing are involved.
Separation And Divorce Are Not The Same Thing
Divorce lawyer Leanne Townsend says people often confuse separation with divorce. “Separation means that you are living separate and apart, and you can actually be separated and living in the same house,” Townsend explained.
That means a marriage can be over in daily life without being legally over. A couple may live separately, date other people, co-parent, and build new routines while still remaining married on paper.
Divorce is different. It is a legal process that requires a court order. In Canada, most couples also need to be separated for at least one year before they can apply.
So, even when a breakup looks settled from the outside, the legal ending may take much longer.
Why Some Couples Never Rush The Paperwork
Townsend said many people underestimate how slow divorce can be. “I think a lot of people think that once they separate, they should be able to just get divorced pretty quickly,” she said. “It’s not that simple.”
Before a judge signs off, major issues often need to be resolved. That can include child support, parenting arrangements, property, and finances. “A judge will not sign off on the divorce if their child support is not in place and resolved,” Townsend added.
There can also be no urgent reason to file. If neither person plans to remarry soon, divorce may not feel like an immediate priority. Some couples also stay legally married for practical reasons, including benefits or insurance coverage.
Relationship expert Jessica O’Reilly said the emotional side matters too. “Divorce often requires that we reconstruct our identity, which can be cognitively, emotionally and practically draining,” she explained.
For some couples, separation gives them room to adjust without forcing a hard legal ending right away.
Why Fans Want A Clean Ending
The public tends to want celebrity relationships to follow a neat timeline. Marriage. Split. Divorce. New relationship.
Real life rarely moves that cleanly. O’Reilly said people often treat public relationships like stories with clear chapters. “In public discourse, we sometimes frame relationships as shared stories. We want a beginning, a middle and, if there is a split, an end,” she said.
Without divorce papers, some fans see the situation as unfinished. That does not mean the couple sees it that way. “Not all couples consider separation to be in-between,” O’Reilly added. “They’re separated and not together as romantic partners even if they don’t bother to legally divorce.”
So, why aren’t Trudeau and Grégoire Trudeau divorced yet? The honest answer may be simple: separation can already be enough for the people living it, even when the internet wants a cleaner label.
