TORONTO — Ontario's attorney general is bringing in new regulations for couples in the province hoping to get divorced.

Every couple hoping to get a divorce through the provincial court system will have to attend an information session about alternatives to going to court, and will also be given the option to attend a mediation session paid for by the attorney general's office.

Attorney general Chris Bentley says the program will save couples time, money on lawyers and much of the emotional toll that comes with the court system.

The expanded province-wide program will cost $8 million a year.

Couples will be able to file for divorce in court after they go through the information session and decide they don't want to go to mediation.

Family lawyer Judith Huddart applauds the new program for advising couples of the alternatives to the court system, but says by that stage most couples have already hired lawyers.