What will it cost?

Even if you don’t use a lawyer, getting a divorce costs money. If there are no problems in your case, the expenses will probably add up to about $350. If you can’t afford the filing fee, most courts allow you to file without a fee. Ask the registry staff if this is possible. It may be possible if you are on social assistance or you earn wages that are close to the social assistance rates. This is called indigent status.

You can also ask your spouse to pay some or all of the expenses. The court rules allow you to include a request for “costs” in your application for divorce. If the court ordered your spouse to pay costs, however, you would be responsible for collecting the money from him or her.

The figures below are approximations only. The courts of each province and territory have their own fee schedules, and you should check with registry staff to see what the actual fees are. In some provinces and territories, there are no fees after you have paid the court filing fee. In other provinces, you pay the filing fee and a fee for the Divorce Order only. In most provinces and territories, you must pay an additional fee if you wish to obtain a Certificate of Divorce.

• Certificate of Marriage $20
• Application for Search of Central Divorce Registry $0 – $10
  • Application $70 – $218
  • Divorce Order $0 – $280
  • Court filing fee:
    
    • Substitutional service $100
    • Certificate of Divorce $30
  • Tracing service $150 – $400
  • Professional process service $30 – $75
  • Affidavit of Service $25 – $50
  • Swearing Affidavits $0 – $50