How do I get my divorce certificate?
A certificate is proof that you and your partner are legally divorced. You need a divorce certificate if you want to get again.
To get a divorce certificate, you first need to get a . To get a divorce order, you have to ask the court for a divorce, and you can do this:
If the court grants you a divorce, you get a divorce order.
You're legally divorced 31 days after the date of your divorce order.
What you need
To get a divorce certificate, you need:
- a copy of your divorce order
- a completed Form 36B: Certificate of Divorce
You also need to pay a court fee of $25. You can pay this by credit card or cash. If you're applying at court or by mail, you can also pay by cheque or money order made payable to the Minister of Finance.
If you don’t have your divorce order
If you don't have a copy of your divorce order, you need to know:
- the address of the court that granted your divorce order
- your court number
- the year the court granted your divorce
The court address, contact information, and court file number can be found on the top of the court forms and documents you filled out asking the court for a divorce.
If you can't remember the court and can't find copies of your court documents, contact the federal Central Registry of Divorce Proceedings. They may be able to give you the address of the court and a registration number. Call 613-957-4519.
How to apply
Once you have all the documents and information about your divorce, you can apply for your divorce certificate:
Apply online
To apply for a divorce certificate online, you now need a My Ontario Account to the Justice Services Online website. To create an account, you need an email and password.
Before November 2023, you needed a ONe-key ID. If you have a ONe-key ID, you will be able to move the information to your My Ontario Account once you set it up.
Make sure you have everything ready before you start. You will need:
- all your documents completed, signed, dated, and , if required, and saved as individual PDFs or in Word (.docx)
- your Visa, Mastercard, or debit card, if there are filing fees
- your court file number, if you're filing documents for an existing case
If you're filing documents in a public space like a library, be careful when entering personal information. Make sure no one can see you what you're typing or can take pictures of your screen. If you're using a public computer, clear its cache after you finish your session.
After you submit your court forms and documents online, you cannot view them online later. So, it's important to keep a copy of everything for your records.
You will get an on-screen confirmation that your documents have been submitted, but not yet filed with the court. You should print a copy of the confirmation or take a screenshot of it for your records.
Within 5 business days you find out if your documents have been accepted or rejected.
If your documents are:
- accepted, you get an email confirming your documents have been accepted and your divorce certificate will be attached to the email.
- rejected, you get an email saying your documents haven't been filed, the reasons why they were rejected, and that any fees you paid will be refunded
If your documents are rejected, you can either:
- correct or fix all the things that led to your documents being rejected and then resubmit your documents online, or
- file your documents in person or by mail.
If you don't hear from the court within 5 days, check with them to make sure your documents were submitted successfully and that there were no mistakes.
Apply in person
If you're applying in person, take your forms and documents and payment to the same court where you applied for your divorce. Courts accept in-person requests only during certain hours. Contact your court for their hours.
You will receive your divorce certificate in the mail. But you may be able to make arrangements to pick it up in person at the court instead. Processing times depend on the court.
If your application is not complete or there are problems with your payment, the court will send back your rejected documents with a letter explaining why.
Apply by mail
If you're applying by mail, send your forms and payment to the same court where you applied for your divorce. You will receive your divorce certificate in the mail.
If your application is not complete or there are problems with your payment, the court will send back your rejected documents with a letter explaining why.
