2. Fill out the right form

In Ontario, there are 2 Family Law Forms that you can use to ask the court for a divorce. The one you use depends on whether you're applying for a divorce only, or for a divorce and other claims, decision-making responsibility, parenting time, child support, spousal support, or dividing property. Decision-making responsibility and parenting time used to be called custody and access.

Family Law Guided Pathways can help you fill out many of the forms you need for your family law court case.

Family Law Guided Pathways: Form 8

Use our Guided Pathways to start a family law case and ask for orders about children, support, or property (Form 8).

Family Law Guided Pathways: Form 8A

Guided Pathway for simple or joint divorce

You can get both forms from the courthouse or online. They are available in French and English.

Because you're the person asking the court for a divorce, you're called the applicant. Your partner is called the respondent because they're responding to your claim.

Form 8: Application (General)

Use Form 8: Application (General) if you want to ask the court for a divorce and other claims.

You may have to fill out more forms if you're asking for other things. For example:

• Form 35.1: Affidavit (decision-making responsibility, parenting time, contact), if you're asking for decision-making responsibility or parenting time. You have to answer some personal questions about your family situation and tell the court about your parenting plan.
• Form 13: Financial Statement or Form 13.1: Financial Statement, if you're asking for child support, spousal support, or to divide property. You have to give information about your finances such as your income, living expenses, and assets and debts.
• Form 13A: Certificate of Financial Disclosure, if you're asking for child support, spousal support, or to divide property. You have to list all the documents that prove what you said in your financial statement.
• Support Deduction Order, if you're asking for support.
• Support Deduction Order Information Form, if you're asking for support.

Form 8A: Application (Divorce)

Use Form 8A: Application (Divorce) if you want to ask the court for a divorce only.

This form has 2 options:

1. Simple (divorce only)
2. Joint

Because you're applying for one by yourself, you check off the “Simple (divorce only)” box.

The only other claim you can make on this form is to ask for costs. This means asking the court to order your partner to pay your costs for asking for the divorce.