Campbellton sits in Restigouche County at the northern tip of New Brunswick, on the Restigouche River across from Quebec. If you live in Campbellton, Atholville, Tide Head, or the surrounding Restigouche County communities and need a divorce, your case is handled locally through the Judicial District of Campbellton. This guide covers exactly where you file, what it costs, how long it takes, and the New Brunswick statutes that govern property, support, and parenting arrangements.
Campbellton divorce: key facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| County | Restigouche County |
| Filing court | Court of King's Bench, Family Division, Judicial District of Campbellton |
| Court address | City Centre Mall, Suite 202, 157 Water Street, P.O. Box 5001, Campbellton, NB E3N 3H5 |
| Filing fee | $110 ($100 petition + $10 Clearance Certificate) |
| Residency requirement | One spouse ordinarily resident in New Brunswick for 12 months before filing |
| Waiting period | One year of separation (most common ground) |
| Property model | Equal division (50/50) under the Marital Property Act |
How do I file for divorce in Campbellton, New Brunswick?
To file for divorce in Campbellton, submit a Petition for Divorce (Form 72A) or a Joint Petition for Divorce (Form 72B) to the Registrar of the Court of King's Bench, Family Division at 157 Water Street. The filing fee is $110, made payable to the Minister of Finance for the Province of New Brunswick. You become the Applicant and your spouse the Respondent.
Filing is governed by the federal Divorce Act § 8, which sets out breakdown of the marriage as the sole ground. Most Campbellton couples proceed on the one-year separation ground rather than alleging adultery or cruelty, because separation requires no extra evidence. You may file before the full year has passed, but the court cannot grant the divorce judgment until the 12 months of separation are complete. If you and your spouse agree on all terms, a Joint Petition (Form 72B) lets you avoid serving documents and moves faster through the Campbellton registry.
Where do I file for divorce in Campbellton? (which courthouse)
Campbellton divorces are filed at the Court of King's Bench, Family Division, located in the City Centre Mall, Suite 202, 157 Water Street, Campbellton, NB E3N 3H5. This is the only Court of King's Bench location serving Restigouche County, and it handles divorce, division of marital property, spousal and child support, and parenting orders for the entire judicial district.
The Campbellton court office can be reached at (506) 789-2364 (fax (506) 789-2062, email ST-Campbellton-CS@gnb.ca). New Brunswick has eight judicial districts, and your correct district is wherever either spouse ordinarily resides. If you or your spouse lives in Campbellton, Atholville, Tide Head, Dalhousie, or anywhere in Restigouche County, the Campbellton registry is your filing location. Note that some older forms still reference the former "Court of Queen's Bench" name, but the address and current Court of King's Bench designation apply.
How much does a divorce lawyer cost in Campbellton?
A Campbellton divorce lawyer typically charges $200 to $350 per hour, with a simple uncontested divorce running roughly $1,500 to $3,000 in total legal fees on top of the $110 court filing fee. Contested matters involving disputed property, support, or parenting arrangements commonly reach $7,000 to $15,000 or more, depending on how many issues require negotiation or a hearing.
The largest cost driver is conflict, not geography. An uncontested joint petition where both spouses agree on property division and parenting can sometimes be completed for a flat fee. Couples who qualify financially may avoid lawyer fees entirely through New Brunswick Legal Aid, and residents receiving social assistance under the Family Income Security Act are exempt from the $110 court fee under Rule 72.24(2). To estimate your own situation, use the divorce cost estimator before booking a consultation.
How long does a divorce take in Campbellton?
An uncontested divorce in Campbellton typically finalizes in 4 to 8 weeks after filing, provided the one-year separation period is already complete and all paperwork is in order. Because the separation ground requires 12 months of living separate and apart, the practical minimum from separation to final judgment is about 13 to 14 months.
Contested cases take much longer. When spouses disagree about marital property, support amounts, or parenting time, the matter moves through case management at the Campbellton Court of King's Bench and can take 12 to 24 months. Divorcing parents receive two orders: the divorce judgment and a Corollary Relief Order detailing parenting arrangements, child support, and property. After the divorce is granted, you can request a Certificate of Divorce (Form 72O) for a $7 fee, which you need if you intend to remarry.
What are the residency requirements to file in Restigouche County?
To file for divorce through the Campbellton court, at least one spouse must have ordinarily resided in New Brunswick for at least 12 months immediately before the petition is filed, under Divorce Act § 3(1). There is no separate Restigouche County or municipal residency rule; residence anywhere in New Brunswick for one year qualifies you to file at the Campbellton registry.
You do not need to be a Canadian citizen. Residency can be proven with a New Brunswick driver's licence, a Medicare health card, or witness testimony. "Ordinarily resident" means a settled intention to live in New Brunswick, not a temporary stay. One important caveat for parents: if children are involved, the Divorce Act generally requires filing in the province where the children ordinarily reside, so Campbellton-based parents whose children live elsewhere should confirm jurisdiction before filing.
How is property divided in a Campbellton divorce?
New Brunswick uses an equal division model, meaning marital property is presumptively split 50/50 between spouses under the Marital Property Act, RSNB 2012, c. 107. Section 2 of the Act treats child care, household management, and financial provision as joint responsibilities of equal importance, so each spouse is entitled to an equal share of marital property and bears an equal share of marital debts.
Marital property includes the matrimonial home, vehicles, household goods, pensions, and investments ordinarily used by the family. The 50/50 presumption can be displaced where equal division would be inequitable. Property division is not automatic in a divorce judgment; a separate application under the Marital Property Act may be required and must generally be filed within 60 days of the divorce being granted. Each party must file a verified Financial Statement (Form 72J) disclosing all property and debts. The equal-division rules do not apply automatically to common-law couples, who need a cohabitation or separation agreement instead.
What about parenting arrangements in Campbellton?
Parenting matters in Campbellton are decided under New Brunswick's Family Law Act, SNB 2020, c. 23, using the best interests of the child standard at the time of the dispute. New Brunswick law uses the terms parenting time and decision-making responsibility rather than "custody" or "access," consistent with the 2021 amendments to the federal Divorce Act.
A parenting order sets out how parenting time is shared and which parent holds decision-making responsibility for major matters such as education, health care, and religion. Spouses cannot contract away a child's right to parenting time in a property agreement under section 35(2) of the Marital Property Act; parenting must always be decided on the child's best interests. To estimate support obligations tied to your parenting schedule, use the child support calculator, which applies the Federal Child Support Guidelines used across New Brunswick.