British Columbia Divorce Checklist
divorce.law/resources/divorce-checklist/british-columbia/
Prepared: 5/20/2026
Data updated: 3/1/2026
Estimated Timeline
4-6 months for an uncontested desk order divorce in British Columbia (including the mandatory 1-year separation period, 30-day response window, and 4-8 weeks of court processing plus 31-day appeal period). Contested divorces typically take 12-24 months. Joint applications (Form F1) are faster because they skip the 30-day response period.
Documents to Gather
- Original Marriage Certificate
- Certified Translation of Marriage Certificate(if applicable)
- Notice of Family Claim (Form F3) or Notice of Joint Family Claim (Form F1)
- Registration of Divorce Proceedings Form
- Financial Statement (Form F8)(if applicable)
- Child Support Affidavit (Form F37)(if applicable)
- Desk Order Divorce Affidavit (Form F38)
- Requisition (Form F35)
- Draft Final Order (Form F52)
- Affidavit of Personal Service (Form F15)(if applicable)
- Separation Agreement(if applicable)
- Valid Government-Issued Photo ID
Financial Documents
- Last 3 years of income tax returns (with all attachments)
- CRA Notices of Assessment and Reassessment (3 years)
- Current employment earnings statement
- 3 most recent EI or Workers' Compensation benefit statements(if applicable)
- Corporate financial statements(if applicable)
- Partnership income confirmation (3 years)(if applicable)
- Trust settlement agreement and annual financial statements (3 years)(if applicable)
- BC Assessment property notice(if applicable)
- Business financial statements(if applicable)
- Bank and investment account statements (12 months)(if applicable)
- Pension and RRSP/TFSA statements(if applicable)
- Debt statements (mortgages, loans, credit cards)(if applicable)
Key Steps
1. Before Filing
- Verify Residency Requirements
- Establish Grounds for Divorce
- Complete the Parenting After Separation Course (If Children Are Involved)
- Explore Consensual Dispute Resolution Options
- Gather Essential Documents and Financial Records
2. Filing Process
- Complete the Notice of Family Claim (Form F3) or Notice of Joint Family Claim (Form F1)
- Complete the Registration of Divorce Proceedings Form
- File Documents at the BC Supreme Court Registry
- File Financial Statement (Form F8) If Required
3. After Filing
- Serve the Notice of Family Claim on Your Spouse
- Wait for the 30-Day Response Period
- Prepare and File the Desk Order Divorce Application
- Obtain the Divorce Order and Certificate of Divorce
- Negotiate or Adjudicate Outstanding Issues
Key Deadlines
Quick Reference
To file for divorce in British Columbia, you must first establish that you or your spouse has lived in BC for at least one year and that you have been separated for at least 12 months under Section 8(2)(a) of the Divorce Act. File a Notice of Family Claim (Form F3) or Notice of Joint Family Claim (Form F1) along with the federal Registration of Divorce Proceedings form and your original marriage certificate at the BC Supreme Court registry, paying the CAD $210 filing fee. After serving your spouse (sole applications only), wait 30 days for a potential response. If no response is filed, prepare the desk order divorce package: Requisition (Form F35), Desk Order Divorce Affidavit (Form F38), draft Final Order (Form F52), Affidavit of Personal Service (Form F15), and Child Support Affidavit (Form F37) if children are involved. Pay the additional CAD $80 application fee. A judge reviews the documents without a hearing. After signing, the divorce becomes final 31 days later. An uncontested desk order divorce typically takes 4-6 months total. Fee waivers are available under Rule 20-5 for financial hardship.