Manitoba Divorce Checklist

divorce.law/resources/divorce-checklist/manitoba/

Prepared: 5/20/2026

Data updated: 3/1/2026

Estimated Timeline

4-6 months for an uncontested desk divorce in Manitoba, 12-24 months for a contested divorce requiring triage conference and trial. The CDR certificate alone takes 6-8 weeks. Add the mandatory 31-day appeal period after the divorce judgment is granted before the divorce takes effect.

Documents to Gather

Marriage Certificate (certified copy)
Form 70A Petition for Divorce (or Form 70A.1 Joint Petition)
Form 70C Acknowledgment of Service
Form 70D Financial Statement
Form 70I Affidavit of Service
Form 70M Affidavit of Petitioner's Evidence
Form 4E Requisition (to note in default)(if applicable)
Government-issued photo identification
Separation agreement (if applicable)(if applicable)
For the Sake of the Children Acknowledgment of Completion(if applicable)

Financial Documents

Last 3 years of personal income tax returns (T1 General)
Last 3 years of Canada Revenue Agency Notices of Assessment
Recent pay stubs or proof of current employment income
Bank statements (all accounts, last 12 months)
Mortgage statements and property tax assessments
RRSP, RRIF, TFSA, and pension statements
Vehicle ownership and loan documentation
Credit card statements and loan agreements
Business financial statements (if self-employed)(if applicable)
Life insurance policies(if applicable)

Key Steps

1. Before Filing

Verify Residency Requirements
Establish Grounds for Divorce
Complete the For the Sake of the Children Program (If Children Involved)
Gather Financial Records and Prepare Form 70D Financial Statement
Attempt Out-of-Court Dispute Resolution
Develop a Safety Plan (If Domestic Violence Is a Factor)

2. Filing Process

Complete the Petition for Divorce (Form 70A)
File the Petition at the Court of King's Bench
Obtain and File the Marriage Certificate

3. After Filing

Serve Your Spouse with the Petition
Wait for Respondent's Answer Period to Expire
Note the Respondent in Default (If No Answer Filed)
Prepare and File the Affidavit of Petitioner's Evidence
Attend Triage Conference (If Contested or Parenting Issues Exist)
Obtain the Divorce Judgment and Wait 31 Days

Key Deadlines

Respondent must file Answer (Form 70J) — within Manitoba20 days after personal service

Respondent must file Answer — elsewhere in Canada or USA40 days after personal service

Respondent must file Answer — outside Canada and USA60 days after personal service

Financial Statement (Form 70D) due from respondentSame deadline as Answer (20/40/60 days)

Petition must be served on respondentWithin 1 year of filing

Central Divorce Registry (CDR) certificate received6-8 weeks after filing

Divorce takes effect (appeal period expires)31 days after Divorce Judgment is granted

Case conference after triage (if no agreement reached)Within 30 days of triage conference

Quick Reference

To file for divorce in Manitoba, you must first establish that at least one spouse has lived in the province for a minimum of one year, as required by Section 3(1) of the Divorce Act (R.S.C. 1985, c. 3, 2nd Supp.). File a Petition for Divorce (Form 70A) or Joint Petition (Form 70A.1) at the Court of King's Bench (Family Division) with a filing fee of CAD $200.00, which includes the mandatory Central Divorce Registry search. The CDR certificate takes 6-8 weeks to process. Personally serve the respondent, who then has 20 days (within Manitoba), 40 days (elsewhere in Canada/USA), or 60 days (internationally) to file an Answer (Form 70J) for CAD $50.00. If parenting arrangements are disputed, both parents must complete the free For the Sake of the Children online program (4 hours, four modules) and file an Acknowledgment of Completion. Financial Statements (Form 70D) are mandatory when support or property division is claimed. For uncontested divorces, expect 4-6 months total. After the judgment is granted, a mandatory 31-day appeal period must pass before the divorce takes effect and a Certificate of Divorce (Form 70P) can be obtained.