Divorce Costs & Fees
How Much Does a Divorce Cost in Ontario? (August 2026)
How Much Does a Divorce Cost in Ontario? (August 2026)
How Much Does a Divorce Cost in Ontario? (August 2026)
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8 MIN READ
8 MIN READ
Divorce Costs & Fees
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How Much Does a Divorce Cost in Ontario?
One of the first questions people ask when considering divorce is simple: how much is this going to cost?
There is no single price for every divorce in Ontario. The total cost depends on the type of divorce, whether the spouses have unresolved issues, whether professional assistance is used, and whether additional expenses such as process serving are required.
For a straightforward joint or uncontested divorce, however, the costs are generally much easier to understand.
This guide explains the common costs associated with obtaining a divorce in Ontario and what you should consider when comparing divorce services.
What Does a Divorce Cost in Ontario?
For a straightforward divorce, the total cost can generally be divided into two main categories:
1. Court and government fees
These are fees charged as part of the court process.
2. Professional service fees
These are the fees charged by a lawyer, paralegal or other authorized legal-service provider for the services they provide.
There may also be additional disbursements or third-party expenses, depending on the circumstances.
Understanding the difference between these costs is important when comparing advertised divorce prices.
What Are the Court Fees for a Divorce in Ontario?
Ontario charges fees at different stages of a divorce proceeding.
As of August 2026, the fees associated with a standard divorce application include:
$214 when the application is filed;
$445 when the application is placed on the list for hearing; and
a $10 federal fee for registration with the Central Registry of Divorce Proceedings.
That means the standard court and federal fees total $669.
These fees are separate from any professional fee you pay to have someone prepare and handle your divorce.
Court fees can change, so the current amount should always be confirmed before filing.
Is the Divorce Certificate Included in the Court Fees?
No.
A Divorce Order and a Certificate of Divorce are not the same thing.
If the court grants the divorce, the Divorce Order records the court's decision. The divorce generally takes effect 31 days after the order is granted.
A Certificate of Divorce is a separate document confirming that the divorce has taken effect.
If you want a Certificate of Divorce after your divorce is final, Ontario currently charges $25 to obtain one.
You may need a Certificate of Divorce for certain purposes, including if you intend to marry again.
What Are Professional Divorce Service Fees?
Court fees are only one part of the potential cost of obtaining a divorce.
If you hire a professional to assist with the process, there will generally also be a fee for the services provided.
What that fee includes can vary considerably.
For example, a divorce service may include preparation of documents but leave the client responsible for filing them. Other services may include document preparation, filing and communication concerning the court process.
This is why comparing divorce services based only on the advertised price can be misleading.
Before choosing a service, look at what is actually included in the fee and what costs will be charged separately.
How Much Does Discount Divorce Ontario Charge?
Discount Divorce Ontario provides a flat-fee divorce service for eligible joint and uncontested divorces in Ontario.
Our professional fee is:
$995 + HST + disbursements
The services included in your retainer are explained before you retain our office, so you understand the professional fee and the expenses that are separate from it.
Court filing fees and applicable third-party expenses are not included in the $995 professional fee and are paid separately.
Eligibility for our service depends on the circumstances of your divorce and is confirmed before a matter is accepted.
What Are Disbursements?
A disbursement is generally an expense incurred in connection with handling your matter that is separate from the professional fee.
Depending on the circumstances, possible expenses may include:
court filing fees;
process-server fees;
obtaining a marriage certificate or other records;
commissioning or notarization costs where required;
document delivery or other third-party expenses; and
other costs required because of the particular circumstances of the matter.
Not every divorce will involve every type of disbursement.
Before retaining a divorce service, make sure you understand which expenses are included in the quoted price and which are additional.
Does a Joint Divorce Cost Less Than an Uncontested Divorce?
Not necessarily.
In a joint divorce, both spouses apply for the divorce together.
In an individual uncontested divorce, one spouse starts the proceeding and the other spouse is served with the application. If the responding spouse does not oppose the divorce within the applicable response period, the divorce may proceed on an uncontested basis.
The court fees associated with obtaining the divorce are generally not reduced simply because the spouses file jointly.
However, an individual application can involve an additional expense that a joint divorce may avoid: service of the divorce application.
How Much Does It Cost to Serve Divorce Papers?
In an individual divorce proceeding, the issued divorce application generally must be formally served on the other spouse.
The applicant cannot personally serve the divorce application.
If a professional process server is used, the cost will depend on factors such as the spouse's location, the number of attempts required and whether there are difficulties locating or serving the person.
This expense generally does not arise in the same way with a joint divorce because both spouses participate in the application.
What If My Spouse Cannot Be Located?
If you do not know where your spouse is, obtaining the divorce may involve additional steps and costs.
You may need assistance locating your spouse or may need to ask the court for permission to use an alternative method of service.
The procedure required will depend on the circumstances.
Cases involving difficulties locating or serving a spouse can therefore cost more than a straightforward uncontested divorce.
Does Having Children Make a Divorce More Expensive?
Having children does not automatically mean that obtaining the divorce itself will be more expensive.
However, the court must be satisfied that reasonable arrangements have been made for the support of any children of the marriage, having regard to the applicable child-support guidelines, before granting a divorce.
The situation can become considerably more complicated if the spouses have unresolved disputes involving parenting or child support.
A straightforward divorce proceeding is very different from a contested family-law proceeding in which the court is being asked to decide parenting, support, property or other claims.
Those cases can involve substantially greater professional fees and additional court procedures.
What About Property Division or Spousal Support?
A divorce legally ends the marriage, but it does not necessarily resolve every issue arising from the breakdown of the relationship.
Property division and spousal support are separate legal issues.
If those matters are unresolved or disputed, obtaining advice from a family lawyer may be appropriate before proceeding with a straightforward divorce.
The cost of resolving disputed family-law issues should therefore not be confused with the cost of obtaining the divorce itself.
Why Do Divorce Prices Vary So Much?
You may see dramatically different prices advertised for divorce services in Ontario.
One reason is that the services being offered may not be the same.
Some advertised prices may cover only document preparation. Others may include filing, communication with the court and assistance throughout more of the process.
Some prices may include certain disbursements, while others exclude them.
When comparing prices, ask:
What professional services are included?
Are court filing fees included or additional?
Is service of documents included?
Are there additional charges for routine communication?
Are commissioning costs included where required?
Will the service communicate with the court concerning the filing?
What happens if the court requests a correction or additional information?
The lowest advertised number does not necessarily represent the lowest total cost.
Can You Get a Divorce Without Hiring a Lawyer?
You are not generally required to hire a lawyer simply to apply for a divorce in Ontario.
People may represent themselves and prepare and file their own divorce documents.
That can reduce professional fees, but it also means that the person is responsible for determining which documents are required, preparing them correctly and completing the necessary procedural steps.
Other people prefer professional assistance because they want someone to prepare and handle the divorce process for them.
Which option makes sense depends on your circumstances and the complexity of your matter.
Can Court Fees Be Waived?
Ontario has a fee-waiver process for people who meet the applicable financial eligibility requirements.
A fee waiver can apply to certain provincial court fees.
However, the federal $10 Central Registry of Divorce Proceedings fee cannot be waived.
A fee waiver relates to eligible court fees. It does not generally eliminate professional fees charged by a private legal-service provider.
So, What Is the Total Cost of a Divorce in Ontario?
For an eligible client using Discount Divorce Ontario's flat-fee service, the starting calculation is straightforward:
Professional fee: $995
HST: additional
Court/federal fees: currently $669
Other disbursements: if applicable
That means it is important not to interpret $995 as the entire amount that will ultimately be spent obtaining the divorce.
The professional service fee and the court/government expenses are separate.
Additional expenses can also arise depending on the circumstances — particularly where service of documents or other third-party services are required.
The Bottom Line
The cost of getting divorced in Ontario depends largely on what kind of divorce you need and what services are required.
For a straightforward joint or uncontested divorce, the costs can be relatively predictable.
The important thing when comparing divorce services is to understand the difference between:
professional fees + court fees + taxes + disbursements
Discount Divorce Ontario offers a $995 + HST + disbursements flat professional fee for eligible joint and uncontested divorces in Ontario.
Before a matter is accepted, we confirm whether the situation is suitable for our service and provide information about the next steps.
How Much Are the Court Fees for a Divorce in Ontario?
Are Court Fees Included in Discount Divorce Ontario's $995 Fee?
Does a Joint Divorce Cost Less Than an Uncontested Divorce?
How Much Does a Certificate of Divorce Cost in Ontario?
Are There Other Costs Besides the Professional Fee and Court Fees?
Flat-Fee Divorce Service
Cordaie Paralegal Services provides a flat-fee divorce service for eligible joint and uncontested divorces in Ontario.
For $995 + HST + disbursements, we handle the divorce process included in your retainer, including preparation and filing of the required divorce documents and communication concerning the court process.
Not Sure Which Divorce Process Applies to You?
Complete our short eligibility questionnaire to see whether your divorce may be a good fit for our service.
There’s no obligation to retain us simply because you complete the eligibility check.
