Read the application and prepare your response
You'll need:
- The claimant's Notice of Family Claim (Form F3)
- A Response to Family Claim (Form F4) (PDF)
- A computer or a pen
Review the application
Read the Notice of Family Claim (Form F3) that your spouse served on you. It will include details about your relationship, the children (if there are any), and what orders the claimant is asking the court to make.
You have 30 days to respond. If you don't respond to the Notice of Family Claim before the deadline, the case is considered uncontested. The claimant can then file an application for a final order, including a final order for divorce.
Prepare your response
Complete a Response to Family Claim (Form F4) to respond to the Notice of Family Claim. You use this response to say what you agree with or disagree with on the Notice of Family Claim. For example, you might agree with some of the basic information provided (for example, the names of the children) but disagree with the orders the claimaint is asking the court to make.
If you agree with everything in the Notice of Family Claim, you don’t have to fill this form out. If your spouse is asking the court for a divorce and you don’t respond, then it will be an undefended (uncontested) divorce.
The form includes instructions to help you fill it out.
Keep in mind as you fill out your form:
- You are the respondent.
- Your spouse is the claimant.
- Use everyone's full names, including middle names.
- If you or your spouse often use an unofficial alias (a nickname) or a name other than the name on your marriage certificate, be sure to include the alias as well. Click the Add AKA/DBA button and enter the information in the fields provided.
Example: If your spouse's legal name is Mary Jane Doe, but everyone calls her Janey Doe, click the Add AKA/DBA button. In the fields provided, enter "Janey Doe."
If you want to ask for orders yourself, you must fill out and file a Counterclaim (Form F5). See the next step.