(SSJD)Fill out two forms

Fill out two forms

You'll need

This step is divided into three parts. The third part is optional and depends on your situation.

Part 1: Notice of Joint Family Claim (Form F1)

The Notice of Joint Family Claim gives the court details about:

  • you and the other person,
  • your marriage and separation, and
  • what you're asking the court for.

The form has a main section to fill out, plus optional schedules for different types of orders. Because you've already settled your family law issues in a separation agreement or court order(s), you only need to fill in the first three and the last one or two sections of the form.

If you've already filed your agreement, type in your court file number. Choose your Supreme Court registry from the drop-down list.

Type in your name as Claimant 1. Click the green Address button and type in your mailing address. You can also add your email address or fax number.

Type in your spouse's name as Claimant 2. Click the green Address button and type in their mailing address. You can also add their email address or fax number.

Tick Filing Party for the person who will file the form. Only one person needs to file the form for a joint application.

Type in your names exactly as they appear on your marriage certificate. If either of you has had a legal name change since you were married, write the new name instead of the old one. Bring a copy of the change of name certificate when you file your documents.

If either of you often uses a name that's different from what's on your marriage certificate, include that as well. This might be a married name, a nickname, or an unofficial alias. For example, if your legal name is Mary Jane Doe, but everyone calls you Janey Doe, do the following:

  • Click the Add AKA/DBA button next to your Claimant name fields.
  • Type "Janey Doe" in the Alternative Name fields provided.

Choose the type of name from the drop-down menu. For example, Also known as or Formerly known as.

Tick were married on and add the date you were married.

Tick separated on and add the date you separated.

A. Personal information

Tick the box to show that you're applying for a divorce. Type in the names, dates, and places in the table.

B. Grounds for claim for divorce

Tick the first box if the grounds for divorce are that you've been living separate and apart from the other person for at least one year. On the line that appears below it, type in the date that you separated. Then choose the box to confirm whether you have or haven't lived together since you separated.

If you haven't yet been separated for one year, you can still start a family law case and complete this guide up to Step 4: Fill out the next forms. Then wait to complete the rest of the process after the one-year separation period has passed.

C. Claimant 1 and Claimant 2 confirm

Tick both boxes in this section. 

D. Proof of marriage

Your proof of marriage is your original marriage certificate. You need to file this with your Notice of Joint Family Claim.

If you don't have a copy of your original marriage certificate or a certified copy of the registration of marriage, go back to Step 1: Gather your documents.

You don't need to ask for a legal change of name if you're going back to the name you used before you were married. But if you or the other person legally changed your name, or if you want to change it to something different, you can do that here.

You can also apply to do this later through the Legal Changes of Name page on the BC government website. There's a fee for this.

The addresses you typed in at the top of the form will appear here. Confirm that they're accurate, or make corrections at the top of the form.

Under Divorce Act (Canada), both your names will appear as you typed them at the top of the form. Tick the party's certificate box next to each listed name to generate a certificate for that person to sign. (Ignore the section under Family Law Act.)

You can now either:

  • print the form so you can sign it in pen, or
  • preview the document and sign it digitally.

Part 2: Registration of Divorce Proceedings form

Fill out the Registration of Divorce Proceedings form online. In Section 1, type the date you'll go to the registry to file the application for divorce. This might be different from the date you fill out the form.

Once you've filled out the form, print it out (this generates a barcode used to process the form). Take this form with your Notice of Joint Family Claim for filing at the court registry.

Tick joint applicant for both of your names.

This form goes to a central registry in Ottawa. The registry in Ottawa will check their records to make sure you have no other divorce proceedings pending in Canada. The judge can't grant you a divorce order until they send written clearance back to your registry. This can take 4 to 6 weeks.

Part 3: Go to Step 4 or file the first two forms

You need to fill out a few more forms for your divorce application. You can either file your first two forms now, or you can wait and file them together with the next set of documents. It depends on your situation.

If you've been separated for a year or longer, go straight to Step 4: Fill out the next forms. Then, at the registry, you can have your affidavits sworn and file everything together.

If you haven't yet been separated for a year, file your Notice of Joint Family Claim and Registration of Divorce Proceedings now. It can take four to six weeks for the Registration of Divorce Proceedings to clear, so filing it now saves time later.

Make copies of the forms

Make two photocopies of the completed and signed Notice of Joint Family Claim (Form F1).

  • The registry keeps the original.
  • One copy is for you.
  • The other copy is for the other person.

Photocopy your original marriage certificate and Registration of Divorce Proceedings if you'd like to keep copies of them. You file both at the registry and you won't get to keep the original marriage certificate.

If you or the other person had a legal change of name, make a copy of the change of name certificate.

File your forms at the Supreme Court registry

You'll need:

  • your signed original Notice of Joint Family Claim,
  • your completed Registration of Divorce Proceedings form,
  • your original marriage certificate or a certified true copy of your registration of marriage,
  • your translation into English and Affidavit of Translation, if needed,
  • your change of name certificate, if needed,
  • photocopies of your documents,
  • $10 to file your Registration of Divorce Proceedings form, and
  • $200 to file your Notice of Joint Family Claim if you didn't file your separation agreement.

If you already filed your separation agreement, filing your Notice of Family Claim is free because you already have an open family law case.

Fees sometimes change, so call the registry or check the Supreme Court Family Rules to confirm the amount. If you use Court Services Online, you can pay with a credit card, Interac Online, or BC Online. If you file your documents in person, you can pay with a card or online service, in cash, or with a certified cheque or money order made out to the Minister of Finance. Many court registries will also take debit cards, but check first.

If you have a filed separation agreement, go to the registry where it's filed.

If you don't have an agreement or an open family law case, you can file your documents at any Supreme Court registry. You have to go back to the same court each time you need to deal with the court again, so it's a good idea to choose one that's convenient.

If you're in a community that isn't close to a Supreme Court registry and you need to file documents, visit the BC Supreme Court website for courthouse locations and contact information. Or, you could file your documents using Court Services Online.

The staff at the registry's divorce counter check that your documents are complete. They take your payment and stamp the completed documents with the court seal, and put them in a file for your case.

The registry keeps the originals and gives the stamped copies back to you.

You now have an open Supreme Court family law case with a court file number. Put this number on the rest of the forms you're preparing so the registry knows that you already have an open file.

Updated on 7 December 2022

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