The certificate of divorce in Ontario

A certificate of divorce is the document that proves you are legally divorced in Ontario. It is not the same as the divorce order. The order is the court's decision; the certificate is the proof you will need later — most often when you want to remarry. It issues 31 days after the divorce order, once the appeal period closes, and you have to request it from the court that handled your divorce.

The certificate is requested using Form 36B under the Family Law Rules. The Superior Court of Justice charges a $25 fee per certificate, and you can apply online through Justice Services Online with a My Ontario Account or in person at the courthouse where your divorce was filed (ontario.ca/page/get-copies-family-law-documents-court).

When this does apply

You need a certificate of divorce in two situations. The first is to remarry — the marriage licence office needs proof your previous marriage has legally ended, and you can show either the Certificate of Divorce or a court-certified copy of the final divorce order or judgment. The second is anywhere you have to prove your marital status after the fact: immigration applications, foreign pension claims, a change of name with ServiceOntario, sometimes a refinance or a beneficiary update. In all of these cases, you can show either the Certificate of Divorce or a court-certified copy of the final divorce order or judgment.

When this doesn't apply

You do not need a certificate of divorce just to live separately, sell the matrimonial home, change the locks, or update your tax filing status. Those are dealt with at separation, long before a divorce is granted — see the separation agreement guide for what actually has to be in place before you live as a single household. You also don't need it before the 31-day appeal window closes. The court will not issue the certificate until that period is up, even if you have an early divorce order in your hand.

What to do

Wait until 31 days after your divorce order is granted, then submit Form 36B to the courthouse that handled your file. If you are still waiting on the order itself, how long a divorce takes in Ontario shows where this 31-day window sits in the overall timeline. Online is faster — request it through Justice Services Online with a My Ontario Account, pay the $25 fee, and the certificate arrives by mail. Keep the original in the same place as your marriage certificate and any separation agreement. You will need it again.

See your specific Ontario plan at cairnguide.ca/signup.