How much does a divorce cost in Ontario?
Last updated: July 19, 2026
Reviewed against primary Ontario sources — May 2026
An uncontested divorce in Ontario costs about $670 in court fees, plus whatever you pay for help with the paperwork. The court fees themselves are fixed — everyone pays the same. What varies is whether you do it yourself, pay a paralegal or lawyer a flat fee for the application, or end up in a contested divorce where costs run into the tens of thousands. The real cost driver in Ontario is not the divorce itself. It is the conflict around the kids, the support, and the property.
The mandatory court fees are set by regulation under the Administration of Justice Act. There is one filing fee to start the application, and a second fee to ask the court to grant the divorce order (ontario.ca/page/family-court-fees). Beyond those two amounts, every other dollar is optional — based on how much help you want, and how much the other side is willing to fight.
When this does apply
| Route | Typical total cost | What drives it |
|---|---|---|
| DIY uncontested | ~$670 (court fees only) | Your own time |
| Flat-fee uncontested | Under $2,000 | Paralegal for the paperwork |
| Contested | $7,500 to $35,000 per side | Parenting, support, and property fights |
A simple, uncontested divorce — the kind where both spouses agree, parenting and support are already settled in a separation agreement, and one party (or both, in a joint divorce) files the paperwork — runs about $670 in court fees total. Doing it yourself, that is essentially the whole bill. If you use a paralegal or family-law lawyer for the application, expect a flat fee of $700 to $1,500 on top of the court fees. The whole package usually lands under $2,000 for an uncontested file, and an Ontario fee-waiver application is available if you cannot afford even the filing fee (Fee Waiver Request (FW-A series)).
When this doesn't apply
A contested divorce — where the other spouse disputes parenting, support, or property — is a different animal. Once lawyers, motions, case conferences, and disclosure fights get involved, costs climb fast. Published legal-fee surveys put a contested family-law file at $7,500 to $35,000 per side, and complex matters with experts or appeals run higher (justice.gc.ca).
The driver in those cases is not the divorce paperwork. It is everything underneath it that was never settled in a separation agreement first.
What to do
If you and your spouse can agree on parenting, support, and property — even roughly — settle that first in a written separation agreement, and then file an uncontested or joint divorce. That sequence is what keeps the cost near $670 instead of $30,000. The conflict is what costs money. The paperwork doesn't. To model the full picture beyond court fees, see the cost of separation in Ontario.
See your specific Ontario plan at cairnguide.ca/signup.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an uncontested divorce cost in Ontario?
- About $670 in mandatory court fees if you do the paperwork yourself - a filing fee to start the application and a second fee to set the matter down for the divorce order. A paralegal or family-law lawyer doing the paperwork on a flat fee adds $700 to $1,500. Most uncontested files land under $2,000 total.
- What is the cheapest way to get a divorce in Ontario?
- A joint divorce filed by both spouses, with a separation agreement already in place. You skip service, skip a response period, and the only required spend is the $670 in court fees. Free guided pathways are available through CLEO Steps to Justice and the courts Family Law Information Centres if you self-file.
- How much does a contested divorce cost in Ontario?
- The Department of Justice estimates a contested family-law file at $7,500 to $35,000 per side, and complex matters with experts or appeals run higher. The cost driver is the disagreement on parenting, support, or property - not the divorce paperwork itself. Settling those in a separation agreement first is what keeps costs down.
- Are there fee waivers for divorce in Ontario?
- Yes. Form 25.7 - the Fee Waiver Request - lets low-income applicants apply to have court fees waived. Ontario family courts process fee-waiver applications routinely for self-represented applicants on social assistance, ODSP, or low income. The waiver covers the filing fee and the divorce-order fee.
- Do I have to pay the divorce fees up front?
- Yes. The filing fee is due when you file the divorce application, and the divorce-order fee is due when you ask the court to grant the divorce. Both are paid to the Superior Court of Justice in your region. You cannot file without the fee (or an approved fee waiver under Form 25.7) - the court will not accept the application.