Ontario Divorce Application Form 8A: A Complete Guide

Looking for help? Easy Path Divorce offers flat-fee services for divorce application in Ontario. Your Form 8A divorce application prepared and reviewed for $399 + HST.

If you’re getting divorced in Ontario, Form 8A: Application (Divorce) is where it all starts. This guide explains what Form 8A is, who uses it, what each part asks for, and the mistakes that most often get applications sent back.

What is Form 8A?

Form 8A is the official Ontario court form used to start a divorce case in the Superior Court of Justice. It’s used for:

• simple divorce applications, where one spouse asks only for a divorce; and
• joint divorce applications, where both spouses apply together.

If you’re asking the court to decide other issues, such as support, parenting or property, you’d generally use Form 8: Application (General) instead.

Where to get the Form 8A PDF

Form 8A is available free on the Ontario Court Forms website with the other Family Law Rules forms. Forms are updated from time to time, and courts can reject outdated versions, so download a fresh copy rather than reusing an old file.

What Form 8A asks for

The form walks through your case in a logical order. Expect to provide:

1. Court information: the Superior Court of Justice location, and space for the court file number.
2. The parties: full legal names, addresses and contact details of the applicant(s) and respondent, plus any lawyers.
3. Type of application: whether it’s a simple (sole) or joint application.
4. Details of the marriage: date and place of marriage, and both spouses’ surnames before marriage.
5. Residence: confirmation that either spouse has lived in Ontario for at least one year before filing.
6. Grounds for divorce: usually separation, with your separation date. Adultery and cruelty are other grounds but are rarely used in uncontested cases.
7. Children: names and dates of birth of children of the marriage, their living arrangements and child support.
8. Previous cases and agreements: any earlier court cases or written agreements between you.
9. Claims: what you’re asking for, usually a divorce and, sometimes, costs.
10. Reconciliation and signatures: statements about reconciliation and the required signatures, plus a lawyer’s certificate if a lawyer is involved.

Form 8A for a joint divorce

In a joint application, both spouses sign Form 8A as co-applicants. There’s no respondent to serve, so once the application is issued you can move straight to the affidavit for divorce. Compare the routes in joint vs sole divorce application.

Form 8A for a simple divorce

In a simple application, one spouse signs as the applicant, and the other spouse is the respondent. After the court issues the application, the respondent must be personally served by a third party, who then completes Form 6B: Affidavit of Service.

Filing Form 8A and paying the fee

You can file online with the Superior Court of Justice or in person at a family court office. The filing fee is $224: $214 provincial plus the $10 federal divorce registry fee. See divorce application fees and filing online.

What comes after Form 8A?

• Form 6B: Affidavit of Service (simple applications)
• Form 36: Affidavit for Divorce
• Form 25A: Divorce Order

The full package is explained in uncontested divorce forms.

Common Form 8A mistakes

• Using a nickname or a different surname from the marriage certificate.
• Separation dates that don’t match the affidavit for divorce.
• Children missing or with incorrect dates of birth.
• Forgetting to note previous cases or agreements.
• Missing signatures, or a joint application signed by only one spouse.
• Using an outdated version of the form.

Let us prepare your Form 8A

Our divorce application in Ontario service prepares your Form 8A, affidavit and draft order, reviewed under a licensed Ontario lawyer, for $399 plus HST.

Frequently asked questions

This article is general legal information for Ontario residents, not legal advice about your situation. Laws, court forms and fees change; contact us to confirm how they apply to you.