Using Justice Services Online to File for Divorce

Filing for divorce in Ontario no longer has to mean standing in line at a courthouse. Family court documents can be filed online, which saves a trip but still requires careful preparation. A rejected submission or a missed deadline can cost you time.

This guide walks through the process in the order you will likely meet it: choosing the right system, creating your login, preparing the documents, paying, and waiting for approval.

Step 1: Choose the right system

Since 14 October 2025, family filings for the Toronto region must be made on the Ontario Courts Public Portal. Outside Toronto, filings go through Family Submissions Online, which is part of Justice Services Online. Which one you use depends on the court location where your case belongs.

Divorce claims can only be heard in the Superior Court of Justice, including the Family Court branch, not the Ontario Court of Justice. If you are unsure which court is right for you, a Family Law Information Centre or a lawyer can help.

Step 2: Create your login and prepare documents

You need an Ontario.ca Login to file online. Set this up before you need to file. Documents must be completed, signed, dated and commissioned as required, and saved as individual PDF or Word files.

• Ontario.ca Login created and working.
• Correct forms completed, such as Form 8A for a simple divorce-only or joint application.
• Documents signed, dated and commissioned where required.
• Each document saved as its own PDF or Word file.
• Payment card ready: Visa, Visa Debit, Mastercard or Debit Mastercard only.

Check that you meet the basic requirements first. At least one spouse must have been habitually resident in Ontario for at least one year before the proceeding starts. The court must also be satisfied that reasonable arrangements are in place for the support of any children of the marriage.

Step 3: Submit and pay

Sessions time out after 40 minutes on the Toronto portal and 20 minutes on Family Submissions Online, which allows you to save a draft. Have all your files ready so that you do not lose your work.

Court fees can change, so confirm the current amounts before you file. Anyone filing an application or an answer with a divorce claim must include the federal fee.

Step 4: Wait for review, and know the limits

Court staff review submissions within 3 business days. If the filing is accepted, you get an email and the status changes to Approved. If it is rejected, your card is not charged, and you can fix it and resubmit.

You cannot file online for an urgent hearing, or when a court date or legal deadline is 3 business days or less away. If you were served with an application, remember that the answer deadline is 30 days after service, or 60 days if you are outside Canada and the United States. Do not leave it until the last days, since a rejected filing could push you past the deadline.

If you cannot afford the fees

A fee waiver may be available. You may qualify if your main household income is from Ontario Works, ODSP, OAS with GIS, War Veterans Allowance or CPP benefits, if a lawyer is paid by a Legal Aid Certificate, or if gross annual household income is below $33,100 for one person, $49,600 for two, $57,300 for three, $68,700 for four, or $80,200 for five or more. Household liquid assets must be under $2,800 and net worth under $11,100.

Use Form FW-A 3 if you think you meet the financial requirements and FW-A 4 if you do not. The form must be sworn or affirmed, there is no cost to apply, and a waiver must be requested separately for each case. A waiver does not cover lawyers, mediators or transcriptionists, costs ordered against you, fees already paid, the federal divorce registry fee, or fees for serving documents. The income limits are adjusted from time to time, so confirm them before you apply.

What to do next

• Decide which portal applies to your court location.
• Create your Ontario.ca Login now.
• Prepare and check every document before you start your session.
• File well before any deadline, allowing for the 3 business day review.
• Ask a lawyer if you are unsure about property, support or children's arrangements.

Frequently asked questions