Ontario Divorce Forms Explained: What Form 8, 8A, and 36 Are For

Ontario family cases run on a standardized set of court forms under the Family Law Rules, and divorce has its own corner of that system. If you've started researching and keep running into references to Form 8, Form 8A, and Form 36, this is what each one is generally for — in plain language, before you're staring at a blank template wondering where to start.

One caution up front: court forms are updated and renumbered from time to time. Treat what follows as an explanation of the roles these forms play, and always confirm you're working from the current version before you file anything.

Why Divorce Has Its Own Set of Forms

Family cases in Ontario cover a wide range of claims — parenting, support, property, protection matters — and the Family Law Rules use different application forms depending on what's being asked for. Divorce gets its own version because a divorce claim (governed by the federal Divorce Act) has requirements that a general family application doesn't: proof the marriage broke down, proof of jurisdiction, and satisfaction that arrangements for any children's support are reasonable.

Form 8: The General Family Court Application

Form 8 is the general-purpose application used to start most family law cases that don't involve a divorce claim — for example, a parenting or support case between parents who were never married, or a property claim on its own. It's the workhorse form for the broad range of family matters outside the divorce-specific stream.

Form 8A: The Application Used for Divorce

Form 8A is the version used when a divorce claim is part of the case — whether the application asks for the divorce alone, or combines it with corollary relief claims like support, decision-making responsibility, or parenting time. Because it's built around a divorce claim, it includes the additional information a court needs to confirm jurisdiction and grounds for the divorce itself, alongside whatever other claims are included.

Form 36: The Affidavit That Supports an Uncontested Divorce

Form 36 is generally used as a sworn affidavit filed in support of an undefended divorce — the kind most Ontario divorces are, where nobody is contesting the terms. It puts the necessary facts before the judge in writing (things like separation, and that arrangements for any children are reasonable) so the divorce can typically be granted based on the paper record, without either spouse having to appear in court.

Other Paperwork You'll Likely Need Alongside These

Depending on what your case involves, expect additional forms beyond the core application and affidavit — most commonly a financial statement if support or property is in issue, and any consent or agreement documents if the terms are settled between you and your spouse. Which additional forms apply depends heavily on your specific claims, which is exactly the kind of thing worth confirming with a lawyer or the court's own guidance rather than guessing from a general list.

Always Check You Have the Current Version

Because family law forms are periodically revised — sometimes renumbered, sometimes just updated in content — the single most useful habit is downloading the current version directly from the official Ontario court forms source immediately before you file, rather than reusing an old copy you or someone else saved previously. An outdated form can be rejected at the counter, costing you time you didn't need to lose.

Why It's Worth Getting the Forms Right the First Time

Court staff generally review filed forms for completeness before a matter moves forward, and an incomplete or incorrectly filled-out form is one of the more common reasons a straightforward, uncontested divorce ends up taking longer than expected. It isn't usually about the law being complicated — it's about a signature missing, a section left blank, or a form that doesn't match the current version. None of that is a reflection of how strong your case is; it's simply the kind of administrative snag that a careful first pass through the paperwork avoids.

Frequently asked questions