Ontario’s Form 36B, the Certificate of Divorce, is issued on request by the court that granted your divorce, once the 31-day appeal period after the divorce order has passed. You fill in the top half of the one-page form with details drawn from your divorce order, submit it to the same court location that heard your case, and pay a $25 fee. The clerk completes the certification section, applies the court seal, and returns the certificate to you. You can file online through Justice Services Online, in person at the courthouse, or by mail.
Wait 31 Days After the Divorce Order
A signed divorce order is not a final divorce. Under section 12 of the federal Divorce Act, a divorce takes effect on the thirty-first day after the judgment is rendered.1Justice Canada. Divorce Act RSC 1985, c 3 (2nd Supp) – Section 12 The gap exists so either spouse can appeal. If no appeal is filed, day 31 is the effective date, and the court can issue your certificate from that point forward.
If an appeal is filed within those 31 days, the divorce is suspended and no certificate can be issued until the appeal is resolved.2Ontario Court Forms. Form 36B Certificate of Divorce A court can shorten the waiting period in special circumstances if both spouses agree not to appeal, but this is uncommon.
Details You Need Before You Start
Pull out your divorce order and confirm each of the following. Every entry on Form 36B must match the court file exactly; a misspelled name or wrong date is enough to have the request rejected.
- Court file number — the case number assigned when the divorce application was filed, printed on every document in the file.
- Full legal names of both spouses, spelled exactly as they appear on the divorce order, including middle names.
- Place of marriage — the city or municipality where the marriage was solemnized.
- Date of marriage.
- Date of the divorce order — the date the judge signed it.
- Date the divorce took effect — usually day 31 after the order, unless the court set an earlier effective date.
- Current contact information for both parties (addresses, phone, email), plus lawyer information if either party is represented.
Download the current version of Form 36B from the Ontario Court Forms website so you are working from the right template.
Filling Out the Form
Form 36B is a single page. You complete the top portion: court location and file number, party names and contact information, marriage details, and the two divorce dates. Leave the bottom section blank. That is where the court clerk certifies that the marriage was dissolved on the effective date and applies the court seal.2Ontario Court Forms. Form 36B Certificate of Divorce
Sign and date the form before submitting. Keep a copy for your records — once filed online, you cannot re-open the submission through the portal.
Where to Send It
Your request must go to the court location that granted your divorce, not just any Ontario courthouse.3Ontario. Get Copies of Family Law Documents From Court If you are not sure which court that was, search your case through the Ontario Courts Public Portal or use the courthouse locator on ontario.ca.
Online Through Justice Services Online
This is the fastest option. You need a My Ontario Account, your completed Form 36B saved as a PDF, your court file number, and a Visa, Mastercard, or debit card. Upload the signed form, pay the $25 fee, and submit. You should get an email within five business days confirming whether the submission was accepted. If accepted, the certificate arrives as an attachment. If rejected, the email explains why and any fee is refunded.
In Person
Bring the completed form and payment to the court office that granted your divorce. The clerk will check that the 31-day period has passed and that your details match the file. Court counters accept credit card, debit card, or cash. Many offices can process a straightforward request the same day or within a few days.
By Mail
Mail the completed form with a cheque or money order for $25 payable to the Minister of Finance to the court that handled the divorce.3Ontario. Get Copies of Family Law Documents From Court Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return. Total time depends on postal transit in both directions.
The Fee
Each Certificate of Divorce costs $25.3Ontario. Get Copies of Family Law Documents From Court Additional copies requested later are $25 each.
What the Certificate Confirms
The issued certificate shows the names of both spouses, the place and date of the marriage, the date of the divorce order, and the date the divorce took effect. A physical certificate carries an embossed court seal, which is the security feature government agencies and foreign institutions look for.2Ontario Court Forms. Form 36B Certificate of Divorce Online submissions return a digital certificate. If you need the embossed physical version — for example, for use abroad — request it in person or by mail.
Using the Certificate to Remarry
To apply for an Ontario marriage licence, you need to bring your Certificate of Divorce. The province accepts the original certificate or a court-certified copy as proof that your previous marriage ended.4Ontario. Before Getting Married A signed divorce order is not the same document, and bringing only the order may not be accepted. If you plan to remarry elsewhere in Canada, the certificate serves the same purpose, though it is worth confirming any additional requirements with the marriage licence office in that province or territory.
Using the Certificate Outside Canada
Since January 2024, Canada is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so Ontario can issue an apostille — a standardized international authentication — for your divorce certificate.5Government of Canada. Authenticate Your Documents – Before You Start Ontario’s Official Documents Services (ODS) processes these requests.
Whether your certificate needs notarization first depends on when it was issued:
- Issued on or after July 10, 2023: eligible for direct authentication without notarization.
- Issued before July 10, 2023: either have it notarized first, or ask the court to reissue a new certificate, which then qualifies for direct authentication.6Ontario. Authenticate a Document for Use Outside Canada
The authentication fee is $32 per document, and ODS processes requests within 15 business days after receiving the document.6Ontario. Authenticate a Document for Use Outside Canada You can submit through the document authentication portal on ontario.ca, by mail, or in person. Contact the agency or institution in the destination country beforehand to confirm what they need; some require a certified translation alongside the apostille.
For U.S. purposes, an apostilled Ontario certificate is generally sufficient for federal agencies like USCIS, the IRS, and the Social Security Administration, though each agency has its own submission rules and the SSA in particular requires originals or copies certified by the issuing court rather than photocopies.7Social Security Administration. Learn What Documents You Will Need to Get a Social Security Card Confirm requirements with the specific agency before you send anything.