First Payment
$224
When Your Application Is Filed
The initial payment comprises the $214 Ontario application filing fee and the $10 federal Central Registry of Divorce Proceedings fee.
Ontario Divorce Lawyer · Clear, Transparent Fees
Understand the cost of getting a divorce in Ontario, including legal fees, court charges and additional expenses. Shaikh Law Firm assists with simple and joint uncontested divorce applications.
Uncontested divorce — $999 + HST
Our standard legal fee for an uncontested divorce-only application. Court and registry fees, service, translations and other applicable expenses are separate.
Legal Fees · Court Fees · Additional Expenses
At Shaikh Law Firm, a standard uncontested divorce has a $1,797.87 subtotal, comprising $999 in legal fees, $129.87 in HST and $669 in court and registry fees. Applicable additional expenses are payable separately.
| Expense | Amount |
|---|---|
| Shaikh Law Firm Legal Fee Standard lawyer-managed divorce-only application | $999.00 |
| HST on Legal Fee Calculated at 13% | $129.87 |
| Court and Registry Fees Government charges, separate from our legal fee | $669.00 |
| Subtotal Before applicable additional expenses | $1,797.87 |
Contested divorce costs are different. If your matter involves disputed claims, the legal work and total cost depend on the issues, the steps required and whether a settlement is reached. The uncontested divorce subtotal above does not apply to those proceedings.
For an explanation of simple and joint applications, eligibility and the court process, read our uncontested divorce Ontario guide.
Government Fees Explained
For a standard divorce application in Ontario, court and registry fees total $669, ordinarily paid in two stages. These government charges are separate from your lawyer’s legal fees.
The same standard charges apply whether you hire a lawyer or prepare the application yourself, unless an applicable fee waiver or exemption reduces them.
First Payment
$224
The initial payment comprises the $214 Ontario application filing fee and the $10 federal Central Registry of Divorce Proceedings fee.
Second Payment
$445
The second payment is made when the application is placed on the list for a judge’s review. A straightforward uncontested divorce is generally reviewed on the written materials without requiring you to attend a court hearing.
Standard Court and Registry Fees $224 initial payment + $445 before judicial review
$669Divorce certificate: Requesting a certificate of divorce ordinarily costs an additional $25. It can be requested once the divorce takes effect. This charge is separate from the $669 application and review fees.
Unable to afford court fees? Eligible applicants may request a court fee waiver. An Ontario fee waiver does not waive the $10 federal registry fee, your lawyer’s fees or private expenses such as service and translation.
View the Ontario government’s family court fee schedule for the published charges.
Clear fees. Simple next steps.
Answer a few questions to see whether you qualify for an uncontested divorce and what it will cost.
Enter it to see when the one-year mark is reached.
This tool gives general information only and is not legal advice. Whether you qualify depends on the facts of your situation, which we confirm when we review your matter.
Fixed Legal Fee · Lawyer-Managed Service
Shaikh Law Firm offers a flat legal fee for a standard simple or joint uncontested divorce. Our legal team manages your divorce-only application, from preparing the court documents to following up on your divorce order, within the agreed retainer scope.
Review your instructions, marriage and separation details, and relevant agreements or court orders to assess the appropriate application.
Prepare the divorce application and supporting documents required for your standard simple or joint uncontested divorce.
Submit the required materials to the court and coordinate service where necessary. Government fees and applicable third-party service charges are additional.
Monitor the application and respond to routine court requests or objections concerning the divorce paperwork.
Follow up on the court’s decision, provide your divorce order when issued and explain when the divorce takes effect.
Assist with applying for your divorce certificate once the divorce takes effect. The government certificate fee is payable separately.
Standard Simple or Joint Uncontested Divorce
$999 + HST
Flat legal fee. Court fees of $669 and applicable additional expenses are payable separately.
Scope of service: This fee applies to a standard uncontested divorce-only application. Drafting or negotiating a separation agreement, resolving parenting, support or property disputes, contested proceedings and special procedural applications require a separate fee arrangement. If your spouse opposes the application or makes additional claims, we will discuss the further work and fees with you.
Understanding the Difference
An uncontested divorce generally costs less because the legal work is limited to an unopposed application. Contested proceedings involve additional work to resolve disputed claims, so the legal fees depend on the issues, the steps required and when the matter settles.
| Cost Factor | Uncontested Divorce | Contested Proceedings |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Fees | $999 + HST Shaikh Law Firm’s flat legal fee for a standard simple or joint divorce-only application. | Billed Hourly A separate fee arrangement applies. The total depends on the work required. |
| Court Fees | Standard court and registry fees of $669, unless reduced by an applicable waiver or exemption. | Applicable court fees depend on the claims and procedural steps. Court fees are separate from legal fees. |
| Legal Work | Preparing the divorce documents, managing filing, coordinating service where required and following up on the divorce order. | May include financial disclosure, negotiations, conferences, motions, settlement preparation and trial. |
| Additional Expenses | May include service, translations, replacement documents and the divorce certificate fee. | May also include mediation, property or business valuations, expert reports and other litigation expenses. |
| Budget Certainty | A defined legal fee for the agreed standard uncontested scope. | Estimates may change as the issues, evidence and required court steps develop. |
There is no single fixed price for a contested divorce in Ontario. The main cost drivers include:
Comparing Your Lower-Cost Options
Filing an uncontested divorce without a lawyer can have the lowest upfront legal cost because you do not pay a lawyer’s fee. Court fees and applicable additional expenses still apply. If you prefer a lawyer-managed process, a joint application can avoid the expense of serving the application on the other spouse.
Unsure which application suits your circumstances? Read our uncontested divorce Ontario guide or request a consultation with our team.
Understanding Your Complete Budget
Disbursements are out-of-pocket expenses paid to third parties in connection with your matter. Beyond legal fees and standard court charges, your divorce may involve additional expenses depending on the documents available, your spouse’s location and the services required.
A simple divorce application must be served in accordance with the applicable rules. If a paid process server is used, the charge depends on the location and service arrangements. Multiple attempts or service outside Ontario may increase the expense.
If your marriage certificate or another required document needs translation, the translator’s charges are additional. The cost depends on the language, document length and translation requirements for your application.
If your marriage certificate is unavailable, you may need to obtain a replacement or an official copy from the issuing authority. Document and delivery charges depend on where the marriage was registered.
A certificate of divorce can be requested once the divorce takes effect. The standard $25 government fee is additional to the $669 application and review fees, unless an applicable waiver covers that charge.
Financial Assistance With Court Charges
Eligible applicants can reduce their divorce expenses through an Ontario court fee waiver. If you prepare your own application and obtain a waiver, your court charges may be substantially reduced. The waiver does not automatically make the entire divorce process free.
$659
An approved waiver covering both standard provincial charges can waive the $214 application fee and the $445 fee before judicial review.
$10
The Ontario waiver does not cover the federal Central Registry of Divorce Proceedings fee. This charge remains payable unless a separate applicable exemption applies.
Eligibility may depend on qualifying benefits, Legal Aid representation, or household income and assets. Ontario Works and ODSP are among the benefits considered.
Court staff assess the request and supporting information. If you do not meet the standard criteria but cannot afford the fees, you may ask a judge to consider your circumstances.
Your Questions Answered
Answers to common questions about legal fees, court charges, lower-cost options and the Ontario divorce process.
At Shaikh Law Firm, a standard simple uncontested divorce costs $999 + HST in legal fees, plus $669 in court and registry fees. This produces a subtotal of $1,797.87 before applicable additional expenses.
Service, translations, replacement documents and the divorce certificate fee may add to your total.
Standard court and registry fees total $669, even if you prepare and file the application yourself. Additional expenses may include service, translation, commissioning where required and the divorce certificate.
An approved fee waiver may reduce applicable provincial court charges. You remain responsible for preparing and filing the required documents correctly.
No. The $999 + HST is our professional legal fee for the standard uncontested divorce-only service. The $669 government charges and applicable additional expenses are separate.
Our standard legal fee is the same for both: $999 + HST. A joint application can reduce additional expenses because neither joint applicant needs to serve the application on the other.
Both spouses participate and sign a joint application. A simple application is made by one spouse.
Eligible applicants may obtain a court fee waiver covering applicable provincial charges. However, an Ontario waiver does not cover the $10 federal registry fee, private legal fees, or expenses such as service and translation.
Self-filing with an approved waiver can substantially reduce your costs, but it does not automatically make every part of the process free. See our court fee waiver explanation.
Disputed parenting, support or property issues may require separate negotiations, an agreement or court proceedings. Our standard flat fee covers an uncontested divorce-only application, rather than resolving those disputed claims.
We can assess whether your divorce application can proceed and explain any additional legal services and fees required. A separation agreement is a separate service.
Timing depends on your separation date, the documents available, service requirements, response periods and the court’s processing time. Disputed claims or requests for further information can extend the process.
A divorce ordinarily takes effect on the 31st day after the judgment granting it, subject to statutory exceptions. Our uncontested divorce Ontario guide explains the process in more detail.
For a divorce based on separation, the spouses must have lived separate and apart for at least one year when the court determines the divorce proceeding.
An application may be started before that year has elapsed, provided the spouses are already separated and the other requirements are met. The divorce cannot be granted on the one-year separation basis until the required period is complete.
The legal ground is marriage breakdown. Under the Divorce Act, this may be established through one year of separation, adultery or cruelty, subject to the applicable statutory requirements.
A divorce application is the court document requesting a legal end to a marriage. Form 8A is commonly used for a standard divorce-only application, whether made individually or jointly.
Applications involving additional claims may require different or further documents. The appropriate paperwork depends on the relief being requested.
For an estimate based on your circumstances, request a quote from our team.
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Free 15-Minute Consultation
Tell us about your separation, your spouse’s location and the help you need. Our team will contact you to arrange a free 15-minute consultation, discuss the appropriate service and explain the legal fees, court charges and next steps.
Prefer to speak with our team? Call (905) 795-7757
Submitting this form does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Our firm will confirm the scope of services, fees and retainer terms before commencing work.