Home British Columbia Uncontested Divorce Kit
2026 edition • Built on official BC Supreme Court Family Rules formsBritish Columbia Uncontested “Desk Order” Divorce Kit
The Supreme Court Family Rules forms and plain-English instructions to prepare a BC desk order divorce yourself — matched to the sole or joint route.
- Route-matched forms — sole (Form F3) or joint (Form F1) claim
- Step-by-step filing instructions, in plain English
- Free eligibility check before you pay anything
- Instant PDF download — $129 one-time, no subscription
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“The instructions were clear and the forms were easy to follow. Filing felt manageable.”
Sandra C. · Vancouver, British Columbia
Do you qualify for a BC desk order divorce?
The desk-order route works when your divorce is genuinely uncontested and your parenting, support and property issues are already settled.
This kit fits if…
- ✓ You or your spouse has been habitually resident in British Columbia for at least one year immediately before the case is started.
- ✓ You are relying on one year’s separation. You can file before the year is up, but a judge cannot grant the divorce on this ground until you have lived separate and apart for a full year. (Adultery and cruelty are also grounds under the Divorce Act, but need different evidence and are not suited to this workflow.)
- ✓ Your spouse will not defend: on the sole route they are properly served and do not file a Response (Form F4), or file and then withdraw it; or you apply jointly.
- ✓ Parenting, contact and support are fully agreed or already ordered, and any child support meets the Federal Child Support Guidelines — the court must be satisfied reasonable child-support arrangements are in place before it grants a divorce.
- ✓ You understand that property, pension and debt division is dealt with separately from these forms.
Talk to a lawyer first if…
- ✗ Neither spouse has lived in BC for a full year yet.
- ✗ Your spouse has filed a Response to Family Claim (Form F4) and will not withdraw it, will not communicate, or cannot be located.
- ✗ Parenting, contact or the child-support amount is not fully settled, or guardianship needs to be decided.
- ✗ There is family violence or coercion, or you need a protection order.
- ✗ You have a pension to divide, a company or real estate to split, significant debt, a bankruptcy, existing court orders, or a cross-border element.
Sole route or joint route?
BC uses a different starting form for each. Your eligibility check confirms which set you need — you receive the matching version.
In BC, an uncontested case is usually finished as a desk order divorce: a judge reviews your paperwork “at the desk” instead of at a hearing. This kit gives you the current Supreme Court Family Rules forms for your route — sole (one spouse applies, using the Notice of Family Claim, Form F3) or joint (both spouses apply together, using the Notice of Joint Family Claim, Form F1) — plus plain-language instructions for service, the federal registration step, and the desk-order requisition.
Sole (one spouse applies)
You file a Notice of Family Claim (Form F3) and serve your spouse personally. If they do not file a Response (Form F4) within the time allowed, the case proceeds as undefended and you complete the desk-order package.
Joint (both spouses apply)
You both sign a Notice of Joint Family Claim (Form F1). There is no service step and no Response period. The joint route relies on the one-year-separation ground.
Why use a desk order kit?
For a genuinely uncontested case, the desk order route lets you present your evidence in an affidavit (Form F38) instead of testifying. Done carefully, it keeps a straightforward divorce affordable and predictable — without paying a lawyer to prepare standard paperwork.
Keep more of your money
You do the paperwork yourself and keep the difference between a lawyer’s fee and the kit price — see the breakdown alongside.
Usually no court appearance
Most qualifying desk-order applications are decided from the filed documents — the usual outcome, not a guarantee.
What a BC divorce costs
Base court fees are $200 (commence) + $10 (federal registration) + $80 (desk-order requisition). Electronic filing, a process server, affidavit commissioning, copies and a Certificate of Divorce are extra.
What’s in the kit
The current Supreme Court Family Rules divorce forms for your route, set up so you know what each one does and the order to file them in.
The form that starts your case
- Notice of Family Claim (Form F3) for the sole route, or Notice of Joint Family Claim (Form F1) for the joint route
- Guidance on residency, the ground for divorce, and what to claim (and not claim) on the desk-order route
Your desk-order package
The set a judge reviews under Rule 10-10:
Filing roadmap
- Step-by-step instructions for filing, personal service and proof of an undefended case
- The federal Registration of Divorce Proceedings, and requesting the registry’s Certificate of Pleadings (F36)
- Assembling the requisition, with a self-check list before you submit
What this kit does not include
- The Certificate of Pleadings (Form F36) — a registry official issues this after certifying your pleadings and proceedings are in order; a private kit cannot
- Property, pension or debt division (separate forms and process)
- Guardianship applications (Form F101) or a contested corollary-relief claim
- Filing or serving your documents for you, or any court representation
- Legal advice about your specific situation
- Court and registration fees, process-server or commissioning costs
Always confirm the current form versions and the full, fact-specific filing set against the live Supreme Court Family Rules forms index and Rule 10-10 before filing. Forms and fees can change.
How it works
The path to a BC Final Order on the desk-order route.
File & register
File the Notice of Family Claim (F3) or Notice of Joint Family Claim (F1) with the Supreme Court registry ($200), together with the federal Registration of Divorce Proceedings form ($10). The court verifies that form and sends it to the Central Registry of Divorce Proceedings within seven days — a check for other divorce proceedings between you and your spouse.
Serve (sole route only)
Have someone else serve your spouse personally with the filed documents. They have 30 days after service (in BC) to file a Response (Form F4). Keep proof of service. Joint applicants skip this step.
Certificate of Pleadings + requisition
Ask the registry for the Certificate of Pleadings (F36). Then file the Requisition (F35), your Affidavit – Desk Order Divorce (F38), proof the case is undefended, proof of service, a draft Final Order (F52), and any F37/F102 required by your situation. Pay the $80 desk-order fee (plus $7 per package if you e-file).
Review & Final Order
A judge reviews the file — this can take several weeks — and either returns it for correction, asks for more evidence, or signs the Final Order. The divorce takes effect on the 31st day after the day the order is made; you can then request a Certificate of Divorce.
Kit pricing vs. lawyer fees
| Feature | PlainDivorce kit | Typical lawyer |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation cost | $129 | $2,500–$5,000 |
| Base court fees | $290 (paid to the court) | $290 (usually billed on top) |
| Pace | You set it (DIY) | Lawyer’s schedule |
| Forms included | Yes — route-matched | Yes |
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What our customers say
Experiences from people who prepared their divorce paperwork with PlainDivorce.
4.7 out of 5 based on 300+ customer reviews
Customer reviews are collected from purchasers and support conversations. Names may be shortened for privacy, and individual results vary by court, case facts, and filing requirements.
“The instructions were clear and the forms were easy to follow. Filing felt manageable.”
Sandra C.
Vancouver
“I slept better knowing the paperwork was organised and I knew what to file next.”
Cecilia S.
Burnaby
“A fraction of what a lawyer quoted me for the same uncontested paperwork.”
John U.
Surrey
“Straightforward and well laid out. I knew exactly which form came next.”
Sophie M.
Kelowna
BC desk order divorce: frequently asked questions
What is a desk order divorce in BC?
It is the route for a qualifying uncontested divorce where a judge of the Supreme Court of British Columbia decides the case from the filed documents, without an oral hearing. Your evidence goes in an affidavit (Form F38). It is not automatic just because you both agree: a registry official first certifies your pleadings are in order (Form F36), and under Rule 10-10 the court can require more evidence or an appearance before a judge signs the Final Order.
Which form starts my divorce — F3 or F1?
A sole application (one spouse applying) starts with a Notice of Family Claim (Form F3), which must be served on the other spouse. When both spouses apply together, you use a Notice of Joint Family Claim (Form F1) and there is no service step. Either way, only the Supreme Court can grant the divorce.
Do I have to live in BC to file?
Yes. You or your spouse must have been habitually resident in British Columbia for at least the one year immediately before the case is started. This is separate from the one-year separation requirement.
How much are the court filing fees?
The current listed base fees total $290: $200 to start the Supreme Court family case, $10 for the federal Central Registry of Divorce Proceedings, and $80 to file the desk-order requisition (Form F35). Electronic filing adds $7 per document package. Service, commissioning affidavits, copies, and a Certificate of Divorce are separate, and fees can change. A fee waiver may be available if you cannot afford the fees.
What is the Registration of Divorce Proceedings step?
You complete this federal form when you file. The court checks it and sends it to the Central Registry of Divorce Proceedings in Ottawa within seven days. The Registry confirms whether there is another divorce proceeding between you and your spouse elsewhere in Canada. The $10 fee can be waived if you receive legal aid.
How does the one-year separation ground work?
You can file at any time after separating, but a judge cannot grant a separation-ground divorce until you have lived separate and apart for at least one year. Living together again briefly (up to 90 days total) to try to reconcile does not restart the clock. Adultery and cruelty are also grounds under the Divorce Act, but they need different evidence and are not used in this desk-order workflow.
We have children — can we still use this?
Only if parenting arrangements and child support are fully agreed or already ordered, and the child support follows the Federal Child Support Guidelines. Where a child of the marriage is involved, a Child Support Affidavit (Form F37) is required, and a Statement of Information for Corollary Relief (Form F102) where a Divorce Act support or parenting order is sought. The court will not grant the divorce unless it is satisfied reasonable child-support arrangements have been made. If guardianship still needs to be decided (Form F101), or anything is disputed, see a lawyer.
When is the divorce final?
A divorce normally takes effect on the 31st day after the day the judgment granting it is made — the appeal period. In limited special circumstances the court can set an earlier date if both spouses agree and undertake not to appeal; a pending appeal changes the result. Once the divorce has taken effect you can request a Certificate of Divorce, which is the proof you need to remarry.
Is PlainDivorce a law firm?
No. PlainDivorce is a self-help information service. We provide the current official forms with plain-language instructions; we do not give legal advice, review your documents for accuracy, issue the Certificate of Pleadings, or file anything for you. For advice about your situation, or if anything is disputed, consult a BC family lawyer.
Important legal disclaimer
PlainDivorce is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, legal opinions, or representation. The British Columbia Uncontested Divorce Kit is a self-help information product containing publicly available Supreme Court Family Rules forms with general instructions. It is not a substitute for advice from a licensed BC lawyer.
We do not guarantee that a registry or a judge will accept any particular filing. A registry official issues the Certificate of Pleadings (Form F36) and a judge decides whether to grant the Final Order. Court rules, forms and fees (currently $200 to commence, $10 for federal registration, and $80 for a desk-order requisition, before electronic-filing and case-specific costs) change from time to time. You are responsible for confirming the current requirements and form versions with the Supreme Court registry before filing.
Content last reviewed: September 2026.