Application for Divorce Form Australia: What You Need to Know Before Filing

There's no single paper form you download and mail in. Since Australia moved to mandatory electronic filing, the "Application for Divorce" is an interactive online form completed through the Commonwealth Courts Portal (comcourts.gov.au). The portal walks you through each section — but understanding what's asked before you sit down saves mistakes that can't be undone once you lock your answers.

The Six Parts of the Application

Part A: Your Details

Basic personal information — full legal name, date of birth, current residential address, and contact details. If filing jointly, both applicants' details are entered here.

Part B: Marriage Details

You'll need your marriage certificate in front of you. The portal asks for:

• Date of marriage
• Place of marriage (city, state/country)
• Full names as they appear on the certificate
• Whether it was a civil or religious ceremony

If your certificate is in a language other than English, you must upload a NAATI-accredited translation alongside the original.

Part C: Jurisdictional Connection

This is where you prove the court has the power to grant your divorce. At least one party must be:

• An Australian citizen (by birth, descent, or grant)
• Domiciled in Australia (regard it as permanent home)
• Ordinarily resident in Australia for at least 12 months immediately before filing

The portal asks which connection applies and what evidence you have (passport, citizenship certificate, or address history).

Part D: Separation Details

The critical section. You enter:

• The exact date of separation
• Whether you've been separated continuously for 12 months and 1 day
• Whether you lived together after separating (and for how long)
• Whether any reconciliation occurred during the period

If you separated under one roof, the portal flags that additional affidavit evidence will be required.

Part E: Hearing Preferences

You select:

• Your preferred registry (in Victoria: Melbourne or Dandenong)
• A hearing date from available calendar slots
• Whether you request the matter be determined in your absence (for joint applications)

Part F: Children of the Marriage

If there are children under 18, you must describe:

• Where they live and with whom
• Their schooling arrangements
• Healthcare provisions
• Contact schedule with each parent
• Any existing court orders or parenting plans

The registrar reviews Part F to confirm children are being adequately cared for. Vague or incomplete answers can trigger a requirement to attend the hearing or provide further information.

If there are no children under 18 from the marriage, you skip this section.

Documents You'll Need Ready

Before starting the portal application, gather:

• Marriage certificate (original or certified copy)
• NAATI translation (if certificate not in English)
• Proof of Australian connection (passport, citizenship certificate)
• Concession card (both sides, scanned) if applying for the reduced fee
• Details of children's living arrangements (if applicable)

The "Lock and Continue" Warning

The portal uses a "Lock and Continue" function at the end of each section. Once locked, you cannot go back and edit that section. If you discover an error after locking — you'll need to abandon the application and start fresh.

This means:

• Have all documents ready before you start
• Double-check dates (especially the separation date) before locking
• Confirm marriage certificate details match exactly what you've entered

The eFiling Affidavit (Generated After Completion)

After completing all sections, the portal generates your Affidavit for eFiling Application (Divorce). This isn't a separate form you fill in — it's automatically created from your answers and must be printed, signed before a witness, and uploaded back to the portal.

Filing Fee

• Standard: A$1,170 (as of July 2026)
• Reduced: A$390 (with qualifying concession card)

Payment is online via the portal after your affidavit is uploaded.

Common Form Mistakes

• Entering the wrong marriage date. Transcription errors from the certificate cause immediate rejection.
• Separation date miscalculation. Filing even one day early means the court cannot accept your application.
• Incomplete Part F. "The children live with me" isn't enough detail. Include schooling, healthcare, and the other parent's contact arrangements.
• Missing translation. A foreign-language marriage certificate without NAATI translation stops the application cold.
• Locking a section with errors. There is no edit function — only start over.

State-Specific Notes

The application form is federal and identical across all states. However, your registry choice (Part E) determines where the hearing is administratively managed. Victorian applicants typically select Melbourne (305 William Street) or Dandenong. Regional Victorians in Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, or Shepparton are still managed through the Melbourne registry.

The Victoria Divorce Filing Process Guide provides a section-by-section portal companion designed to sit beside you as you complete each part — preventing lock-in mistakes and ensuring your answers meet registrar expectations the first time.

See more Victoria guides →