Divorce Application Packs NZ: Which Pack Do You Need?
Four Packs, One Decision
The Ministry of Justice provides four downloadable application packs for dissolution of marriage in New Zealand. Choosing the right one depends on two questions: are you filing together or alone, and does a final protection order apply?
Pick the wrong pack and the court returns your application, costing you weeks of delay and potentially a wasted trip to the JP.
Pack 1: Sole Application (Standard)
Use Pack 1 when you are filing by yourself because your spouse will not — or cannot — sign a joint application. This is the most common pack for people whose partner is uncooperative, unreachable, or simply passive.
What it contains:
- Application for Dissolution of Marriage (sole applicant version)
- Affidavit in Support of Application
- G7 Information Sheet (child arrangements)
What it triggers: After filing, the court stamps your documents and issues a Notice to Respondent. You must then arrange for a third party to personally serve these documents on your spouse. Service triggers a response window — 21 days if served in New Zealand, 30 days in Australia, 50 days elsewhere.
Eligibility: You and your spouse have been separated for at least two years. At least one of you is domiciled in New Zealand.
Pack 2: Joint Application (Standard)
Use Pack 2 when both parties agree to the dissolution and will sign the application together. This is the fastest and simplest path because no service of process is required — both signatures on the application prove mutual notice.
What it contains:
- Application for Dissolution of Marriage (joint version)
- Affidavit in Support — one section for each applicant
- G7 Information Sheet
What it triggers: Once filed, the court reviews the paperwork. If you elected no court appearance, the registrar processes the file and makes the dissolution order. If you requested a hearing, both parties attend briefly and the judge makes the order immediately.
Eligibility: Same as Pack 1, plus both parties must agree and sign.
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Pack 3: Sole Application Under Ashley's Law
Pack 3 came into force on 17 October 2025 under the Family Proceedings (Dissolution of Marriage or Civil Union for Family Violence) Amendment Act 2024 — colloquially known as Ashley's Law. Use it when you hold a final protection order against your spouse and are filing alone.
What it contains:
- Application for Dissolution on the ground of family violence (sole applicant version)
- Affidavit in Support, including a section for attaching a copy of the final protection order
- G7 Information Sheet
What makes it different:
- No two-year separation required. You can file immediately.
- No need to be living apart. The law recognises the danger inherent in the separation phase of abusive relationships.
- A temporary protection order does not qualify. The order must be final — either confirmed after a defended hearing or automatically finalised after three months without challenge.
Service: Pack 3 is a sole application, so service of process on the respondent is still required. If serving your spouse poses a safety risk, you can apply for substituted service (Form G21) so the documents are delivered via an alternative method.
Pack 4: Joint Application Under Ashley's Law
Pack 4 is the rarest of the four. It applies only when both parties hold mutual final protection orders against each other and agree to file jointly.
What it contains: The same structure as Pack 3, but in joint format — both parties sign and provide their respective final protection orders.
When it applies: In cases where both parties hold final protection orders against each other. Both must agree to dissolve the marriage jointly.
How to Choose
| Your situation | Pack |
|---|---|
| Both agree, two years separated, no protection orders | Pack 2 |
| Spouse will not sign, two years separated | Pack 1 |
| You hold a final protection order, filing alone | Pack 3 |
| Mutual final protection orders, both agree to file | Pack 4 |
If you are unsure whether your protection order is final, check the order itself or contact the court that issued it. Temporary orders — granted without notice and not yet confirmed — do not qualify for Packs 3 or 4.
Printing and Preparation Rules
All four packs share these core preparation requirements; affidavit and exhibit steps apply when you do not appear in court:
- Print single-sided — double-sided documents are rejected by the court's scanning system
- Complete the required fields for your chosen court-appearance option — blank sections trigger a request for further information
- If you are not appearing in court, do not sign the affidavit before seeing your witness — the JP, registrar, or solicitor must watch you sign
- Provide the marriage certificate — attach it as Exhibit A to the affidavit if you are not appearing in court; otherwise provide it with the application
- Provide the protection order as an additional exhibit to the affidavit when an affidavit is required, or with the application otherwise (Packs 3 and 4 only)
Beyond the Pack
The application pack is the starting point, not the whole process. For sole applications, you still need to arrange service, file proof of service (Form G8), and potentially apply for substituted service if your spouse cannot be found. For joint applications, both parties need to coordinate their JP appointments and ensure their affidavits are consistent when using the no-court-appearance option.
Our New Zealand Divorce Filing Process Guide includes a pack selector decision tree and step-by-step instructions for each pack, so every form is completed correctly before you reach the JP's desk.
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