Divorce Certificate BC: How to Get One and What It Means

Two Documents, Two Different Purposes

People searching for a "divorce certificate" in BC are usually looking for one of two things, and they're not the same document.

The Final Order (Form F52) is the court order that legally ends your marriage. A Supreme Court judge signs it as part of the desk order divorce process. This is the document that actually dissolves the marriage — without it, you're still legally married.

The Certificate of Divorce (Form F56) is an optional administrative document issued by the registry after the divorce is final. It's a clean, standalone certificate confirming your marital status. Think of it as the divorce equivalent of a birth certificate — a formatted extract from the court record.

When the Divorce Is Actually Final

A common misconception: the divorce takes effect the moment the judge signs the order. It doesn't. Under Section 12(1) of the Divorce Act, the divorce becomes legally final on the 31st day after the judge signs the Final Order — provided no appeal has been filed in that window.

During those 31 days, you're still legally married. You can't remarry.

When You Need the Certificate of Divorce

The Final Order is sufficient proof of divorce for most domestic purposes — updating your will, notifying your bank, changing beneficiaries on insurance policies.

But certain situations may make the Certificate of Divorce (Form F56) useful or requested:

• Remarriage. The Certificate of Divorce is clean proof of your divorce, but in Canada your divorce order is also enough.
• International purposes. If you need to prove your marital status in another country, some countries may require a Certificate of Divorce or prefer it for authentication.
• Immigration applications. Immigration and citizenship processes may ask for formal proof of divorce, but the required document varies by application.

If none of these apply, you may not need one at all. The Final Order on its own is legal proof that your marriage has been dissolved.

How to Request a Certificate of Divorce

You can request Form F56 from the Supreme Court registry where your divorce was filed. Two options:

In person: CA$40. Bring your court file number and photo ID. The registry prepares and issues the certificate while you wait or within a few business days.

By mail: CA$50. Send a written request to the registry with your court file number, both spouses' full names, and a cheque or money order for the fee.

You can request the certificate any time after the 31-day finalization period has passed. There's no deadline — the court record is permanent.

What About the Marriage Certificate?

Your original marriage certificate is filed with the court as part of the divorce application. The registry keeps it. If you need proof of the marriage that was dissolved (for example, for a name change application), you can order a replacement from BC Vital Statistics (CA$27 standard, CA$50 certified) or from the vital statistics office of whatever province or country the marriage took place in.

Keeping Your Records Straight

After your divorce is final, make sure you have:

1. A copy of the signed Final Order (Form F52) — the court document that ended the marriage
2. The Certificate of Divorce (Form F56) if you plan to remarry or need it for international purposes
3. Your court file number on record for any future requests

The British Columbia Divorce Filing Process Guide includes a post-order checklist covering the Certificate of Divorce request, CPP credit splitting, pension division forms, and other administrative steps that follow the final order.

See more British Columbia guides →