Documents Needed for Divorce in New Zealand: Complete Checklist

The Full Document Checklist

Getting your paperwork right is the difference between a smooth filing and weeks of delay. The Family Court has specific requirements for each document, and registry staff will return your application if anything is missing, uncertified, or printed on the wrong side of the page.

Here is everything you need, in the order you should prepare it.

1. Your Marriage Certificate

You need an original or certified copy of your official marriage certificate issued by the Department of Internal Affairs (Births, Deaths and Marriages). This is a white or pale document with a registration number — not the decorative certificate you signed on your wedding day.

The ceremony keepsake (sometimes called the "Copy of Particulars of Marriage" or the yellow form) is not accepted by the court. If you only have the decorative copy, order an official certificate from Births, Deaths and Marriages online. The official certificate costs NZ$35, and most people receive it within 2 weeks.

Overseas marriages: If you married outside New Zealand, you need the original certificate (or a certified copy from the issuing authority in your country of marriage). If the certificate is not in English, you must provide a certified translation from an authorised translation service. The translation is attached alongside the original.

2. The Correct Application Pack

Download your pack from the Ministry of Justice website. There are four packs covering different circumstances:

Print single-sided. The court's document scanners reject double-sided submissions. This is the single most common reason for applications being returned.

Each pack contains the application form and, where required, an affidavit section. If you are not appearing in court, complete it fully before taking it to be sworn.

3. The Sworn Affidavit (If You Do Not Appear in Court)

If you do not request a court appearance, your application includes an affidavit — a statement made under oath or affirmation. In it, you declare your separation date, confirm domicile, describe arrangements for any children under 16, and disclose any reconciliation attempts during the separation period.

The affidavit must be unsigned when you take it to your witness. You sign in front of a Justice of the Peace (free), court registrar, or solicitor. They witness your signature, initial any handwritten corrections, and certify the attached exhibits.

Your marriage certificate is attached to the affidavit as "Exhibit A." If you are including a separation agreement as evidence, it becomes "Exhibit B."

For a joint application without a court appearance, both parties complete their own affidavit sections. You can attend the same JP appointment together or go separately.

4. The G7 Information Sheet

Every dissolution application must include a completed G7 Information Sheet. This form records:

• Full names and dates of birth of both parties
• The date and place of marriage
• Details of any dependent children under 16
• A description of the arrangements made for each child's day-to-day care, contact with the other parent, and financial support

The court is legally required to be satisfied that child arrangements are adequate before it can make a dissolution order. If the G7 is vague or missing, the registrar will request more information and your application stalls.

5. Proof of Service (Sole Applications Only)

If you filed a sole application, you must eventually provide one or two additional documents after serving the respondent:

Affidavit of Service (Form G8): Sworn by the person who served the documents on your spouse. They confirm the date, time, and location of service before a JP or court registrar.

Affidavit of Identification: Required when the server does not personally know the respondent. The server obtains an acknowledgement of service (a signature) or a photograph of the respondent at the time of service. You then swear an affidavit confirming the person served was your spouse.

The Affidavit of Service, and the Affidavit of Identification when required, must be filed with the court before the application can proceed.

6. Fee Waiver Application (If Applicable)

The standard filing fee is NZ$247. If you cannot afford this, you can apply for a fee waiver. The waiver application must be submitted at the same time as your dissolution application and includes:

• The completed fee waiver form from the Ministry of Justice
• Evidence of financial hardship — a Community Services Card, WINZ benefit statement, or a statutory declaration of your financial situation

The registrar decides the waiver application. If declined, you have 20 days to request a judicial review of that decision.

Documents You Do Not Need

A few things people commonly think are required but are not:

• A separation agreement — useful as evidence but not mandatory for the dissolution application
• A lawyer — you can file entirely self-represented
• A property settlement — property division is a separate legal process under the Property (Relationships) Act 1976
• A parenting order — child arrangements must be described in the G7 sheet, but a formal court order is not required at the dissolution stage

Getting Everything in Order

The trickiest part of document preparation is ensuring consistency across all your forms — the same spelling of names, the same dates, the same separation details. A mismatch between your application and your affidavit is the second most common reason for registry rejection (after double-sided printing).

Our New Zealand Divorce Filing Process Guide includes a registry-readiness checklist that cross-checks every field across your documents before you file, so the court accepts your application on the first attempt.

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