New Brunswick Divorce Filing Fee

The baseline court filing fee for a divorce in New Brunswick is $110 — that's $100 for the petition and $10 for the federal Clearance Certificate. But the total out-of-pocket cost depends on how you handle service, how many affidavits need swearing, and whether you qualify for a fee waiver.

Here's every cost you'll face.

Court Fees

The filing fee is payable to the Minister of Finance by cheque or money order when you submit your petition to the Registrar in Fredericton.

Variable Costs

Beyond the fixed court fees, several costs depend on your situation:

Process server: $75–$250 depending on the server and location. The local Sheriff's Office typically charges $50–$100. You can also have any adult friend or family member (age 19+) serve the papers for free — they just can't be a party to the divorce.

Commissioner of Oaths: $10–$25 per affidavit. You'll need at least one (Affidavit of Evidence) and possibly two (Affidavit of Service if you're the one arranging service). Some Service New Brunswick locations offer notarial services.

Certified marriage certificate: If you don't already have the original, ordering one from Vital Statistics costs $30–$50 depending on the jurisdiction.

Registered mail: If serving by mail, registered letter with return card costs about $15–$25 through Canada Post. But this only works if the respondent signs and returns Form 18A — if they refuse, you're back to hiring a process server.

Total Cost Ranges

These figures are for self-represented filers. Lawyer-assisted uncontested divorces in New Brunswick add $907–$2,300 on top of court fees.

Fee Waiver: Filing for Free

Under Rule 72.24(2) of the New Brunswick Rules of Court, you may qualify for a complete waiver of the $110 filing fee if you receive assistance under the Family Income Security Act.

This means that recipients of provincial social assistance can file for divorce without paying any court fees. The waiver covers the $100 petition fee and the $10 Clearance Certificate fee.

To apply, you'll typically need to provide documentation of your social assistance status when submitting your filing package to the Fredericton Registrar.

Free and Low-Cost Legal Help

If you can't afford a lawyer but need guidance, New Brunswick has several resources:

• Family Law Information Line: 1-888-236-2444 (toll-free, province-wide)
• Family Law Information Centres: In-person help at the Saint John and Moncton courthouses
• Family Law Advice Lawyer Service: Up to two hours of free legal advice from a licensed family lawyer, funded by the province
• UNB Legal Clinic: Free legal assistance from supervised law students for qualifying individuals
• Legal Aid New Brunswick: Full representation for those who meet strict financial eligibility criteria

How New Brunswick Compares

New Brunswick's $110 filing fee is among the lower court fees in Canada. For context:

• Ontario charges $632 for a divorce application
• British Columbia charges $290 for a joint filing
• Alberta charges $260 for a Statement of Claim for Divorce

The province's total self-filing cost of $130–$400 is also significantly less than national online divorce platforms ($139–$899) or local lawyer-assisted packages ($907–$2,300).

Keeping Costs Down

The biggest cost savings come from two choices: doing the filing yourself (saving $907+ in legal fees) and having a friend or family member serve the papers instead of hiring a process server (saving $75–$250).

If you and your spouse agree on all terms, a joint petition — available in Fredericton, Bathurst, Campbellton, Edmundston, Miramichi, and Woodstock — eliminates service costs entirely.

The New Brunswick Divorce Filing Process Guide includes a costs breakdown worksheet and tracks every fee as you move through the process, so nothing catches you by surprise.

See more New Brunswick guides →