Nova Scotia Divorce Forms Checklist: Every Form You Need by Filing Pathway

Why the Right Forms Matter

Nova Scotia's Supreme Court (Family Division) uses a specific set of forms under Civil Procedure Rule 59. Submitting the wrong form — or missing one — is one of the top reasons self-filed applications get kicked back. The forms you need depend entirely on which filing pathway you choose.

All forms are free to download from nsfamilylaw.ca. The court doesn't charge for blank forms. What they don't provide is a filing sequence telling you which forms to submit, in what order, and at which stage.

Pathway 1: Joint Application (Form 59.46)

Both spouses file together as co-applicants. No formal service required.

At initial filing:

• Form 59.46 — Joint Application for Divorce
• Form FD1 — Statement of Contact Information (one per spouse)
• Personal Representation Form
• Original long-form marriage certificate
• Signed separation agreement or consented draft orders

Second-stage filing:

• Form 59.48A — Draft Divorce Order
• Form 59.48B — Draft Corollary Relief Order
• Financial disclosure forms (FD3, FD6, FD7) if children, support, or property division is involved
• Form FD2A — Parenting Statement (if children are involved)

Pathway 2: Application by Written Agreement (Form 59.45)

One spouse files; the other must be personally served.

At initial filing:

• Form 59.45 — Application for Divorce by Written Agreement
• Form FD1 — Statement of Contact Information
• Personal Representation Form
• Original long-form marriage certificate
• Signed separation agreement

After service:

• Form 31.05 / Practice Memorandum #2 — Affidavit of Service (sworn by the person who served the documents)

Second-stage filing:

• Form 59.44 — Uncontested Motion for Divorce
• Form FD12 — Affidavit Supporting an Uncontested Divorce
• Form 59.48A — Draft Divorce Order
• Form 59.48B — Draft Corollary Relief Order
• Financial disclosure forms as applicable

Pathway 3: Petition for Divorce (Form 59.09)

Used when spouses disagree or one cannot be located.

At initial filing:

• Form 59.09 — Petition for Divorce
• Form FD1 — Statement of Contact Information
• Personal Representation Form
• Original long-form marriage certificate

After service:

• Form 31.05 — Affidavit of Service
• (If Respondent cannot be found) Form FD14 — Ex Parte Motion for Substituted Service

If the Respondent doesn't answer (uncontested default):

• Form 59.44 — Uncontested Motion for Divorce
• Form FD12 — Affidavit Supporting an Uncontested Divorce
• Form 59.48A — Draft Divorce Order
• Form 59.48B — Draft Corollary Relief Order

If the Respondent files an Answer (contested):

• Form 59.10 — Answer (filed by the Respondent)
• Form FD10 — Request for Date Assignment Conference

Financial and Parenting Forms (All Pathways)

The applicable additional forms depend on whether you have children or claims for support or property division:

• Form FD3 — Statement of Income (Line 15000 gross income for child support calculation)
• Form FD4 — Statement of Special or Extraordinary Expenses
• Form FD6 — Statement of Expenses
• Form FD7 — Statement of Property (all assets and debts)
• Form FD2A — Parenting Statement (proposed decision-making and parenting schedule)

The Federal Child Support Guidelines table amounts are calculated from Form FD3. A judge cannot sign a Divorce Order until they're satisfied that child support meets the Guidelines — or that any deviation is justified with financial evidence.

Keeping Track

With three pathways and multiple filing stages, it's easy to miss a form or submit it at the wrong step. The Nova Scotia Divorce Filing Process Guide organizes every form into a sequential checklist by pathway, so you know exactly what to prepare, when to file it, and what the registry checks before accepting your package.

See more Nova Scotia guides →