Nova Scotia Family Court Forms: Which Ones You Need for Parenting Orders

Filing for a parenting order in Nova Scotia means working through a specific set of court forms. The forms are available as interactive PDFs from the Nova Scotia Family Law website (nsfamilylaw.ca), but knowing which ones you need — and how to fill them out correctly — is where most self-represented parents hit trouble.

Here's a breakdown of the core forms and the filing process.

The Forms You'll Need

For a Parenting Application (No Divorce)

If you're unmarried, common-law, or separated without filing for divorce, you're applying under the Parenting and Support Act:

• Notice of Application (Form 59.07) — the document that formally starts your case
• Statement of Contact Information (Form FD1) — identifying and contact information for all parties and children, plus any existing court orders or safety measures
• Parenting Statement (Form FD2A) — the most detailed form, requiring your child's school and childcare schedule, any special needs, the current actual parenting arrangement, and your precise proposed schedule (broken into regular school-year, summer, holidays, and special occasions)

For a Divorce with Parenting Orders

If you're married and filing for divorce with parenting arrangements:

• Petition for Divorce (Form 59.09) or Joint Application for Divorce (Form 59.46) if both spouses agree
• Statement of Contact Information (Form FD1)
• Parenting Statement (Form FD2A)

For Child Support

If child support is part of your application, you'll also need:

• Statement of Income (Form FD3) — sworn financial disclosure
• Statement of Special or Extraordinary Expenses (Form FD4) — if claiming Section 7 expenses (childcare, uninsured medical, extracurriculars), with receipts attached

The Parenting Statement (Form FD2A) Is Where Most Parents Struggle

This form is extensive and interactive. It requires you to spell out:

• Your child's current weekly routine — school hours, childcare, after-school activities
• The parenting arrangement that's actually been in place since separation (not what you want, but what's been happening)
• Your proposed schedule in detail — weekday and weekend breakdowns, summer arrangements, specific holidays and special occasions, and transportation logistics

Judges pay close attention to this form. A vague entry like "shared parenting" without specifics signals that you haven't thought through the logistics. A detailed, structured proposal — with clear days, times, exchange locations, and contingency plans — tells the court you're serious about making the arrangement work.

Filing Requirements That Trip People Up

Nova Scotia does not accept electronic filing for family applications. Your completed forms must be:

• Printed single-sided on plain white letter-sized paper
• Filed in person at the Supreme Court (Family Division) registry closest to where the children currently live
• Accompanied by the filing fee — $43.60 for a non-divorce parenting application, $291.55 for a divorce petition, or $218.05 for a joint divorce application

Fee waivers are available for low-income applicants through an Application for Waiver of Fees.

After filing, the documents must be served on the other parent by a private process server or the Sheriff's Office (cost: $50–$150 depending on location). You cannot serve the documents yourself. The other parent then has 15 business days to file a response.

Common Mistakes That Delay Your Application

Incomplete FD2A. Leaving sections blank or writing "to be determined" forces the court to schedule additional appearances just to get basic information. Fill in every section, even if your proposal is preliminary.

Wrong registry. You must file at the registry closest to where the children live, not where you live or where your spouse lives.

Double-sided printing. The registry will reject documents printed on both sides of the page.

Missing financial disclosure. If you're requesting child support, the financial disclosure package (last three years of tax returns, CRA assessments, recent pay stubs) must be filed and exchanged with the other parent. Incomplete disclosure stalls the entire proceeding.

Preparing Before You Fill In the Forms

The hardest part of the forms isn't the paperwork itself — it's having clear answers ready. Before you open Form FD2A, you need to know exactly what parenting schedule you're proposing, how holidays will rotate, who makes which decisions, and how you'll handle communication.

The Nova Scotia Child Custody & Parenting Plan Guide includes fillable worksheets that mirror the structure of the court forms — so when you sit down with FD2A, you already have your schedule mapped, your overnight percentages calculated, and your decision-making preferences documented.

See more Nova Scotia guides →