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A Divorce Order is a document which legally ends the marriage. You can get divorced without your property and parenting matters being finalised.

Prior to applying for divorce, you will need to have copies of the following documents:

• Your original marriage certificate; 
• Your Australian Citizenship certificate, or Australian passport, or Visa;
• Any sealed Court Orders that you and your former spouse have regarding your children and/or your assets; 
• Any other Court Orders made in the Family Court or any other Court relating to you and your spouse. For example, a copy of an Interim or Final Intervention Order; and 
• Any parenting plans that you have agreed to with your former spouse regarding your childcare arrangements. 

Divorce, a Financial/Property settlement, and a Parenting settlement are three distinct matters which need to be resolved under the Family Law umbrella. These are often confused as one single matter.

A Financial settlement is where the assets of the relationship are divided between you and your former spouse. This can occur at any time from the date of separation until 1 year after a divorce order is granted for married couples, or 2 years from the date of separation for de facto couples.

A Divorce Order is a document which legally ends the marriage. You can get divorced without your property and parenting matters being finalised.

A Parenting Settlement is where you and your former spouse are required to make arrangements for the ongoing care of your child or children.

You will need to receive your Divorce Order before you can get remarried. You will receive your Divorce Order one month and one day after your divorce hearing, so long as your divorce was granted at the divorce hearing.