A case conference is a private meeting with a judge, your lawyer, and the other party's lawyer. It is not a trial. The judge cannot make final orders — they are there to help move the case forward and encourage settlement.

What to expect:

• Your lawyer will speak on your behalf. You typically sit and listen unless asked.
• The judge will ask about the issues and what has been agreed on so far.
• The judge may give an informal opinion on how they think a court would decide certain issues — this is not binding but is often useful.
• The conference usually lasts 30–60 minutes.

Before you go:

• Review any materials your lawyer prepared and ask questions in advance.
• Dress professionally — court is a formal setting.
• Arrive early. Security lines and parking can add time.

A motion is a court hearing where a judge makes a temporary (interim) order while your case is ongoing. Common motions deal with temporary support, parenting time, or exclusive possession of the home.

How it works:

• Both sides file written evidence — called affidavits — in advance. The judge reads these before the hearing.
• The hearing itself is mostly legal argument. Your lawyer presents, the other side responds, and your lawyer replies.
• You generally do not testify at a motion. Your evidence is in your affidavit.
• The judge issues a temporary order, which remains in effect until further order or trial.

Your role:

• Arrive on time. Dress professionally.
• Do not react visibly to what the other party or their lawyer says — the judge will notice.
• Let your lawyer speak for you. Do not interrupt or address the other party.

If you have experienced or are experiencing domestic violence or coercive control, keeping a detailed record can be important evidence. Here's how to do it safely.

What to record:

• Date, time, and location of every incident.
• Exactly what was said or done, in your own words.
• Any witnesses present (even children, though note they should not be involved).
• Any injuries — describe them and take photos if safe to do so.
• Any police involvement, call numbers, or reports.
• Messages, emails, voicemails — screenshot and back them up.

Keeping it safe:

• Store your journal somewhere the other party cannot access — at a trusted friend's home, in a private email draft, or on a device they don't know about.
• Do not store it on a shared device or a family computer.
• Use a private browsing window if you access this portal on a shared device.

Form 13 is an Ontario court form that sets out your financial situation in detail. It is required in most family law cases involving money — support, property, or both. You sign it under oath, meaning you are legally responsible for its accuracy.

What you'll need to gather:

• Your last 3 years of personal income tax returns and Notices of Assessment.
• Recent pay stubs (last 3 months).
• Bank statements for all accounts (last 3 months).
• Credit card statements.
• A list of monthly expenses (rent/mortgage, food, childcare, utilities, etc.).
• Information about all assets you own: home, vehicles, investments, RRSPs, pensions, business interests.
• All debts: mortgage, car loans, credit cards, lines of credit.

Always bring:

• Government-issued photo ID.
• A copy of every court order that has been made in your case so far.
• A copy of any affidavits or documents filed for this hearing.
• A notepad and pen to take notes.
• Your lawyer's phone number (in case you get separated).
• Any new evidence or documents your lawyer has asked you to bring.

Practical notes:

• Leave extra time for security screening, parking, and finding the right courtroom.
• Turn your phone to silent before entering the courtroom.
• Address the judge as "Your Honour."
• Do not bring the other party into conversation — communicate through your lawyer.

Decision-making responsibility — formerly called "custody." Who makes major decisions about a child's education, health, and religion.

Parenting time — formerly called "access." When the child is physically with each parent.

Equalization — the process of dividing net family property between married spouses so each ends up with an equal share of the wealth accumulated during the marriage.

Net Family Property (NFP) — your net worth at the date of separation, minus your net worth on the date of marriage.

Matrimonial home — the home you lived in as a couple at the date of separation. Special rules apply: both spouses have equal rights to possession regardless of who owns it.

Section 7 expenses — special or extraordinary expenses for children shared proportionally by income, on top of basic child support (e.g., childcare, medical, extracurricular).

Affidavit — a sworn written statement of facts filed as evidence in a motion or application.

Interim order — a temporary order made during the case. Not final. Can be changed at trial or by agreement.

Without prejudice — discussions or offers made "without prejudice" cannot be used against you in court. Most settlement discussions are without prejudice.

Offer to settle — a formal written offer to resolve one or more issues. Has strategic cost consequences if not accepted and you do worse at trial.