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.

A DRO conference is a meeting with a Dispute Resolution Officer — a senior family lawyer appointed by the court to help parties settle issues before going in front of a judge. DRO conferences are used at certain Ontario courthouses (including Toronto and some surrounding locations) as an early intervention step.

How it works:

• A DRO conference typically takes place before a case conference with a judge. It is a mandatory first step at courts that use the DRO program.
• The DRO is a neutral, experienced family law lawyer — not a judge. They cannot make orders, but they help facilitate negotiation between the parties.
• Both parties (and their lawyers, if they have them) attend. The DRO hears from each side and helps identify areas where agreement is possible.
• If full or partial agreement is reached, the DRO can help put it in writing as a consent order for a judge to sign.
• If no agreement is reached, the case moves forward to a case conference with a judge. Nothing said at the DRO conference can be used as evidence — it is a without-prejudice process.

What to prepare:

• Your Form 14B (Motion Form) or conference brief — your lawyer will prepare the required materials.
• A clear sense of what issues matter most to you and where you might be flexible.
• Any financial disclosure already exchanged (especially if support is an issue).
• Be prepared to negotiate. DRO conferences are designed to move cases forward efficiently.

What to expect:

• The DRO may meet with both parties together, or shuttle between rooms if there are safety concerns.
• The meeting usually lasts 30–90 minutes depending on the complexity of the issues.
• If you have a lawyer, they will speak for you, but you may be asked for input or to confirm your instructions.
• If agreement is reached, it can be converted into a court order that same day.

Different court events in Ontario family law require different forms to be filed in advance. Below is a summary of each major event type and the forms your lawyer will prepare. Understanding what goes into each event helps you gather the right documents on time.

First Appearance / First Court Date

This is the very start of your case — the first time the matter comes before a judge after an application is filed.

• Form 8 — Application (or Form 8A — Reply): The main document that starts your case or responds to one.
• Form 13 — Financial Statement (or Form 13.1 if property is involved): Required whenever support or property is at issue. Sworn under oath.
• Form 6B — Affidavit of Service: Proof that the other party was properly served with all documents.
• Certificate of Financial Disclosure: Confirms that required financial documents (tax returns, pay stubs, etc.) have been provided.

Case Conference

A private meeting with a judge to identify issues, explore settlement, and set the next steps.

• Form 17A — Case Conference Brief: A summary of the issues, your position, and any offers to settle. Must be filed and served at least 6 days before the conference.
• Form 13 / 13.1 — Financial Statement: Must be current (updated if older than 30 days for income or 6 months for property).
• Net Family Property Statement (if equalization is an issue): A breakdown of assets and debts at date of marriage and date of separation.
• Any prior court orders and the original Application/Answer.

Settlement Conference

A more focused meeting with a judge aimed at settling as many issues as possible before trial.

• Form 17C — Settlement Conference Brief: More detailed than a case conference brief — includes a summary of all issues, efforts to settle, and your current offer. Filed at least 6 days before.
• Form 13 / 13.1 — Financial Statement: Must be current.
• Offer to Settle (if any): A formal written proposal to resolve the case. Must be included with the brief.
• Updated Net Family Property Statement (if equalization is an issue).
• All prior orders and endorsements from previous conferences.

Trial Management Conference

The final conference before trial. The judge reviews whether the case is truly ready for trial and makes procedural orders.

• Form 17E — Trial Management Conference Brief: A detailed outline of all remaining issues, witnesses you plan to call, estimated trial length, and any outstanding disclosure issues.
• Form 13 / 13.1 — Financial Statement: Must be current.
• Trial Scheduling Endorsement Form: Court-specific form confirming available trial dates and expected duration.
• Witness list with time estimates: How long each witness will take (direct and cross-examination).
• All prior orders, endorsements, and offers to settle.

Motion

A hearing to get an interim (temporary) order from a judge while the case is ongoing.

• Form 14B — Motion Form (for motions on consent, unopposed, or made at a conference) or Form 14A — Affidavit (General) for regular motions.
• Form 14 — Notice of Motion: States what order you are asking for and when the motion will be heard.
• Supporting Affidavit: Your sworn evidence. This is the most important document — the judge reads this instead of hearing live testimony.
• Form 13 / 13.1 — Financial Statement: Required if the motion involves support or property.
• Factum or Written Argument (in some courts): A legal brief setting out your argument and citing relevant law.
• Book of Authorities: Copies of the case law you are relying on.

Trial

The final hearing where a judge decides all remaining issues after hearing live evidence and legal argument.

• Form 13 / 13.1 — Financial Statement: Must be current as of the trial date.
• Trial Record: A bound compilation of all key pleadings, financial statements, orders, and relevant documents. Filed with the court 30 days before trial.
• Opening Statement: Your lawyer's outline of the case for the judge.
• Witness list and summons (Form 23): If any witness needs to be compelled to attend.
• Book of Authorities: Case law supporting your position.
• Offer to Settle: Should be made before trial for costs purposes (Rule 18).
• Updated Net Family Property Statement (if equalization is an issue).