Official court procedure Court guide

Answering a family law application in Superior Court

Ontario Superior Court of Justice

Source sectionHow do I answer a family law application?

Source checked2026-08-08

Related explanation

Court

Superior Court of Justice — family cases

Court: Superior Court of Justice

The Superior Court of Justice hears family-law matters including divorce and family-property claims, as well as parenting, support and other family issues within its jurisdiction.

The Superior Court of Justice is Ontario’s higher trial court. In family law it has jurisdiction over divorce and property claims and can also deal with parenting, contact, child and spousal support, restraining orders and other family matters. At designated Family Court branch locations, the court operates as a unified family court and can also deal with matters such as child protection and adoption.

SCJ family procedure is governed by the Family Law Rules, applicable legislation and court orders, together with the province-wide family practice direction and the practice direction for the judicial region where the case is heard. Filing, Case Center, confirmation, hearing-mode and scheduling requirements can therefore depend on both the type of step and the court location.

Source summary

What this source covers

The Superior Court guide explains the response process after an Application is served, including the Answer and related filing and service steps.

Key points

An Answer is the responding party’s main response

The Superior Court guide explains the steps for responding after an Application is served, including preparing the Answer and any other documents required by the issues in the case.

Service and filing are part of responding

Preparing the Answer is only one step. The response documents must also be served and filed within the applicable rules and court directions.

For exact wording, dates, exceptions and current requirements, read the original source. Binding law and court directions take priority over explanatory material.

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Law and rules

Related official provisions

Binding law / official textConsolidated Provincial Practice Direction for Family Proceedings

Rule 8.0 — .1 of the Family Law Rules directs the court to issue an automatic order when certain claims are made in an Application, Motion to Change or Answer. This order requires parties to comply with their financial disclosure responsibilities.

The party who receives automatic order from the court must serve the order on every other party in the case according to Rule 8.0.1(5). A party who has not made all reasonable efforts to comply with their disclosure obligations in advance of the case conference may be responsible for the other party’s costs. Upon filing the originating materials, parties will receive a reminder to attend a Mandatory Information Program (Rule 8.1) and to provide an updated email address on all court documents.

Ontario Superior Court of JusticeSuperior Court of Justice — province-wide

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Binding law / official textConsolidated Provincial Practice Direction for Family Proceedings

Rule 1.3 — of the Family Law Rules requires a member of the public to give 10 days’ written notice to the parties before the member of the public may access a family court file involving:

Decision-making responsibility, parenting time or contact with respect to a child under the Divorce Act or Part III of the Children’s Law Reform Act ; Orders under Part I of the Children’s Law Reform Act (parentage); or International child abduction. The member of the public must also send notice to the Children’s Lawyer if the Children’s Lawyer is representing a child in the case or conducting an investigation for the court. After receiving notice, a party who wishes to restrict access to the file has 10 days to file a 14B motion. If such a motion is brought, court staff may refuse the requested access until the court decides the motion. Before the member of the public is granted access to the file, they must file an affidavit (Form 14A) confirming 1) the date on which they gave notice under Rule 1.3, to whom and by what method; and 2) that they have not been served with a motion for a restricted access order. The following persons are exempt from the notice requirement under Family Court Rule 1.3: A party or their counsel;…

Ontario Superior Court of JusticeSuperior Court of Justice — province-wide

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Binding law / official textSouthwest Region Practice Direction

Part 6 — : Additional Provisions Regarding the Unified Family Court- London and St. Thomas A. Family Law matters

B. Child, Youth and Family Services Act matters C. General

Ontario Superior Court of JusticeSuperior Court of Justice — Southwest

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Binding law / official textCentral West Region Practice Direction

Rule 13 — (3.1) of the Family Law Rules sets out which documents MUST be included with a Financial Statement where child or spousal support has been sought. An updated Certificate of Financial Disclosure must be provided to the other party.

A party who has not made all reasonable efforts to comply with their disclosure obligations may be subject to a cost sanction, directions/terms imposed and/or the adjournment of any motion brought by that party until compliance. In egregious cases, upon motion, continued non-compliance may result in a party’s pleadings being struck or found in contempt of Court. C. Motions to Change The Family Law Rules direct the Court to determine the next steps in a Motion to Change, with a view to ensuring that these motions proceed in the most efficient manner appropriate in the circumstances. The Court is directed to determine the most appropriate process for reaching an expeditious and just conclusion of the case in the circumstances. A new Motion to Change Endorsement form is available here. Parties are encouraged to provide a draft Motion to Change Endorsement form with their materials for the first judicial conference to obtain early direction regarding the most appropriate process for the case.…

Ontario Superior Court of JusticeSuperior Court of Justice — Central West

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Binding law / official textCentral South Region Practice Direction

Part 7 — : Binding JDR — Rule 43 of the Family Law Rules

Binding JDR is available in appropriate cases throughout the Central South Region. Please review Rule 43 of the Family Law Rules and the Consolidated Provincial Practice Direction for Family Proceedings for more information on Binding JDR and the forms that are required. Email Addresses to file Binding JDR Confirmations: Hamilton Family Court Trial Coordination Office: Hamilton.Family.Superior.Court@ontario.ca Kitchener Trial Coordination Office: Kitchener.Superior.Court@ontario.ca St. Catharines Trial Coordination Office: St.Catharines.Superior.Court@ontario.ca Welland Trial Coordination Office: Welland.Superior.Court@ontario.ca Brantford Trial Coordination Office: BrantfS@ontario.ca Cayuga Trial Coordination Office: Cayuga.Superior.Court@ontario.ca Simcoe Trial Coordination Office: Simcoe.Superior.Court@ontario.ca Help from Legal Aid Ontario: 1-800-668-8258 Lawyers across Ontario who provide unbundled legal services: www.familylawlss.ca

Ontario Superior Court of JusticeSuperior Court of Justice — Central South

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Binding law / official textEast Region Practice Direction

IN THE EAST REGION, SUPERIOR COURT OF JUSTICE

Criminal Matters in-person virtual in-writing Trials (jury and non-jury) x Pre-trial motions x Guilty Pleas x Sentencing Hearing x Assignment Court /TBST/First Appearance x Summary Conviction Appeal x Judicial Pre-trials (JPTs)* x Bail Hearings – (virtual where practical but otherwise in-person to be addressed at the time of scheduling)* x Bail/Detention Reviews – (virtual where practical but otherwise in-person to be addressed at the time of scheduling)* x *some centres may conduct these in person if virtual cannot be accommodated for in custody matters See local directives for each court if applicable Family & Child Protection Matters in-person virtual In-writing First Appearance Courts x Early or Urgent Case Conferences x Requests for Urgent Motions x CCs, SCs & Combined Conferences** x Trial Management Conferences (subject to local practice may be in-person with a settlement focus) x Assignment Court /Trial Scheduling Conf x Procedural & Consent motions x…

Ontario Superior Court of JusticeSuperior Court of Justice — East

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Related subjects:Start or respond to a case · Serve and file documents · Forms and documents