Official court procedure Court guide

Case Center in Superior Court family cases

Ontario Superior Court of Justice

Source sectionWhat is Case Center?

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 Case Center as the electronic document platform used for hearings and directs parties to the current uploading requirements.

Key points

Case Center is used to view hearing documents

The Superior Court describes Case Center as the platform used by parties, counsel and judges to read electronic documents for court appearances.

Uploading and filing are different steps

Superior Court directions state that putting a document into Case Center does not itself file the document with the court. Current filing rules must still be followed.

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 textFamily Law Rules

Rule 39 — CASE MANAGEMENT IN FAMILY COURT OF SUPERIOR COURT OF JUSTICE

39. Case management in Family Court of Superior Court of Justice

Government of OntarioO. Reg. 114/99

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Binding law / official textFamily Law Rules

Rule 41 — CASE MANAGEMENT IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF JUSTICE (OTHER THAN THE FAMILY COURT OF THE SUPERIOR COURT OF JUSTICE)

41. Case management in the Superior Court of Justice (other than the Family Court of the Superior Court of Justice)

Government of OntarioO. Reg. 114/99

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Binding law / official textConsolidated Provincial Practice Direction for Family Proceedings

Part C — : Case Center

Case Center is an online platform where judges, parties and court staff view electronic documents for court hearings. This Part sets out requirements specific to family hearings using Case Center. Information on Case Center, including how to access Case Center, upload to Case Center, use Case Center effectively during court appearances and access support for Case Center, is available on the Superior Court of Justice's website here . The following directions regarding Case Center do not apply in the Toronto Region. Counsel and parties must refer to the Consolidated Practice Direction for the Toronto Region for information about using the Ontario Court Public Portal. 1. Uploading to Case Center Uploading a document to Case Center does not constitute filing of the document. Unless the court orders or a practice direction provides otherwise, only documents already filed with the court may be uploaded to Case Center. See Part A(1) for directions on online filing.…

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

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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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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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Related subjects:Forms and documents · Courts, filing and court services