Official court procedure Court guide

Binding Judicial Dispute Resolution in Superior Court

Ontario Superior Court of Justice

Source sectionWhat is Binding Judicial Dispute Resolution (JDR)?

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 Binding JDR, the consent/approval process, and Forms 43, 43A, 43B and 43C used for the process.

Key points

Binding JDR is an alternative to a trial in the Superior Court

Rule 43 allows parties, with the court’s approval, to use a summary process in which the same judge helps with settlement and makes final orders on unresolved issues in one hearing.

The process requires consent and specific forms

The parties must request and consent to Binding JDR and obtain court approval. Forms 43, 43A, 43B and 43C are used for the request, OCL involvement where applicable, evidence and confirmation.

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 43 — allows parties to choose a Binding Judicial Dispute Resolution (JDR) as a summary process to resolve a family dispute instead of a trial. Through Binding JDR, parties ask the same judge to assist in settling their issues on consent and to make final orders about unresolved issues in a single hearing. Prior to the Binding JDR proceeding, the parties must sign a request and consent form and obtain the approval of the court.

A Binding JDR hearing includes both settlement and adjudication. The judge conducting the Binding JDR hearing will explore possibilities for resolution with the parties. As in any court proceeding, the judge conducting the Binding JDR hearing has an oversight role and must approve any terms of settlement. For issues that cannot be resolved on consent, the judge will hear submissions from the parties about the orders they seek. The judge may ask the parties questions and request additional information, if necessary, to reach an informed and fair decision. The parties do not have an automatic right to call or cross-examine witnesses at a Binding JDR hearing. At the conclusion of the Binding JDR hearing, the judge will provide a final order on the issues, including those that have been resolved on consent.

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

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Binding law / official textFamily Law Rules

Rule 43 — BINDING JUDICIAL DISPUTE RESOLUTION IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF JUSTICE

43. Binding judicial dispute resolution Table of forms Browse or search laws How to use e-Laws Glossary Legislative tables Search within this documentSearch within this documentSubmit Use exact search How do I build my search term?Use these search operators to perform more specific searches and narrow down your results. See how to use e-Laws for more detailed descriptions on search operators. Operator Example Function No operator Human rights Searches for documents containing all of your specified search terms. AND Human AND rights Same as using no operator. “x y z” (quotes) “Human rights” Searches for a multi-word phrase that contains all the search terms, in that order. OR engineer OR architect Searches for documents containing 1 or more of the specified terms. NOT insurance NOT funds Excludes a word from your search. /# fishing /4 hunting Specifies how many words are allowed between the 2 search terms. This is called a proximity search. ? licen?e Searches for terms with an interchangeable character. Replace the interchangeable character with a question mark.…

Government of OntarioO. Reg. 114/99

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Binding law / official textConsolidated Provincial Practice Direction for Family Proceedings

Part J — : Binding Judicial Dispute Resolution (Rule 43)

On January 22, 2025, the Family Law Rules were amended to add Rule 43: Binding Judicial Dispute Resolution in the Superior Court of Justice. Rule 43 replaces the Practice Advisory Concerning the Superior Court of Justice’s Binding Judicial Dispute Resolution Pilot Project (introduced on May 14, 2021) which is no longer in effect.

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 43 — contains more information about Binding JDR, how to request and schedule a hearing, how to file evidence for the hearing and what parties can expect at a Binding JDR hearing. The forms for requesting and participating in a Binding JDR hearing are available on the Ontario Court Forms website :

Form 43: Binding Judicial Dispute Resolution Hearing Request and Consent Form 43A: Binding Judicial Dispute Resolution Hearing Request and Consent – Office of the Children’s Lawyer Form 43B: Affidavit for Binding Judicial Dispute Resolution Hearing Form 43C: Confirmation of Binding Judicial Dispute Resolution Hearing

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

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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 textCentral South Region Practice Direction

FAMILY & CHILD PROTECTION MATTERS & BINDING JDR

R. 39 First Appearance X Place of Safety Hearings/TBST X Child Protection Lists X FRO Lists X DRO Conference X Case Conferences X Settlement Conferences X Trial Management Conferences *with a settlement focus* X Trial Scheduling Conferences X Unopposed/14B/ex parte Motions X Urgent Motions X Short Motions (under 1 hour) X Contempt Motions X Long Motions (over 1 hour) X Summary Judgment Motions X Temporary Care & Custody Hearings X Trial Scheduling/Assignment Courts X Speak to Courts for Trial Sittings X Family Trials X Child Protection trials X Binding JDR X

Ontario Superior Court of JusticeSuperior Court of Justice — Central South

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Related subjects:Settlement and resolution · Forms and documents