Official court procedure Court direction

Southwest Region — Superior Court practice direction

Ontario Superior Court of Justice

Source sectionSouthwest Region — family proceedings and local procedures

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 Southwest regional practice direction contains local Superior Court procedures and family-court scheduling, filing or hearing requirements that apply in that region in addition to province-wide 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 textNorthwest Region Practice Direction

Part 2 — Civil Proceedings, Section A Motions (Short Motions , Orders and Endorsements from Regional Motions Court , Long Motions , and Confirmation Forms ) of this Consolidated Practice Direction also apply to motions in family proceedings.

Confirmation forms for all family motions must be filed and uploaded three (3) business days prior to the event. B. Family Conferences

Ontario Superior Court of JusticeSuperior Court of Justice — Northwest

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Binding law / official textCentral South Region Practice Direction

Part 5 — : Family Proceedings

A. Filings Counsel and parties in family proceedings are advised to refer to the Consolidated Provincial Practice Direction for Family Proceedings at the Superior Court of Justice, for the filing of court documents and limited filing by email. The Consolidated Provincial Practice Direction is available at: Consolidated Provincial Practice Direction for Family Proceedings at the Superior Court of Justice The Court will accept limited filing by e-mail at the specific e-mail addresses indicated below in accordance with Family Proceedings Part 1 A 2, Limited Filings by Email of the Consolidated Provincial Practice Direction.Click here for the Limited Filing by Email section Hamilton (Family) — HamiltonFamilyCourt@ontario.ca Kitchener /Waterloo — WaterlooRegionFamily@ontario.ca St. Catharines- SCJStCatharinesCourthouse@ontario.ca Welland – SCJWellandCourthouse@ontario.ca Brantford — brantfordscjcourt@ontario.ca Cayuga — haldimandcountycourt@ontario.ca Simcoe — simcoe.scj.courts@ontario.ca B. Case Conferences…

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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Binding law / official textEast Region Practice Direction

Part 3 — : Family Proceedings

A. Introduction This Part identifies scheduling and administrative changes to facilitate more expeditious and efficient litigation under the Family Law Rules . Unless otherwise stated, this Part applies to all family proceedings. A reference in this part to a “rule” or the “rules” is a reference to the Family Law Rules . B. Family Motions Any motion that requires 60 minutes or less (for Ottawa 90 min or less) for all parties to argue is treated as a regular motion. All regular motions will be heard on the assigned motions court day for each respective county in the East Region commencing at 10:00 a.m. unless otherwise ordered by the court. East Region Court Schedules | Superior Court of Justice Confirmation forms for all family motions must be filed and uploaded no later than 2 p.m three (3) business days prior to the event Where no Form 14C Confirmation of Motion or Form 17 Confirmation of Conference has been filed by any party, the conference or motion will be not be heard on that day. Costs may also be ordered against a party who has not filed a Confirmation…

Ontario Superior Court of JusticeSuperior Court of Justice — East

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Binding law / official textCentral West Region Practice Direction

Part 4 — – FAMILY PROCEEDINGS A. Mediation and other Court-Connected Resources

B. Automatic Orders C. Motions to Change D. Early Case Conferences – Milton Only E. Dispute Resolution Officer (DRO) Program F. Case Conferences Scheduling & Filing APPLICABLE TO ALL CENTRAL WEST CASE CONFERENCES Case Conference Briefs (Max. 8 pages) Requirement to Confer and Make Disclosure PRIOR to Case Conference Confirmation Form Proceed to a Settlement Conference G. Settlement Conferences (Max. 12 pages) Scheduling Settlement Conferences Directions for Settlement Conferences H. Trial Management Conferences (TMC) FAMILY ASSIGNMENT COURT AND A TMC IN BRAMPTON

Ontario Superior Court of JusticeSuperior Court of Justice — Central West

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Binding law / official textSouthwest Region Practice Direction

Part 5 — : Family Proceedings

A. Introduction This Part identifies scheduling and administrative changes to facilitate more expeditious and efficient litigation under the Family Law Rules . Unless otherwise stated, this Part applies to all family proceedings, including those in the Unified Family Court – London and St. Thomas. A reference in this part to a “rule” or the “rules” is a reference to the Family Law Rules . B. Family Motions Any motion that requires 60 minutes or less for all parties to argue is treated as a regular motion. All regular motions will be heard on the assigned motions court day for each respective county in the Southwest Region commencing at 10:00 a.m. unless otherwise ordered by the court. All motions requiring more than one hour to argue will require a special appointment. Paragraphs 37-43 relating to special appointments in civil cases also apply to special appointments in family cases, including the requirements for the filing of factums. C. 14B Motions Form 14B motions are governed by Part I of the Consolidated Provincial Practice Direction.…

Ontario Superior Court of JusticeSuperior Court of Justice — Southwest

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Related subjects:Conferences and required steps · Motions · Courts, filing and court services · Rules and legislation