← LibrarySource sectionFamily Law Rules Forms — Form 17E — Trial Management Conference Brief
Source checked2026-08-08
VersionVersion 2023-08-31
Related explanationProcessTrial management conferences
Court: Ontario family courts — court-specific procedure may differ
A trial management conference is used to make sure the unresolved case is ready for trial and to organize how the trial will proceed.
A trial management conference is a late-stage conference focused on trial readiness. The court identifies the issues that actually require a trial, the witnesses and evidence expected, estimated hearing time, outstanding disclosure or procedural problems and any final settlement possibilities.
The required brief and confirmation forms are governed by Rule 17 and current court directions. A trial management conference is not itself the trial: evidence is not ordinarily proved there in the same way it will be at trial, but inaccurate or incomplete trial-readiness information can make it harder to schedule and conduct the trial efficiently.
What this source covers
Official Ontario family-law form or related court document: Trial Management Conference Brief. Its use depends on the governing rule, the issues in the case and any applicable court directions.
Key pointsWhat this is
Ontario Court Services lists this as Form 17E, “Trial Management Conference Brief”.
Current official version
The current English version is version dated 2023-08-31 and effective 2023-11-26.
How to use this form
Read the form together with the current Family Law Rules and any applicable court orders, notices and practice directions. The governing rule determines when the form is required and how it is used.
For exact wording, dates, exceptions and current requirements, read the original source. Binding law and court directions take priority over explanatory material.
Open the official source ↗Law and rulesRelated official provisions
Binding law / official textConsolidated Provincial Practice Direction for Family Proceedings
Rule 13 — (3.1) of the Family Law Rules addresses the documents that must be included with a party’s financial statement where child or spousal support has been sought. A party should provide an updated Certificate of Financial Disclosure (Form 13A) to the other party with this documentation.
If disclosure cannot be resolved prior to the case conference, the party seeking disclosure must include in their materials a list of the outstanding disclosure in accordance with Rule 13(11.01) of the Family Law Rules .
The court may award costs pursuant to Rules 17(18) or 24(7) where a party has failed to comply with their disclosure obligations.
Counsel and parties should address all disclosure issues in advance of the settlement conference. Any motions for disclosure must be heard in advance of the settlement conference.
More information about financial statements and the documents that shall be exchanged to support a financial statement is available here .
1. Automatic Disclosure Orders Under Rule 8.0.1
Ontario Superior Court of JusticeSuperior Court of Justice — province-wide
Open official source ↗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
Open official source ↗Binding law / official textNorthwest Region Practice Direction
Part 2 — Civil Proceedings, Section A Motions Confirmation Forms also apply to all family conferences.
Confirmation forms for all family conferences must be filed and uploaded no later than three (3) business days prior to the event.
C. Trial Dates
Dates for Family trials shall be obtained at the trial scheduling conference and the presiding judge shall place the trial on the appropriate Running List and make directions with respect to further trial management conferences as required.
All matters on a Running List shall be spoken to two months prior to the commencement of the Running List to determine trial readiness and, where possible, to confirm commencement date within that Running List.
Additionally, there will be a Trial Confirmation Date the Wednesday prior to the commencement of the Running List to confirm all matters proceeding to trial. The Running List will be distributed to counsel prior to these dates. These dates and details will be distributed annually.
D. Binding Judicial Dispute Resolution
Binding JDR is available in appropriate family law cases throughout the Northwest Region.…
Ontario Superior Court of JusticeSuperior Court of Justice — Northwest
Open official source ↗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
Open official source ↗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
Open official source ↗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
Open official source ↗Related subjects:Conferences and required steps · Trial · Forms and documents
Further readingRelated rules, forms and explanations
Binding official sourceLaw / rule
Official Ontario statute governing child and family services, including child-protection and adoption proceedings.
Government of OntarioFull ActSource checked 2026-08-07
Binding official sourceLaw / rule
Ontario’s Child, Youth and Family Services Act is the primary provincial statute for child-protection proceedings and related child and family services.
Government of OntarioChild, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017Source checked 2026-08-08
Binding official sourceLaw / rule
Official Family Law Rules provisions governing financial disclosure and financial statements in family proceedings.
Government of OntarioRule 13 — Financial disclosureSource checked 2026-08-07
Binding official sourceLaw / rule
Official Family Law Rules provisions governing motions for temporary orders, including when motions may be brought and procedural requirements.
Government of OntarioRule 14 — Motions for temporary ordersSource checked 2026-08-07
Binding official sourceLaw / rule
Official Family Law Rules provisions for motions to change final orders or filed support agreements, including forms, response procedure and service requirements.
Government of OntarioRule 15 — Motions to change a final order or agreementSource checked 2026-08-07
Binding official sourceLaw / rule
Official Family Law Rules provisions governing summary judgment in family cases.
Government of OntarioRule 16 — Summary judgmentSource checked 2026-08-07
Binding official sourceLaw / rule
Official Family Law Rules provisions governing case conferences, settlement conferences and trial management conferences, including briefs and confirmations.
Government of OntarioRule 17 — ConferencesSource checked 2026-08-07
Binding official sourceLaw / rule
Official Family Law Rules provisions governing offers to settle in family cases.
Government of OntarioRule 18 — Offers to settleSource checked 2026-08-07
Binding official sourceLaw / rule
Official Family Law Rules provisions governing trial records, witnesses, summonses and evidence at trial.
Government of OntarioRule 23 — Evidence and trialSource checked 2026-08-07
Binding official sourceLaw / rule
Official Family Law Rules provisions governing costs in family cases.
Government of OntarioRule 24 — CostsSource checked 2026-08-07