Official court procedure Official form

Tip Sheet: Automatic Court Orders for Financial Disclosure in Family Cases

Ontario Court Services

Source sectionOther documents related to family law cases — Tip Sheet: Automatic Court Orders for Financial Disclosure in Family Cases

Source checked2026-08-08

Related explanation

Process

Summary judgment in family cases

Court: Ontario family courts — court-specific procedure may differ

Summary judgment can finally decide all or part of a family case without a full trial when the requirements of Rule 16 are met.

Rule 16 allows the court to grant summary judgment where the legal test is satisfied, including where there is no genuine issue requiring a trial on the claim or defence being decided. It is a final adjudicative procedure, not simply a faster temporary motion. The evidence must allow the court to make the required findings fairly on the record before it.

A summary-judgment motion should identify the precise claim or issue to be decided and the evidentiary record supporting that disposition. The responding party must point to evidence showing why a trial is genuinely required or why the requested judgment should not be granted. The court can decide only within the authority given by Rule 16 and the substantive law governing the claim.

Source summary

What this source covers

Official Ontario family-law form or related court document: Tip Sheet: Automatic Court Orders for Financial Disclosure in Family Cases. Its use depends on the governing rule, the issues in the case and any applicable court directions.

Key points

What this is

Ontario Court Services lists this family-law document as “Tip Sheet: Automatic Court Orders for Financial Disclosure in Family Cases”.

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 rules

Related official provisions

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 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 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 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

Open official source ↗

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

Open official source ↗

Binding law / official textFamily Law Rules

Rule 37.1 — FAMILY LAW ACT PROVISIONAL ORDERS

37.1 Family Law Act provisional orders

Government of OntarioO. Reg. 114/99

Open official source ↗

Related subjects:Before you start · Financial disclosure · Forms and documents