← LibrarySource sectionTrial management conference forms, trial preparation, witnesses and confirmation
Source checked2026-08-07
Related explanationCourtOntario Court of Justice — family cases
Court: Ontario Court of Justice
The Ontario Court of Justice hears many parenting, support, child-protection and adoption matters, but it does not grant divorces or decide family-property claims.
The Ontario Court of Justice hears many family cases, including claims about decision-making responsibility, parenting time, contact, child and spousal support, child protection and adoption. It does not have jurisdiction to grant a divorce or determine family-property claims such as equalization of net family property.
OCJ family cases are governed by the Family Law Rules and the legislation that applies to the issues in the case. The OCJ also publishes current scheduling and filing directions. Hearing modes, portal use and Case Center availability can change, so court-specific directions should be checked for the location and event involved.
What this source covers
Current OCJ guidance on trial management conferences, including Form 17E, Form 17F, witness/document preparation and Rule 17 service and filing.
Key pointsPurpose
The OCJ describes a trial management conference as the stage used to get the case ready for trial and identifies Rule 17(6) as the governing conference provision.
Forms
The OCJ identifies Form 17 and Form 17E: Trial Management Conference Brief as documents to complete, serve and file before the conference.
Bring a concrete trial plan
The OCJ tells parties to bring witness information, the documents they expect to rely on, and estimates for cross-examination time.
Trial issues come from the pleadings
The OCJ warns that the trial is limited to the issues raised in the original documents unless the case has been properly changed.
Confirmation
The OCJ identifies Form 17F as the Confirmation of Conference for a trial management conference and directs parties to Rule 17(14).
Continuing Record
The OCJ states that Form 17E is placed in the Continuing Record.
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 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 textConsolidated Provincial Practice Direction for Family Proceedings
Rule 17 — (7.1) allows parties to make this request after they have tried to resolve the issues that are in dispute through mediation or a Legal Aid Ontario settlement conference, provided the parties confirm:
The dispute resolution process included a screening for power imbalances and domestic violence;
No motions for a temporary order in the case are pending or are contemplated; and
Financial disclosure has been provided.
Counsel or parties make this request by filing a Form 14B: Motion and a Form 17G: Certificate of Dispute Resolution from each party addressing the above requirements.
If the court grants permission, the parties are expected to comply with all requirements relating to a settlement conference, including filing a Form 17C: Settlement Conference Brief and any additional documentation (for example, a Net Family Property Statement, Comparative Net Family Statement, litigation expert reports or Offers to Settle).…
Ontario Superior Court of JusticeSuperior Court of Justice — province-wide
Open official source ↗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
Open official source ↗Binding law / official textFamily Law Rules
Rule 40 — CASE MANAGEMENT IN ONTARIO COURT OF JUSTICE
40. Case management in Ontario Court of Justice
Government of OntarioO. Reg. 114/99
Open official source ↗Binding law / official textConsolidated Provincial Practice Direction for Family Proceedings
Part H — : Conferences
1. Filing Materials for Conferences
Focused materials facilitate better conferences. Unfortunately, many filings include irrelevant or excessive material with voluminous attachments. Counsel and parties must prepare material that is focused and includes only documents directly relevant to the outstanding issues.
a) Font Size and Spacing
All documents filed for a family conference or motion must be prepared using at least 12-point font and double spacing.
b) Restrictions on Filing Conference Materials (Page Limits and Attachments)
Case conference briefs shall not exceed 8 pages, pluspermissible attachments (as defined below) and additional documents that are required below or by the Family Law Rules . The 8-page limit includes the brief (Form 17A) and any additional pages of facts or argument attached an appendix or schedule.
Settlement conference briefs shall not exceed 12 pages, plus permissible attachments (as defined below) and additional documents that are required below or by theFamily Law Rules .…
Ontario Superior Court of JusticeSuperior Court of Justice — province-wide
Open official source ↗Binding law / official textCentral West Region Practice Direction
APPLICABLE TO ALL CENTRAL WEST CASE CONFERENCES
Case Conference Briefs (Max. 8 pages)
Parties must serve and file a Case Conference Brief (Form 17A) in accordance with the Family Law Rules . Case Conference Briefs must not exceed 8 pages. This includes Form 17A and additional pages of facts and arguments attached to the brief as an appendix or schedule.
Permissible attachments in addition to the 8-page Brief are those described in the Consolidated Provincial Practice Direction for Family Proceedings at the Superior Court of Justice, and documents required by the Family Law Rules .
If the parties do not resolved disclosure prior to the Case Conference, any party seeking disclosure must include in their materials a detailed list of the outstanding disclosure. This is a permissible attachment and is to be in addition to the 8-page brief.
The Case Conference Brief should expressly set out any Orders that a party seeks to have the court make at the Case Conference. The Case Conference judge has jurisdiction to make substantive Orders in appropriate cases, where requested, in a Case Conference Brief.…
Ontario Superior Court of JusticeSuperior Court of Justice — Central West
Open official source ↗Related subjects:Serve and file documents · Conferences and required steps · Trial · Forms and documents · Evidence, affidavits and witnesses
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 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
Binding official sourceLaw / rule
Official Family Law Rules provisions governing methods of service, including regular and special service and related proof-of-service requirements.
Government of OntarioRule 6 — Service of documentsSource checked 2026-08-07