← LibrarySource sectionFiling a document; online document filing
Source checked2026-08-07
VersionUpdated December 15, 2023
Related explanationProcessFiling family court documents
Court: Ontario family courts — court-specific procedure may differ
Filing places a document before the court; it is not the same as serving another party or uploading a hearing copy to Case Center.
Family court documents may be filed through an online portal, at a court counter or by another method permitted for the court and document involved. A document can be properly served but not filed, or filed but not properly served. Both requirements have to be considered separately.
For SCJ matters, uploading material to Case Center is also a separate step from filing. The filing route can depend on the court, location and document type, and current practice directions can change portal or email procedures. The official filing instructions for the case should therefore be checked each time a significant document is filed.
What this source covers
Official Ontario guidance explaining filing, court location, the Continuing Record, court fees and online filing.
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 textCentral South Region Practice Direction
Part 3 — : Filing Court Documents
Filing Court Documents shall be in accordance with the requirements set out in the Consolidated Provincial Practice Directions, including naming conventions of electronic material being filed, filing methods, timelines for filing, and maximum length of material being filed, except as outlined in this Practice Direction.
A. Uploading to Case Center
Parties must comply with the requirements regarding uploading material to Case Center as outlined in the appropriate Provincial Practice Direction. This includes timelines for uploading materials in advance of a hearing and material that should not be uploaded to Case Center.
In addition to the requirements outlined in the Provincial Practice Directions, parties are encouraged to consult the material regarding Case Center on the Superior Court of Justice website, available here .
Ontario Superior Court of JusticeSuperior Court of Justice — Central South
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 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 textFamily Law Rules
Rule 1.1 — ELECTRONIC FILING AND ISSUANCE OF DOCUMENTS
1.1 Electronic filing and issuance of documents
Government of OntarioO. Reg. 114/99
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
Part A — : Filing 1. Online Filing
2. Document Naming Protocol
3. Help with Online Filing
4. Email and In Person Filing Limited Filing by Email
5. Paying Court Fees
6. Institutional Litigants Must File Online
Ontario Superior Court of JusticeSuperior Court of Justice — province-wide
Open official source ↗Related subjects:Serve and file documents · Courts, filing and court services
Further readingRelated rules, forms and explanations
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
Official court procedureCourt guide
The Superior Court guide explains the response process after an Application is served, including the Answer and related filing and service steps.
Key points
An Answer is the responding party’s main response
The Superior Court guide explains the steps for responding after an Application is served, including preparing the Answer and any other documents required by the issues in the case.
Service and filing are part of responding
Preparing the Answer is only one step. The response documents must also be served and filed within the applicable rules and court directions.
Ontario Superior Court of JusticeHow do I answer a family law application?Source checked 2026-08-08
Official court procedureCourt guide
The Superior Court guide explains Case Center as the electronic document platform used for hearings and directs parties to the current uploading requirements.
Key points
Case Center is used to view hearing documents
The Superior Court describes Case Center as the platform used by parties, counsel and judges to read electronic documents for court appearances.
Uploading and filing are different steps
Superior Court directions state that putting a document into Case Center does not itself file the document with the court. Current filing rules must still be followed.
Ontario Superior Court of JusticeWhat is Case Center?Source checked 2026-08-08
Official court procedureCourt guide
Official OCJ information about Case Center and support available to parties and self-represented litigants.
Key points
Case Center is not the same thing as filing
Case Center is used for hearing materials and document access in matters where the court directs its use. Filing requirements still have to be satisfied through the accepted filing process.
Follow the invitation and event instructions
The documents and bundle for a particular event depend on the court event and current directions.
Help is available
The OCJ page provides current Case Center support information for self-represented litigants.
Ontario Court of JusticeCase Center family-court information and supportSource checked 2026-08-07
Official court procedureCourt guide
Current OCJ guidance on case conferences, including Form 17A, financial updates, Form 17F confirmation and Rule 17 service and filing.
Key points
Core case-conference forms
The OCJ identifies Form 17 (Conference Notice) and Form 17A (Case Conference Brief) for a case conference.
What the brief covers
The OCJ describes Form 17A as covering family information, financial circumstances, agreed and disputed issues, issues for discussion and proposed resolution.
Financial disclosure may need updating
The OCJ explains that an older financial statement may need to be updated and also points to Form 13A where financial disclosure is required.
Confirmation
The OCJ identifies Form 17F as the Confirmation of Conference and directs parties to Rule 17(14).
Service and filing
The OCJ points to Rule 17(13) and 17(13.1) for service and filing of conference briefs and gives current OCJ timing information.
Conference briefs have special record treatment
The OCJ notes that Form 17A does not go into the Continuing Record unless the judge orders otherwise.
Ontario Court of JusticeCase conference forms, preparation, confirmation, service and filingSource checked 2026-08-07
Official court procedureOfficial form
Ontario Court Services provides an official family-related collection for child, youth and family services act family court documents.
Ontario Court ServicesFamily-related forms and document collectionsSource checked 2026-08-08
Official court procedureOfficial form
Ontario Court Services publishes the current Continuing Record requirements, covers and index documents used in family proceedings.
Ontario Court ServicesFamily Law Rules — Continuing RecordSource checked 2026-08-08
Official court procedureOfficial form
Ontario Court Services provides an official family-related collection for court fee waiver forms.
Ontario Court ServicesFamily-related forms and document collectionsSource checked 2026-08-08
Official court procedureCourt guide
The OCJ step-by-step guide explains how a family case is started, answered and moved through the main procedural stages.
Ontario Court of JusticeStarting, responding and progressing through a family caseSource checked 2026-08-08
Official court procedureOfficial form
Official Ontario Court Services directory for Family Law Rules forms, current versions, related family-form collections and links to filing and Guided Pathways.
Key points
Use the latest form version
Ontario Court Services publishes current PDF and fillable Word versions and says the latest court forms should be used.
The site includes more than the numbered Family Law Rules table
The family forms site links to Continuing Record documents, Office of the Children’s Lawyer forms, Children’s Law Reform Act forms, Family Law Act forms, fee-waiver forms and other family-case documents.
Filing rules are separate from the blank form
Ontario Court Services directs users to the Family Law Rules and applicable court notices and practice directions for filing requirements.
Plain-language form help is available
The official forms page links to CLEO Family Law Guided Pathways for help completing family court forms.
Ontario Court ServicesFamily Law Rules forms directory; related family-form collections and filing informationSource checked 2026-08-08