Online Filing of Family Court Documents

Introduction

Experience the convenience of submitting a wide range of family court documents online. Take advantage of this efficient and streamlined process to handle various legal matters related to family law. You can complete the following actions online:

• Initiate a joint or simplified divorce
• Commence or respond to applications for child support, spousal support, or division of property
• Participate in a family conference
• Make or respond to motions
• Bring a motion to modify a final court order or agreement, particularly concerning child support
• Register a domestic contract, such as a separation agreement, for the enforcement of support
• File documents related to child protection cases
• Request a fee waiver certificate by following this redirected link: Fee Waiver
• Appeal to either the Superior Court of Justice or the Divisional Court of the Superior Court of Justice. Access additional information through this redirect: Family Law Appeals

Before proceeding with online document submission, make sure to verify your eligibility and ensure that you possess all the necessary documentation. For detailed information, please visit the following links:

• Qualification Requirements
• Required Documentation

Operating Procedure

Effortlessly submit your family court documents by following these simple steps. Submit your request to the appropriate court:

• Ontario Court of Justice
• Superior Court of Justice, including its Family Court Branch
• Divisional Court of the Superior Court of Justice (excluding the Ontario Court of Appeal)

Upon submission, the court staff will assess your documents and inform you of their acceptance or rejection within five business days.

Keep in mind that online filing may not be suitable for everyone. Depending on your unique circumstances, it might be beneficial to consult a lawyer for personalized advice and more information.

Eligible Documents for Online Submission

Embrace the convenience of online filing for a wide range of family court documents. Take advantage of this service to:

• Apply for a straightforward or joint divorce
• Commence or respond to applications for child support, spousal support, or division of property
• Participate in a family conference
• Make or respond to motions
• Bring a motion to modify a final court order or agreement, particularly concerning child support
• Register a domestic contract, such as a separation agreement, for the enforcement of support
• File documents related to child protection cases
• Request a fee waiver certificate by clicking on this linked reference: Fee Waiver
• Appeal to either the Superior Court of Justice or the Divisional Court of the Superior Court of Justice. Further guidance is provided through this redirect: Family Law Appeals

Other Family Court Documents

In addition to the aforementioned actions, you can also submit various other family court documents online. This includes:

• Commencement or response to applications for child support, spousal support, or division of property
• Attendance at a family conference
• Initiation or response to motions
• Bringing a motion to modify a final court order or agreement, particularly concerning child support
• Registration of a domestic contract, such as a separation agreement, for the enforcement of support
• Document filing related to child protection cases
• Requesting a fee waiver certificate by making use of this link: Fee Waiver
• Appealing to either the Superior Court of Justice or the Divisional Court of the Superior Court of Justice. Refer to this redirect: Family Law Appeals

Seek Legal Assistance Before Filing

Prioritize seeking professional guidance by consulting a lawyer before proceeding with online or in-court document filing. Lawyers possess invaluable knowledge regarding the necessary documents for each stage of a case, as defined by the Family Law Rules or any relevant court notices and practice directions. They can provide you with expert advice on available options, legal risks, required evidence, and the consequences of non-compliance with court procedures.

If you require the assistance of a legal professional, you have several options available to you:

- The Law Society Referral Service, accessible through this link: [LSRS](https://lsrs.lso.ca/lsrs/)

- Legal Aid Ontario, which you can find more information about here: [Legal Aid Ontario](http://www.legalaid.on.ca/en/getting/preparing_finding.asp)

Get access to complimentary online support for the completion of your court documents through Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO). Their free online tool offers guidance in filling out your forms accurately. To utilize this resource, visit [this page](https://stepstojustice.ca/family-law-guided-pathways/about).

The Family Law Guided Pathways program presented by CLEO involves a questionnaire that prompts you with relevant inquiries and compiles your responses into the necessary court forms. Once you've finished the process, you have the option to save or print your completed forms prior to submission online. For additional information regarding family law matters, consider referring to the Steps to Justice website maintained by CLEO, accessible [here](https://stepstojustice.ca/).

Here are the steps to file your documents online:

First and foremost, ensure that all required documents are completed, signed, and dated according to the specified regulations. In certain circumstances, there may also be a requirement to swear or affirm an oath, which can be done in front of a notary public or commissioner of oaths. To ensure that you have the most up-to-date forms, consult the official form repository found [here](http://ontariocourtforms.on.ca/en/family-law-rules-forms/).

Please take note of the deadline for online applications:

- Online submissions will not be accepted in the following situations:

a) When requesting an urgent hearing.

b) If the court date is within five business days.

c) If there is a deadline established by legislation, other court rules, practice directions, or a court order that falls within five business days.

If you are unable to file your documents online, alternative options include filing them in person at the courthouse or sending them via email in compliance with the Family Law Rules, as well as any applicable orders, notices, and practice directions provided by the Ontario Court of Justice and the Superior Court of Justice. For specific guidelines, refer to the associated links: [Family Law Rules](https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/990114), [Ontario Court of Justice](https://www.ontariocourts.ca/ocj/notices/scheduling-of-family-matters/), [Superior Court of Justice](https://www.ontariocourts.ca/scj/notices-and-orders-covid-19/).

Before you proceed with online filing, ensure you have fulfilled the following prerequisites:

- Create an ONe-key account through the online platform accessible [here](https://www.one-key.gov.on.ca/iaalogin/IAALogin.jsp?GAREASONCODE=-1&GARESOURCEID=QUARTSAPP&GAURI=https://www.services.mah.gov.on.ca/ouiquarts_enu)

- Complete, sign, date, and commission all required documents as necessary, saving them individually as PDFs or in Word (.docx) format.

- Have your Visa, Mastercard, or Interac debit card ready for payment of any applicable filing fees.

- Know your court file number if you are submitting documents for an existing case.

All official and up-to-date forms can be found [here](http://ontariocourtforms.on.ca/en/family-law-rules-forms/).

To successfully complete these forms, it is necessary to have Adobe Acrobat® Reader version 5.0 (or a higher version) installed on your computer.

Expenses

The cost of filing documents online is identical to that of filing documents in person at a courthouse. Payment of filing fees online can be made using Visa, Mastercard, or Interac debit cards.

In the event that you are unable to afford the fees associated with your case, you have the option to request a fee waiver certificate from the court. This will exempt you from paying the fees. For more information, you can visit this fee waiver page.

Submission of Documents

Your session will expire if there is no activity detected for a period of 15 minutes. Kindly note that any information you enter will not be saved.

Please click on the following link to proceed with filing your documents: File your documents

PrivacyFamily court forms are considered public documents. Thus, regardless of whether you file your forms in-person or online, the information you provide can be accessed by the general public. To learn more about public access to family court files, or to discover a family court location, you may visit this page: find a family court location.

To ensure the privacy and security of your personal information, it is advised to exercise caution when entering such details online, especially when others may have visibility or the means to capture it on camera. When completing forms in public, it is advisable to avoid creating online accounts or entering passwords, and to shield the forms from view.

Retain copies of your documents for your records. Once submitted online, the documents cannot be viewed through the online platform.

After Document Submission Online

Joint and Simple Divorce Applications

Upon successful submission of your application to the court, you will receive an immediate confirmation. It is recommended to take a screenshot or print a copy of this confirmation for your records.

If you submit your application on a business day between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., you will also receive an email from the court on the same day. For applications submitted outside regular business hours, the email will be sent on the next business day.

The email will contain the following details:

• Your divorce application, bearing the court seal as confirmation that it has been issued by the court
• The court file number assigned to your application, along with the issuance date
• The location of the court where your application was filed

If your divorce is granted by the court and you have provided an email address, you will receive an email containing a copy of your divorce order.

Other Family Court Documents

Upon submission, you will receive a confirmation that your documents have been submitted but not yet filed with the court. It is advisable to take a screenshot or print a copy of this confirmation for your records.

Within a period of five business days, court staff will review your documents for acceptance or rejection. The court will inform you of their decision via email. The possible outcomes are:

• Acceptance: You will receive an email confirming that your documents have been filed
• Rejection: You will receive an email stating that your documents have not been filed, along with the reasons for rejection. Any payments made will be refunded

In case of rejection, you will have the opportunity to address the reasons for rejection by revising your documents and resubmitting them along with the applicable court filing fee(s).

If your document is issued by the court, you will receive it via email.

Contact Us

If you have any inquiries pertaining to your specific case, please get in touch with the court office where your documents were submitted or filed. A comprehensive list of courthouse addresses and phone numbers can be found here.