What documents must be filed before a case conference in Ontario family court?

Before a case conference, the Family Law Rules generally require each party to file a case conference brief, a document summarizing the issues in dispute, the party's position, and what they're asking the court to do, along with the specific financial and other disclosure relevant to the issues in the case — this typically includes a sworn financial statement where support or property issues are involved, and any court forms setting out a party's position on parenting matters, where those are in dispute. Both parties are expected to have exchanged relevant financial and other disclosure with each other before the conference as well, not just filed it with the court.

Filing incomplete or late materials is a common problem that can make a conference far less useful, and in some cases can result in the conference being adjourned or costs consequences for the party who wasn't ready. Because what exactly needs to be filed depends on the specific issues in a case — support, property, parenting, or some combination — anyone preparing for a case conference should confirm the current requirements with a lawyer or the court's local practice directions rather than assuming a one-size-fits-all list.