Can an equalization payment owed under the Family Law Act be registered as a charge against the matrimonial home?

Yes, this is a recognized way of securing an equalization payment owed between spouses. Where one spouse owes the other an equalization payment under Ontario's Family Law Act, and the paying spouse owns or has an interest in the matrimonial home, a court can order that the amount owed be secured by registering a charge against that property, similar in effect to a mortgage, rather than leaving the receiving spouse to rely solely on the other's promise to pay.

This gives the spouse who is owed money real, practical protection: the charge shows up on title, which means the property generally can't be sold or refinanced without addressing it, and it improves the receiving spouse's position if the paying spouse later runs into financial trouble or tries to deal with the property without paying the equalization amount first. Getting a charge registered isn't automatic just because an equalization amount is owed; it typically requires a court order or an agreement between the spouses providing for it, and the specific terms, including any conditions or timing for repayment, need to be properly documented. Anyone owed an equalization payment who is concerned about actually collecting it should raise securing it against the home directly with their family lawyer.