Do I Have to Attend a Mandatory Information Program Before a Parenting Case in Ontario?
Whether you must attend the Mandatory Information Program depends on the type of case you have, and the court office or a lawyer can confirm this for yours. For one kind of case, a motion to change a final order or filed agreement, the parties may have to attend a free Mandatory Information Program (MIP) session.
A motion to change is filed on Form 15, sworn before a commissioner, with a copy of the order or agreement and Form 35.1 for parenting changes. The other party then has 30 calendar days to respond, or 60 calendar days if they were served outside Canada or the United States.
A family case about parenting time or decision-making should usually be started where the children live. In most cases a party must attend at least one case conference on the main issues before bringing a motion for a temporary order, but this does not apply in cases of urgency, such as an immediate safety risk, or hardship. What happens if you miss a session is not something to guess at, so ask the court office or a lawyer before the date arrives.
Key takeaways
- Parties to a motion to change may have to attend a free Mandatory Information Program (MIP) session.
- Whether the program applies to your own case depends on the type of case, so confirm with the court office or a lawyer.
- A motion to change is filed on Form 15, sworn before a commissioner, with a copy of the order or agreement attached.
- In most cases a party must attend at least one case conference before bringing a motion for a temporary order, but this does not apply in cases of urgency or hardship.