Family Law Information Centres in Ontario Courthouses

Many people end up in family court without a lawyer. The forms, deadlines and vocabulary can feel overwhelming, especially during a stressful separation. Family Law Information Centres, often called FLICs, exist to help with that first layer of confusion.

This article explains what these centres generally offer, what their staff cannot do, and how to prepare so you can use your visit well.

What a Family Law Information Centre provides

Family Law Information Centres at family courts give free court forms and general information about procedure, especially to people without a lawyer. They also provide information about mediation and referrals.

• Free court forms
• General information about how family court procedure works
• Information about mediation
• Referrals

What staff cannot do

FLIC staff give information, not legal advice. In plain terms, they can generally explain what a form is for and what the usual steps are. They cannot tell you whether you should bring a claim, what you should ask for, or how likely you are to succeed. Those questions are for a lawyer who is advising you.

Staff also cannot fill the role of a lawyer in court. If your situation is complicated, involves safety concerns, or has a lot at stake, it is worth getting legal advice in addition to using the centre.

Basic steps a centre can help you understand

It helps to know the outline before you go. A family case starts when a person files an application, and the person who starts it is the applicant while the other party is the respondent. The general application is Form 8, and a divorce-only case with no property or support claims uses Form 8A.

The application must be served by special service, carried out by someone other than the applicant who is at least 18, and then Form 6B (Affidavit of Service) is filed. A respondent served in Canada or the United States has 30 calendar days to serve and file an answer on Form 10. A respondent served outside those countries has 60 days.

A party making a claim for support, property or exclusive possession of the matrimonial home must serve and file a financial statement, on Form 13 or Form 13.1. There is an exception: if the only support claim is for child support in the table amount under the Child Support Guidelines, and there is no property or exclusive-possession claim, no financial statement is required. A centre can point you to the right form, but which one applies to you depends on your claims.

Filing at the Ontario Court of Justice has no fee, while filings in the Superior Court of Justice may require a fee, and a fee waiver may be available.

Choosing where to start your case

As a general rule, a family case must be started in the municipality where a party resides. A case about decision-making responsibility, parenting time or contact with a child must be started in the municipality where the child habitually resides, except as provided under s. 22 of the Children's Law Reform Act. If there is immediate danger that a child may be removed from Ontario, or immediate danger to a child's or party's health or safety, a party may start a case and have a motion heard in any municipality, and the case is then transferred to the proper municipality immediately after the motion unless the court orders otherwise.

The Family Court Branch of the Superior Court of Justice is the only court in Ontario that can hear all types of family law cases. It has 25 locations, and people living in one of those areas go to their local branch. Outside those locations, the Ontario Court of Justice does not hear divorce or property division. The list of locations can change, so ask the centre whether your municipality is served.

Mediation, programs and other help

Ontario describes mediation as a negotiation between two people with help from a mediator, who does not take sides, make decisions or give legal advice. Court-connected on-site mediation is free on the day your matter is scheduled in court, while off-site mediation may carry user fees on a scale based on income and number of dependents.

There is also a Mandatory Information Program. Each party must generally attend no later than 45 days after the case is started, although several groups are exempt, such as parties in cases proceeding on consent and parties whose only claims are for a divorce. Ask the centre or the court office whether the requirement applies to you.

For legal advice, low-income people may get free advice at court from Legal Aid Ontario advice lawyers and duty counsel, and the Law Society Referral Service gives you the name of a lawyer, with a 30-minute consultation at no charge.

What to do next

• Write down your main questions before you go, such as which form applies and what the next step is.
• Bring any papers you have received, including an application, an order or a court date notice.
• Ask which court your case belongs in and whether the centre can help with the forms you need.
• Take notes, and ask staff to point you to where you can get legal advice if your questions go beyond procedure.
• Check with the courthouse about hours and whether services are in person or available another way, since this varies.

Frequently asked questions