What Is a Family Law Information Centre in Ontario?

If you've never dealt with the family court system before, walking into a courthouse to start a divorce or parenting case can feel disorienting — which forms, which office, which line. A Family Law Information Centre, often called a FLIC, exists specifically to soften that first contact. It's free, it's located at the courthouse, and it's worth understanding exactly what it can and can't do for you.

What a Family Law Information Centre Offers

A Family Law Information Centre is a service point located at family court locations, generally staffed by information and referral coordinators, and sometimes supplemented by mediation services or scheduled duty counsel availability. Typical offerings include:

• General information about how the family court process works — what forms exist, what steps a typical case follows, and what to expect at a first appearance
• Court forms and guidance on completing them, particularly for people representing themselves
• Referrals to other resources, such as Legal Aid Ontario, community legal clinics, and family mediation services
• Information about mediation, including how to access it and what it generally involves
• A starting point for orientation if you're unsure which court process even applies to your situation

Because it's built into the courthouse, a FLIC is often the first stop for someone who doesn't yet have a lawyer and isn't sure where to begin.

What a Family Law Information Centre Does Not Do

This is the part people most often misunderstand:

• It does not provide legal advice. Staff can explain the process and point you to forms, but they won't tell you what to do in your specific case or advocate for a particular outcome.
• It does not represent you in court. A FLIC is an information and referral service, not a substitute for a lawyer appearing on your behalf.
• It does not decide your case or advise the judge. It's entirely separate from the decision-making process.
• It is not a mediator or a substitute for a family lawyer's judgment on complex issues like property division or a contested parenting dispute.

Think of it as an information desk built for the family court system, not a legal service provider.

Who Typically Uses a FLIC

• People starting a family law case for the first time and unsure which forms apply
• Self-represented parties who need help navigating procedure, not legal strategy
• People exploring whether mediation might work for their situation before committing to litigation
• Anyone who wants a general orientation before deciding whether to hire a lawyer, and for what

FLIC vs. Hiring a Family Lawyer

The two aren't competitors — many people use a FLIC for orientation and general procedural help, then bring the legally significant issues (property, support, parenting disputes) to a lawyer, sometimes on a limited scope basis for just those pieces.

A Note for Readers in Peel Region

Not every Ontario location has a single, unified "Family Court" branch that handles all family matters together. Peel Region, including Mississauga, is one of the areas without a unified Family Court — local family matters can be split between the Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Justice rather than heard in one combined court. If you're in this area, it's worth confirming which specific courthouse and process applies to your type of matter before you go, and a FLIC or a family lawyer can help you sort that out.

Frequently asked questions