The Mandatory Information Program in Ontario Family Court: What It Is

Before many separating or divorcing parents ever stand in front of a judge, Ontario asks them to sit through a session that has nothing to do with arguing their case. It's called the Mandatory Information Program, and in the cases it applies to, skipping it can stall your file before it really starts.

Understanding what the mandatory information program Ontario family court locations use it for — and what it actually involves — helps you avoid an easily avoidable delay.

What the Mandatory Information Program Is

The Mandatory Information Program, usually shortened to MIP, is a short educational session for people starting a family court case about parenting, support, property or a restraining order. It's generally offered as an in-person or online session run by a family justice professional such as a mediator, social worker, or lawyer, rather than a courtroom appearance in front of a judge.

MIP isn't a hearing, and nothing about a person's individual case is discussed or decided during the session. It's information, not adjudication.

What the Session Actually Covers

• The emotional impact of separation on parents and children, and how conflict between parents affects kids specifically
• The court process itself — realistic expectations about what going to court involves, and how long a contested case can take to work through
• Alternatives to litigation, such as mediation and negotiated agreements, and why many family disputes resolve without a trial
• Practical next steps, including where to find court forms, legal information, and local support services

The goal is to help parents make more informed choices before conflict escalates — not to pressure anyone toward a particular outcome.

Who Typically Has to Attend

• Each party to a new family court case about parenting, property, the matrimonial home, support or a restraining order, and to most motions to change a final order
• Both parents generally attend separately, not together, so each can speak candidly in the session
• A party cannot take any other step in the case until their certificate of attendance is filed (a respondent may still file an answer, and a case conference may still be booked), which is why treating MIP as optional can hold up your case

Whether MIP applies depends on the claims in your case, while how it's delivered can vary by courthouse (in person or online) and can change. Confirm the current requirement at the specific courthouse handling your case, or ask your lawyer to confirm it for you, before assuming you're exempt.

Situations Where Attendance May Not Be Required

Courts generally recognize that MIP isn't appropriate for every case. Common examples where a court may excuse attendance include:

• Cases involving a documented history of family violence, where attending could put someone at risk
• Urgent motions where safety or another pressing issue can't wait for a scheduled session
• Certain case types that don't involve parenting issues at all

Don't assume an exemption applies to your situation — confirm it with the courthouse or your lawyer rather than simply skipping the session.

How to Prepare for the Session

• Confirm with the courthouse (or your lawyer) whether MIP applies to your case type and, if so, how it's delivered locally — in person or online
• Book or register for the session as early as possible once your case starts, rather than waiting until a court date is looming
• Bring a note of your court file number and any scheduling correspondence, since staff running the session will usually need to confirm your case details
• Come with an open mind about mediation and other options — the session is designed to introduce alternatives, not to push you toward court

Because MIP is educational rather than adversarial, there's nothing to "win" or "lose" by attending — the only real risk is delay caused by not completing it when it's required.

Why Skipping It Causes Delay

Court staff and judges routinely check whether it's been completed before letting a case move forward, because a party cannot take any other step until their certificate of attendance is filed. Missing this step is one of the most avoidable reasons a case stalls at the very start — long before either side has said anything about the actual dispute.

Frequently asked questions