Ontario Family Law Changes (Part II – Notable Rules Amendments – Motions)

Effective July 1, amendments to the Family Law Rules will impact the practice of Family Law in Ontario. Here are some of the most important changes relating to filing and serving documents specific to Motions.

Subrule 3(4)1 will require a Notice of Motion to be served no later than six days before the motion date, rather than 4 days, as it was previously.

Subrule 14(11) will require parties making a Motion with Notice to:

• serve the required documents no later than six days before the motion date (previously 4);
• to file the required documents no later than four days before the motion date (previously 2);
• “confer or attempt to confer orally or in writing with every other party about the issues that are in dispute”;
• give a copy of the confirmation of motion to every other party prior to giving it to the clerk, and;
• give the confirmation of motion to the clerk no later than 2pm 3 days before the motion date (previously two)

The current subrule 14(11.1), which simply stated that no documents for use on the motion may be served or filed after 2pm two days before the motion date, will be revoked on July 1, 2018, and replaced with a more comprehensive scheme. Here are the new provisions to be aware of…

The new 14(11.1) will prohibit motions from being heard if confirmation of the motion is not given to the clerk in accordance with the new rules (explained above).

11.2 will require parties who have given confirmations of motion which become inaccurate at any time before the motion date to give corrected confirmation of motion Forms to all parties, and then to the clerk (or in the case of a child protection case, only to the clerk).

Responses to a Notice of Motion (Form 14) must be served and filed no later than 4 days before the motion date. Replies to such responses must be served and filed not later than 2pm, 3 days before the motion date.

Responses to a Motion (Form 14B) must be served and filed no later than 4 days after the motion form is served on the responding party. Replies to such responses are not permitted.

As you can see, these things can be tricky. We’re here to help.

Call us any time at 905-851-5909, or visit us at 240 Chrislea Road, Suite 100 in Vaughan, ON.

Our next post will discuss the changes to Conferences (Rule 17) – don’t miss it!