Ontario Superior Court of Justice ended Zoom hearings for all Toronto family law motions under one hour on April 2, 2026, requiring in-person appearances at 361 University Avenue. Family bar leaders warn routine $1,000 virtual motions will balloon to $4,000-$5,000 as lawyers bill travel and courthouse wait time under the Ontario Family Law Rules, according to Law360 Canada.
Key Facts
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| What happened | Ontario Superior Court Family Branch abolished Zoom for short motions in Toronto |
| Effective date | April 2, 2026 (now in third week of enforcement) |
| Jurisdiction | Toronto (Markham Rd west to Highway 427, Lake Ontario north to Steeles Ave) |
| Motion types affected | Parenting, child support, spousal support, matrimonial home sales, disclosure motions under 1 hour |
| Key rule | Ontario Family Law Rules, O. Reg. 114/99 |
| Projected cost impact | $1,000 virtual motions rising to $4,000-$5,000 in person |
| Location | 361 University Avenue courthouse |
Why this matters legally
This directive changes the economics of Ontario family litigation for every Toronto resident with a live motion. Since May 2020, the Superior Court permitted virtual hearings for short motions — typically argued in 30-45 minutes — which let counsel handle two or three matters in a single morning from their offices. Under the April 2, 2026 directive, that efficiency is gone. Every motion under one hour now requires physical attendance at 361 University Avenue, where pre-pandemic waits routinely ran 2-3 hours for a 20-minute argument.
The court's stated rationale is oral advocacy quality and judicial scheduling. Chief Justice Geoffrey Morawetz has signalled since 2025 that in-person appearances improve courtroom decorum and reduce adjournments caused by technology failures. The Family Lawyers Association and Toronto Lawyers Association have pushed back publicly, warning the spring 2026 motion slate — historically 4,000-5,000 filings between April and June — will face backlog as counsel reorganize calendars.
The Ontario Family Law Act § 33 sets the support analysis, but the procedural vehicle to get there — a motion — now carries substantially higher costs. Access-to-justice advocates note self-represented litigants (roughly 57% of Toronto family matters per 2024 court data) lose the most: they cannot easily absorb half-day courthouse attendances.
How Canadian law handles this
Ontario's family court procedure flows from the Family Law Rules, O. Reg. 114/99, which govern every motion, case conference, and trial scheduling decision. Rule 1.04 permits the court to control its own process, which is the authority the Superior Court is invoking to mandate in-person hearings. The rule has existed since 1999 but was used sparingly for live-hearing mandates until COVID-19 emergency orders expired in 2023.
Substantive family law in Ontario splits between two statutes. For married spouses, the federal Divorce Act, R.S.C. 1985 (amended 2021) controls divorce, parenting arrangements, and decision-making responsibility. For unmarried couples and property matters, the Ontario Family Law Act, R.S.O. 1990 governs equalization, child and spousal support, and matrimonial home rights under sections 18-28.
Critically, the Children's Law Reform Act § 24 — which sets the best-interests test for parenting disputes — has not changed. Only the procedural forum for arguing short motions has shifted. Emergency motions under Rule 14(12), case conferences under Rule 17, and trials retain their existing formats, and case conferences remain virtual by default.
For Toronto residents, the jurisdictional boundary matters: motions filed at 47 Sheppard Avenue East (Toronto North) or 311 Jarvis Street (Toronto East family court) may still proceed virtually if the matter originated there, but 361 University Avenue applies the new rule uniformly to every file it holds.
Practical takeaways
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Check your courthouse. The directive applies to matters at 361 University Avenue. Motions filed in Brampton, Newmarket, or Oshawa — even if your lawyer's office is in Toronto — follow local regional rules and may still proceed on Zoom.
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Ask your lawyer for a revised fee estimate before the next motion. A lawyer billing $500/hour who previously quoted $1,000 for a two-hour virtual motion (one hour prep, one hour argued) will now bill for travel (typically 1 hour each way in Toronto rush hour), courthouse wait time (averaging 1-2 hours for short motions), and in-court argument. Realistic new range: $3,500-$5,000.
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Consider whether your motion is strictly necessary. Rule 17 case conferences — which remain virtual — can resolve many disclosure disputes, scheduling issues, and parenting communication problems without a formal motion. A $500 case conference often prevents a $5,000 motion.
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Pursue mediation or four-way meetings before filing. Ontario's mandatory information program under Family Law Act § 29 remains online, and private mediation under the Children's Law Reform Act § 31 is entirely outside the court system and often costs 60-70% less than a contested motion.
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If you are self-represented, contact Pro Bono Ontario or the Family Law Information Centre at 361 University Avenue before your motion date. Duty counsel remains available on site and does not require an appointment for short motions.
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For out-of-town clients, budget courthouse parking ($30-$40/day) or transit/rideshare costs on top of legal fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the new Ontario Zoom rule affect divorces outside Toronto?
No. The April 2, 2026 directive applies only to matters at 361 University Avenue in Toronto. Regional Superior Court branches — Brampton, Newmarket, Oshawa, Barrie, Hamilton, Ottawa, and London — continue setting their own policies, and most still permit virtual short motions for matters under one hour.
Are case conferences still virtual in Toronto family court?
Yes. Case conferences under Rule 17 of the Ontario Family Law Rules remain virtual by default as of April 17, 2026. Only short motions under one hour switched to in-person on April 2. Trials, settlement conferences, and long motions retain their prior formats under Rule 17.1.
How much will my Toronto divorce motion actually cost now?
Expect a 3-5x fee increase. A $1,000 virtual motion under the prior rule typically becomes $4,000-$5,000 in person once a lawyer bills 1-2 hours of travel, 1-2 hours of courthouse wait time, and the actual argument. Paralegals cannot appear on family matters above limited scope.
Can I still file an emergency motion virtually in Toronto?
Generally no. Even emergency motions under Rule 14(12) of the Ontario Family Law Rules now proceed in person at 361 University Avenue under the April 2, 2026 directive. A narrow exception exists for urgent out-of-country relocation matters where the court specifically orders virtual attendance.
What if I cannot physically attend at 361 University Avenue?
File a motion under Rule 1.04 requesting virtual attendance for accommodation reasons — disability, medical condition, or extraordinary hardship. The presiding judge retains discretion. Plan at least 21 days ahead, support the request with a physician's letter or similar documentation, and serve the other party under Rule 6.
If you are navigating a Toronto family law motion in 2026 and want clarity on the new cost structure, a consultation with an Ontario family law attorney can help you assess whether your matter requires a formal motion or can resolve through a case conference, mediation, or a four-way meeting.
This article discusses recent news and provides general legal commentary. It does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique. Consult a qualified family law attorney for advice specific to your situation.