Effective April 2, 2026, Ontario's Superior Court of Justice has eliminated presumptive Zoom hearings for all family law motions under one hour at Toronto's 361 University Avenue courthouse, forcing separating spouses into in-person appearances for parenting disputes, child support, spousal support, and matrimonial home sales across Toronto's 630-square-kilometer jurisdiction.
The Family Branch of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice issued the directive through a Notice to the Profession announcing that short family motions will be heard in person in Toronto starting April 2, 2026. The change reverses a pandemic-era default that had governed Toronto family courts since March 2020, when emergency measures pushed virtually the entire family bar onto Zoom within a 10-day window.
Key Facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| What happened | Ontario Superior Court eliminated presumptive Zoom for short family motions |
| When | Effective April 2, 2026 |
| Where | Toronto courthouse at 361 University Avenue |
| Geographic scope | Markham Road to Highway 427, Lake Ontario to Steeles Avenue |
| Motion types covered | Parenting, child support, spousal support, sale of matrimonial home, financial disclosure |
| Governing rule | Family Law Rules, Rule 14 (O. Reg. 114/99) |
| Hybrid option | Mandatory for any approved virtual exception |
Why this directive reshapes Toronto family motion practice
The directive fundamentally changes how Toronto's estimated 40,000 annual family law filings proceed through the motions stage. Short motions — those scheduled for one hour or less under Rule 14 of the Ontario Family Law Rules — represent roughly 70% of contested family motions in the province. Until April 2, 2026, these motions defaulted to virtual hearings unless a judge specifically ordered otherwise.
The in-person requirement applies to the most common disputes separating spouses face. That includes urgent motions for parenting time, emergency support orders under section 34 of the Family Law Act, child support motions under section 15.1 of the federal Divorce Act, and motions to list the matrimonial home for sale under section 23 of the Family Law Act. Financial disclosure motions — typically brought under Rule 19 or Rule 13(11) — also fall within the new in-person default.
Self-represented litigants face the steepest adjustment. Approximately 57% of family law parties in Ontario appear without counsel, according to 2024 data from the Ministry of the Attorney General. Virtual hearings allowed these litigants to participate from work, home, or shelter settings without losing a full day's wages. The return to 361 University Avenue requires transit, parking (roughly $30 CAD per day in downtown Toronto), and child care arrangements that virtual attendance eliminated between 2020 and 2026.
How Ontario law governs family motion procedure
The directive operates under the court's inherent jurisdiction to control its own process, reinforced by Rule 1(7) of the Family Law Rules, which empowers the court to give directions on procedure. The Rules themselves do not prescribe that motions must be virtual or in-person — that determination rests with the regional senior judge, and for Toronto the Family Branch regional senior judge has now exercised that discretion.
Rule 14 of the Family Law Rules governs motions generally, while Rule 14(4.2) specifically addresses short motions under one hour. The 2021 amendments to the federal Divorce Act under Bill C-78 did not mandate any particular hearing format; the Act instead emphasizes the best interests of the child under section 16 of the Divorce Act and encourages out-of-court resolution under section 7.3. Those substantive obligations remain unchanged by the April 2, 2026 directive.
Hybrid availability remains mandatory for any virtual exception. Under the directive, judges retain discretion to permit remote attendance where a party demonstrates accessibility needs under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, documented safety concerns, or residency outside the Greater Toronto Area. The courthouse must provide Zoom links to accommodate those exceptions — a requirement that places infrastructure obligations on the court itself rather than on private counsel.
The 14B written motion survives the change. Parties seeking procedural orders, uncontested relief, or consent orders can still proceed on paper under Rule 14(10), avoiding both the courthouse and any video link. Toronto counsel should expect a meaningful shift toward 14B motions for routine matters as attorneys adjust practice to the in-person default.
Practical takeaways for Toronto families
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Calendar a full day for every short motion. Toronto motions scheduling runs 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and judges routinely carry lists of 15 to 25 matters per day. A one-hour motion can mean four to six hours of waiting before your matter is reached.
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Budget $200 to $400 CAD per motion appearance, covering parking, transit, lost wages, and child care. Pre-pandemic survey data from The Action Group on Access to Justice pegged average out-of-pocket courthouse costs at roughly $275 per family law appearance.
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File hybrid attendance requests at least 14 days in advance. The directive requires hybrid availability for any approved virtual exception, but judges are rejecting last-minute requests. Include supporting documentation — medical letters, safety plans, or distance calculations — with every Form 14B motion seeking remote attendance.
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Consider the 14B written motion route for uncontested or procedural matters. Rule 14(10) permits written determination without attendance, saving both courthouse time and legal fees for orders that do not require oral argument.
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Confirm counsel's full-day availability before instructing. Toronto family counsel typically bill $450 to $750 per hour, and courthouse waiting time is almost universally billable. A $1,500 one-hour motion can generate a $3,000 to $5,000 invoice once travel and waiting are counted.
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Review settlement options before the first motion. Mandatory Information Programs under Rule 8.1 and court-connected mediation under section 3 of the Family Law Act remain available and typically resolve matters faster than contested motions under the new in-person regime.
The bigger picture for Ontario family law
Toronto's return to in-person motions signals a broader reassessment of virtual justice across Ontario. Ottawa, Hamilton, and London retain their existing hybrid formats, but each regional senior judge now faces renewed pressure to evaluate whether virtual defaults are working. The province handled approximately 74,000 family law filings in 2024, and roughly 60% originated in the GTA. A ripple effect into other regions remains plausible within 12 to 18 months.
If you have a motion scheduled at 361 University Avenue after April 2, 2026, speak with an Ontario family lawyer about whether a hybrid request, a 14B written motion, or early settlement discussions fit your matter. An Ontario family law attorney on our directory can walk you through the practical consequences of the new format for your specific case.
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.