Effective April 2, 2026, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice eliminated Zoom hearings for all family law motions under one hour at Toronto's 361 University Avenue courthouse. Separating couples must now appear in person for parenting disputes, child support, spousal support, matrimonial home sales, and financial disclosure motions, reversing a pandemic-era accommodation relied on by tens of thousands of Greater Toronto Area litigants annually.
Key Facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| What happened | Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Family Branch) abolished virtual hearings for short family motions |
| Effective date | April 2, 2026 |
| Where | 361 University Avenue Toronto courthouse (Toronto Region only) |
| Who's affected | All separating couples with motions under 1 hour — parenting, support, property, disclosure |
| Governing rule | Family Law Rules O. Reg. 114/99, Rule 1.1 and Practice Direction for Toronto Region |
| Practical impact | In-person attendance required from Markham Road to Highway 427; self-reps, rural commuters, and IPV survivors most affected |
The change, first reported by Law360 Canada, applies only to the Toronto Region of the Superior Court — not Brampton, Newmarket, Oshawa, or other Ontario regions, which continue hybrid scheduling under their own local practice directions.
Why This Matters Legally
This ruling changes how Toronto family litigants prosecute every motion under one hour. Short motions represent the bulk of day-to-day family litigation — urgent parenting-arrangement changes, interim child support variations under Divorce Act § 17, matrimonial home listing orders under Family Law Act § 23, and financial disclosure enforcement under Family Law Rules Rule 13. Removing the virtual option adds commute time, parking costs ($18–$25 at the courthouse), and lost wages to every single appearance.
The access-to-justice impact is not theoretical. Statistics Canada's 2022 General Social Survey on Families found 38% of separating Canadians represent themselves in at least one family court appearance. In Toronto, that number climbs higher for motions involving disclosure disputes. A self-represented litigant who previously logged in from a laptop must now take a half-day off work, cross the city, and navigate a courthouse hallway — a structural barrier that disproportionately affects shift workers, single parents, and survivors of intimate partner violence.
The federal Divorce Act § 7.3 imposes a duty on courts and parties to encourage resolution through non-adversarial processes where appropriate. Critics argue that forcing in-person attendance for routine procedural motions pushes litigants toward settlement not because the settlement is fair, but because the cost of the fight became prohibitive.
How Ontario Law Handles Family Motions
Ontario family procedure operates under a three-rule stack. The federal Divorce Act governs substantive divorce, parenting, and support issues for married couples. The provincial Family Law Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. F.3 governs property equalization under the Net Family Property regime, including the equal-division presumption in § 5(1). The Children's Law Reform Act § 24 sets the best-interests-of-the-child test for unmarried parents' parenting disputes.
Procedurally, all family motions in Ontario proceed under the Family Law Rules, O. Reg. 114/99. Rule 14 governs motions, Rule 13 governs financial disclosure, and Rule 1.1 authorizes regional senior judges to issue practice directions controlling how motions are heard. The April 2, 2026 change was issued under that Rule 1.1 authority and applies only to the Toronto Region.
Critically, Ontario's 2021 Divorce Act amendments replaced the word "custody" with "decision-making responsibility," and "access" with "parenting time." Toronto litigants appearing in person on April 2 or later will hear judges use these modern terms exclusively — lawyers still using "custody" risk correction from the bench.
Practical Takeaways
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Build 3.5 hours into every Toronto motion date. The 361 University Avenue courthouse averages 40-minute security lines on motion days, plus courtroom docket calls that typically run 30–90 minutes past scheduled start.
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File all affidavits and responding materials at least 4 days before the motion under Family Law Rules Rule 14(11). In-person hearings offer no grace period for last-minute uploads.
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Request accommodation in advance if you are a survivor of intimate partner violence. The Ontario Superior Court permits separate entrances, staggered arrival times, and screen partitions under Courts of Justice Act § 135, but these must be requested through the trial coordinator no fewer than 14 days before the hearing.
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If you live more than 100 km from Toronto, ask your lawyer to request a 1.5-hour "long motion" slot instead of a short motion. Long motions at 361 University Avenue retain hybrid scheduling and may still permit virtual attendance.
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For urgent matters, consider filing in Newmarket (York Region) or Brampton (Peel Region) if jurisdiction permits — those courthouses retain Zoom options for motions under one hour as of this writing.
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Budget $180–$240 per attendance for parking, transit, meals, and lost wages. Over a two-year file with 6 motions, the removal of Zoom adds roughly $1,100–$1,440 in out-of-pocket litigation cost per litigant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Zoom ban apply to every Ontario courthouse?
No. The April 2, 2026 directive applies only to the Toronto Region of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice at 361 University Avenue. Brampton, Newmarket, Oshawa, Milton, Barrie, Ottawa, and London retain their own hybrid or virtual motion practices under separate local practice directions issued by each regional senior judge.
Can I still attend case conferences and settlement conferences virtually?
Yes, in most cases. The April 2, 2026 change targets short motions under one hour — not case conferences under Family Law Rules Rule 17 or settlement conferences. Most Toronto case and settlement conferences continue to proceed by Zoom, though individual judges retain discretion to require in-person attendance for specific files.
What if I live outside Toronto but my file is there?
You must attend in person. Toronto Region jurisdiction is determined by where the application was filed, not where you live. If your file is in Toronto and you reside in Barrie, Kingston, or Sudbury, you must appear at 361 University Avenue. Some judges permit counsel-only attendance if both parties consent in writing at least 7 days before the motion.
Does the in-person requirement apply to consent motions?
No. Consent motions — where both parties agree and sign a draft order — may still proceed in writing without any appearance under Family Law Rules Rule 14(10). If you and your former partner agree on the outcome, file a joint consent package and neither party needs to attend the 361 University Avenue courthouse at all.
Are domestic violence survivors protected under the new rules?
Yes, but protection must be requested. The court offers remote witness testimony rooms, separate entrances, and screen partitions under Courts of Justice Act § 135 and the Victims' Bill of Rights, 1995. Survivors should file a written accommodation request with the trial coordinator at least 14 days before the motion and include supporting documentation such as a restraining order or police report.
Next Steps
If you have a Toronto family law motion scheduled after April 2, 2026, confirm with your lawyer whether your appearance can be converted to a consent package, a long motion, or transferred to another region. Divorce.law connects you with one vetted family law firm per Ontario region — search your jurisdiction to review the exclusive member serving your area.
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.