Effective April 2, 2026, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice will require all family law short motions (under one hour) at the Toronto courthouse to proceed in person at 361 University Avenue, ending the pandemic-era Zoom access that has operated since March 2020. The directive from the Ontario Superior Court applies to urgent parenting disputes, child support, spousal support, and matrimonial home motions, and family lawyers estimate it will add $1,500 to $3,500 per motion in attendance costs for litigants across the Greater Toronto Area.
Key Facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| What happened | Toronto family law short motions (under 1 hour) move back to in-person only |
| Effective date | April 2, 2026 |
| Location | 361 University Avenue, Toronto (Superior Court of Justice) |
| Who is affected | All Toronto-region family law litigants, self-represented parties, and counsel |
| Governing authority | Family Law Rules, O. Reg. 114/99, Rule 14 (Motions) and Chief Justice practice direction |
| Practical impact | Estimated $1,500–$3,500 added cost per motion; projected 4–6 week backlog increase |
Why this matters legally
This directive changes how Toronto family courts process the highest-volume category of family law disputes. Short motions under one hour represent roughly 70% of all interim family law applications in Ontario, covering interim parenting arrangements, temporary support, disclosure orders, and restraining orders. Since March 2020, these motions have been heard almost exclusively via Zoom under the Ontario Superior Court's Consolidated Provincial Practice Direction, saving litigants an average of 3 to 5 hours per appearance and eliminating courthouse parking, childcare, and travel costs.
The Ontario Superior Court has stated that in-person hearings improve decorum, reduce technical disruptions, and allow judges to better assess credibility — particularly in high-conflict parenting disputes. Critics, including the Family Lawyers Association and Luke's Place Support Services for Women, counter that the directive disproportionately burdens self-represented litigants (who comprise approximately 57% of family court users per the 2024 Ontario Court Services Annual Report), survivors of intimate partner violence, and parents with primary parenting time who must now arrange childcare to attend court.
How Canadian law handles this
Family law motions in Ontario are governed by the Family Law Rules, O. Reg. 114/99, Rule 14, which sets out procedures for bringing, responding to, and hearing motions. Rule 1.1 expressly empowers the court to use technology, and Rule 14(11.1) — added in 2020 — permits hearings by telephone or videoconference. The April 2026 directive does not amend these rules; instead, it exercises the Chief Justice's administrative authority under section 14 of the Courts of Justice Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.43 to set scheduling and location protocols.
Under the federal Divorce Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 3 (2nd Supp.), as amended in 2021, courts must consider the best interests of the child when determining parenting arrangements, including whether a parent's ability to attend court affects their capacity to participate meaningfully in proceedings. Section 16.1 of the Divorce Act codifies the "maximum parenting time" principle, and family lawyers have already flagged that requiring in-person attendance may conflict with shift-working parents' ability to pursue decision-making responsibility claims. The Family Law Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. F.3, governs spousal support and matrimonial home issues for unmarried couples and provincial matters — these motions are equally affected by the April 2 directive.
Importantly, Toronto's return to in-person motions is not province-wide. As of April 2026, courthouses in Ottawa, Hamilton, London, and Windsor continue to permit Zoom appearances for short family motions at the presiding judge's discretion, creating a two-tiered access-to-justice landscape within Ontario.
Practical takeaways
- Budget an additional $1,500 to $3,500 per short motion in the Toronto region starting April 2, 2026, to cover counsel's half-day or full-day attendance rate plus travel and parking.
- Calendar all Toronto family motion dates at least 8 weeks in advance — the Family Lawyers Association projects a 4- to 6-week scheduling backlog as the court recalibrates courtroom capacity at 361 University Avenue.
- If you are a self-represented litigant unable to attend in person, file a Form 14B motion under Rule 14(10) of the Family Law Rules requesting accommodation, citing childcare, employment, disability, or safety concerns; the court retains discretion to permit remote attendance.
- For survivors of intimate partner violence, request a Rule 14(11.1) videoconference accommodation and reference the Supreme Court of Canada's decision in Barendregt v. Grebliunas, 2022 SCC 22, which recognized safety considerations in family proceedings.
- Consider whether your matter can be resolved through mediation-arbitration under section 59.6 of the Family Law Act before filing a motion — private dispute resolution is not subject to the in-person directive.
- If your motion is scheduled for March 2026, confirm the hearing format with the trial coordinator at least 14 days prior, as transitional motions may be rescheduled to accommodate the April 2 changeover.
What this means for Ontario divorcing families
The directive arrives during a period of sustained demand on Ontario's family courts. The 2024 Ontario Court Services Annual Report recorded 42,847 new family court applications province-wide, with the Toronto region accounting for approximately 11,200 filings. Average time from application to final order in contested parenting cases currently stands at 19 months — a figure the Family Lawyers Association warns could stretch to 22 or 23 months once in-person motion scheduling constraints take effect.
The practical reality for Toronto parents is this: a motion that previously took 90 minutes of your day (15 minutes logging into Zoom, 60 minutes hearing, 15 minutes debrief) will now consume a full day, including travel to downtown Toronto, security screening, courtroom waiting time, and return travel. For parents in Durham Region, Halton, and York Region, that means arranging full-day childcare and losing a day's income. This shift will meaningfully affect settlement dynamics, because the cost-benefit calculus of litigating short motions versus negotiating a resolution tips further toward settlement.
Consult an Ontario family lawyer
If you have a pending or anticipated Toronto family law motion, speak with an Ontario family lawyer before April 2, 2026 to confirm scheduling, format, and cost implications. The exclusive Divorce.law member firm for your region can help you assess whether your motion should be accelerated, converted to a Form 14B procedural motion, or diverted to mediation-arbitration.
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.