Start here: the usual path through a family case
If you are new to court, follow these steps in order. Each linked step explains what to prepare and what happens next. Your case may settle or take a different route.
Start: issue an Application
The applicant files the proper form, receives the issued copy, specially serves it, and files proof of service.
Response: serve and file an Answer
The respondent addresses the claims and asks for any orders of their own. Some court streams also have a first appearance.
Case conference
Identify issues, disclosure, possible settlement, motion directions, and a timetable. The court may make orders within Rule 17.
Settlement conference ↗
Try to resolve or narrow the remaining claims and prepare the case for what follows. The forms and limits differ from a case conference.
Trial management and trial ↗
Organize witnesses, evidence, and the trial schedule; the judge then hears unresolved claims and makes a final decision.
This map is a starting point for an Ontario family case with an Ottawa Superior Court focus. At any stage you can make an offer to settle. If you need a temporary order or another route to court, use the boxes below. See the Superior Court’s full family-case steps ↗ and check your own court orders.
Need a different route or a basic court task?
Start with the ordinary path above. These are the common detours and practical tasks that come up along the way.
Get before a judge
Choose the request that fits the order you need.
- Emergency or urgent motion →How urgency and permission before a case conference are assessed in Ottawa.
- Temporary motion in an ongoing case →Ask for temporary relief while the case continues.
- Change a final order or filed agreement →Rule 15 has its own starting forms, service and response period.
Handle court paperwork
The tasks many people need before their next court date.
- Count a deadline →Work out days from service or a hearing date.
- Serve a document →Choose a method and prove when it was served.
- Change an Application or Answer →Amend a pleading while the case is underway.
- Use the continuing record →Refer to a document already filed by its tab.
- Prepare or check an order →Who drafts it, how to dispute wording, and when it takes effect.
Keep the official sources close
Rules, forms, and court directions can change. Use the source itself when you are preparing a document or checking a deadline.
Support while navigating family court
Legal information is only one part of the picture. Luke’s Place offers family law and court support for women who have experienced abuse, including a legal clinic serving women across Ontario. Family Law Education for Women offers accessible legal information. For local information services, find a Family Law Information Centre.
If your situation involves immediate danger, seek emergency help. For advice about your particular case, speak with a qualified legal professional.