Ontario Family
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Ontario Family Law Rules / Rule 11

Changing an Application or Answer

Rule 11 explains when you can amend a court document without permission and when you need to ask the court. Start by identifying whether you are changing an Application, an Answer, or a Reply.

What is it for?

Rule 11 explains how an Application, Answer, or Reply may be changed, when consent or court permission is needed, and how the amended document must be marked and served.

What it can and cannot do

What amendment can and cannot do: It changes your pleaded claims or response under Rule 11. It does not prove the new facts or automatically grant the relief sought. Do not treat an email asking for consent as the filed amended pleading.

Forms to use and what to put in them

Use the amended version of the original form, such as Form 8 Application or Form 10 Answer. Underline the changes and mark each amended page with the authority for the amendment and its date. If all parties’ consent is needed, file it; otherwise seek permission by motion and follow the order. If an amended Answer adds a parenting claim, add the required Form 35.1 and possibly 35.1A. Keep Form 6B proof of service.

How to prepare

  1. Check whether the Application changed.If you were served with an amended Application, Rule 11(2) lets you serve and file an amended Answer within 14 days of that service, without asking the court for permission.
  2. If the Application did not change, seek every party’s consent.With all parties’ consent to the amendment, serve and file the amended Answer and file the consent. If you cannot obtain consent, Rule 11(3) provides for a motion asking the court’s permission.
  3. Prepare the amended Answer.Use Form 10 for an Answer. Underline every change. On each amended page, note in the margin the rule or order allowing the amendment and the date of amendment, as Rule 11(4) requires.
  4. Check for accompanying documents.If the amendment adds a claim about decision-making responsibility, parenting time, or contact for a child that was not in the original Answer, Rule 11(3.1) requires the applicable Rule 35.1 parenting claim documents with it.
  5. Serve and file through the applicable route.Keep proof of service and check the current court filing directions. If you needed court permission, follow the order and any timetable the court gives.

What if you are amending an Application?

Rule 11(1) has a different fork. Before an Answer has been filed, the applicant may serve and file an amended Application in the manner set out in Rule 8. After an Answer has been filed, the applicant may do so without court permission only by also filing every party’s consent to the amendment. Otherwise, the applicant can seek permission by motion under Rule 11(3).

Filing an amended document in Ottawa

Ottawa’s local notice routes pleadings, including an Answer, through Justice Services Online. The current provincial direction expects online filing but also permits a self-represented person to file by email or in person. Keep the accepted filing confirmation and proof of service. Court staff, rather than self-represented parties, upload accepted pleadings to Case Center before trial in the East Region.

Provincial family filing direction ↗ · Ottawa local notice ↗

How this step fits into the court process

  1. Identify your amendment route.An amended Application before an Answer, an amended Application after an Answer, and an amended Answer each have different Rule 11 conditions. After an amended Application is served, an amended Answer has a 14-day route. Otherwise collect the required consent or seek permission by motion.
  2. Prepare the amended pleading and attachments.Underline changes and annotate amended pages. Include new parenting claim documents under Rules 11(3.1) and 35.1, and financial disclosure when required.
  3. Serve and file.Serve the amended document and accompanying material on the parties, then file through Ottawa’s pleading route with consent or the permission order as applicable, and Form 6B proof. Keep acceptance confirmation.
  4. Only a permission motion needs a court route.If consent is refused, follow Rule 14 and Ottawa scheduling directions for the appropriate motion; do not assume Form 14B is suitable if relief is contested or complicated. Confirm that event under its own rules. An amendment on consent or within Rule 11(2) does not create a conference date by itself.

Rule at this step: Rule 11 controls authority, markings, and the 14-day route. Rule 6 controls service. Rule 35.1 applies to an added parenting claim; Rule 14 applies if permission is sought by motion.

Timeline for serving and filing

  1. After an amended Application is served.A respondent may serve and file an amended Answer within 14 days after service under Rule 11(2), without permission.
  2. For another amendment.Get all parties’ consent and file it with the amended document, or seek court permission by motion. The court may set a specific timetable.
  3. When sending the amended document.Underline changes, mark amended pages as Rule 11(4) requires, serve the parties, file, and keep Form 6B proof of service. Check whether a new parenting claim needs Rule 35.1 material.

The 14-day period is tied to service of an amended Application; it is not a general deadline for every amendment. Check the current Family Law Rules ↗

Hot points to remember

  • Consent depends on the branch: A respondent amending an Answer after the Application changed has the 14-day route. If the Application has not changed, all parties’ consent is needed for amendment without court permission.
  • “Motion” does not automatically mean Form 14B: A request for permission under Rule 11(3) is a motion. Whether the simpler Form 14B process is appropriate depends on the relief, opposition, and applicable motion rules and court directions.
  • Show the changes: Underline them and put the rule or order and amendment date in the margin of each amended page.
  • New parenting claim: Check Rule 11(3.1) and the Rule 35.1 guide for required accompanying material.

Where are the page and evidence limits?

Rule 11 does not set a general page limit for an amended Application or Answer. If you need a motion for permission, the motion affidavit and exhibit limits are separate. Include only changes supported by the applicable forms and evidence.

What this page covers

This is a guide to the usual amendment routes in Rule 11. It does not cover every child protection provision or tell you which claims to make. Read the full rule, the forms, and any order in your case before serving or filing.