Notice to the Public and Profession – Updates to the Consolidated Provincial Practice Direction for Family Proceedings at the Superior Court of Justice Effective January 3, 2025

As of January 3, 2025, Consolidated Provincial Practice Directions for Family Proceedings at the Superior Court of Justice (CPPD-Family) will be updated with the following notable changes:

  1. Institutional litigants and counsel can no longer file materials in paper at the court counter. Part I: A2

Subject to the exceptions set out in the practice directions for documents that may be filed by email, or in paper, institutional litigants (such as the Family Responsibility Office, the Office of the Children’s Lawyer and a Children’s Aid Society) and parties with counsel must file online through the Family Submissions Online portal.

  1. Filing continues to be available at the counter for self represented parties. Part I: A3

Self represented parties can continue to file in paper at the counter during the Ministry’s counter hours.

  1. 20-Page Limit on Affidavits for Long Motions. Part I: F2b)

Affidavits in support of long motions are now limited to 20 pages of narrative.

This is in addition to current page restrictions set out in the provincial practice directions for case conference briefs (eight pages), settlement conference briefs (12 pages) and affidavits in support of short or regular motions (12 pages).

The court retains the authority, in exceptional circumstances, to allow parties to file materials beyond what is permitted in the practice direction.

  1. Other updates include the following:
  • Paper copies are no longer required to be provided to the court when a sealing order is made (Part I: A4g; Part 1: B2a).
  • Updated contact information has been added for Thomson Reuters, and for the Ministry of the Attorney General helpline for Case Center inquiries (Part I: B1&4).
  • If an order or endorsement has already been uploaded to the Orders and Endorsements bundle in Case Center, it is not necessary to upload it again for a conference or a motion. Simply refer to the date of the endorsement, the name of the judge, and the case-generated page number. (Part I: E1b)g; Part I: F2b)g.)
  • Indigenous Court Workers have been added to the list of supports for parties at court (Part 1: L5).
  • Expanded locations have been identified for Binding Judicial Dispute Resolution (Part IV: A) and Child and Youth Involved Mediation (Part IV: C).

The Honourable Geoffrey B. Morawetz

Chief Justice, Superior Court of Justice

December 2, 2024