Court Proceedings

Court Appearances in Ontario: Conferences, Motions, and Trials

Types of Court Appearances:

Conferences

Conferences provide the concerned parties with important chances to settle disagreements amicably. The main goal is to come to a solution that both parties can agree on. It is likely that you will attend a case conference as the first hearing. Generally, parties are needed to attend three different kinds of conferences before to going to trial:

- Case Conference: A meeting where a judge convenes with the parties or their attorneys to pinpoint contentious points and swiftly investigate possible solutions.

- Settlement Conference: A hearing called by a judge to identify matters that are amenable to settlement, establish mutually accepted facts, and choose which evidence to use in cases that remain unresolved.

- Trial Management Conference: A scheduled meeting to evaluate settlement options and expedite trial proceedings between the court, the parties, and their representatives.

Motions

In order to get orders while awaiting trial, motions require hearings before a judge. It is possible to ask for a variety of interim orders, including ones pertaining to information disclosure, child support, access, or custody. A case conference is required under the Family Law Rules prior to the filing of a motion. All parties, including counsel for other planned cases, are permitted to attend these open court meetings.

Dispute Resolution Conferences

In certain jurisdictions, if the aim of a court case is to modify a prior order, attendance at a dispute resolution conference may be compulsory. These conferences resemble case conferences but are presided over by a senior family law lawyer acting as a dispute resolution officer.  

Trials

Hearings and trials are normally public events. Following the trial, the judge renders an oral ruling in the courtroom. The written version, called a "endorsement," provides a summary of the judge's ruling along with its justification. A judge's decision is only effective when it is first rendered; it does not need to be formalized into a court order.