Family Law Information Centre Ontario: What a FLIC Does and How to Use One
What Is a Family Law Information Centre?
Every Ontario family courthouse has a Family Law Information Centre — a FLIC — staffed by the Ministry of the Attorney General. It is a free, walk-in service that exists to help people who are navigating family court without a lawyer.
A FLIC is not a law firm. Nobody there will draft your affidavit or represent you at a hearing. What they will do is hand you the correct court forms, explain the filing process, connect you with an advice lawyer for a short free consultation, and register you for the Mandatory Information Program if your case requires it.
For grandparents and relatives applying for a decision-making responsibility order under the Children's Law Reform Act, a FLIC visit is one of the most practical first steps you can take.
Services Available at Every FLIC
FLICs across Ontario provide the same core services, though hours and staffing vary by courthouse:
Court forms and guides. Staff can hand you the current versions of Form 8 (Application), Form 35.1 (Affidavit), and Form 35.1A (Child Protection Information), along with the Ministry's self-help guides for completing them. This matters because using an outdated form version — anything predating the March 1, 2021 terminology changes — will get your filing rejected at the counter.
Advice lawyer consultations. FLICs may offer access to a Legal Aid Ontario advice lawyer. General information about the law, forms, and court process is available, while advice about your specific situation is subject to LAO's legal and financial eligibility criteria. Ask your local FLIC about lawyer availability and appointment length.
Mandatory Information Program registration. Under Rule 8.1 of the Family Law Rules, all parties in a contested family court proceeding must attend a two-hour information session covering court procedures, the impact of separation on children, and dispute resolution options. The FLIC handles registration and scheduling.
Referrals. If your income qualifies for a Legal Aid Ontario certificate, FLIC staff can point you to the application process. They also maintain lists of local mediation services, duty counsel schedules, and community legal clinics.
What a FLIC Cannot Do
The boundary between information and legal advice is strict. FLIC staff and advice lawyers cannot:
- Fill out your forms or write your affidavit narrative
- Tell you whether your application will succeed
- Represent you at a hearing or case conference
- Serve documents on the other party
- Speed up police record check or CAS search processing times
This catches some people off guard. A grandparent who arrives expecting hands-on drafting help will leave with a stack of blank forms and a general sense of direction — useful, but not the same thing.
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How to Make the Most of a FLIC Visit
Show up with your situation organized. Bring a written summary of who the child is, where they live, who has been caring for them, and what legal order you are seeking. If you have already started a police record check, bring the receipt or confirmation email.
Ask the advice lawyer targeted questions: Which court should I file in — the Ontario Court of Justice or the Superior Court? Do I need Form 35.1A given my family's history with CAS? What is the current wait time for the Mandatory Information Program at this courthouse?
Take notes during the consultation; appointments are brief.
If the FLIC at your local courthouse is busy or has limited hours, you can visit any FLIC in Ontario — you are not restricted to the courthouse where you will ultimately file.
Finding Your Nearest FLIC
The Ministry of the Attorney General publishes a courthouse directory on ontario.ca that lists FLIC hours and locations by municipality. Since you must file your application at the courthouse in the municipality where the child habitually lives, start with that courthouse's FLIC.
For grandparents and relatives preparing to apply for decision-making responsibility in Ontario, a FLIC visit is free, confidential, and genuinely useful — especially if you go in with specific questions rather than a general sense of confusion.
If you want a step-by-step filing roadmap before your FLIC visit — covering which forms to bring, how to manage the 60-day police record check deadline, and what happens at each stage of the court process — the Ontario Decision-Making Order toolkit walks through every step from application to final order.
Get Your Free Ontario Decision-Making Order Checklist
Download the Ontario Decision-Making Order Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.