Mandatory Information Program Ontario Family Court: What to Expect

What the Mandatory Information Program Is

Under Rule 8.1 of the Family Law Rules, both the applicant and respondent in a contested Ontario family court proceeding must attend a Mandatory Information Program — commonly called the MIP. This applies whether you are a parent, grandparent, or any other party to the case.

The MIP is a two-hour session, not a court appearance. You will not see a judge, and nothing you say during the session is reported back to the court. The only thing that gets filed is your Certificate of Attendance, proving you showed up.

What the Session Covers

The program runs through three areas in roughly equal time:

Court procedures. An overview of how family court cases move through Ontario's system — from the initial application through case conferences, settlement conferences, and trial. If you have never been inside a courtroom, this section fills in the structural basics.

Impact on children. A presentation on the emotional and developmental effects that family disputes have on children, including how conflict between caregivers affects a child's behaviour and wellbeing. This section is the same regardless of whether the case involves parents, grandparents, or other relatives.

Alternative dispute resolution. An introduction to mediation, collaborative negotiation, and other out-of-court resolution options. Ontario courts actively encourage mediation where it is safe and appropriate. The MIP explains what these services look like and how to access them.

You attend separately from the other party. The sessions are staggered so that applicants and respondents do not sit in the same room at the same time.

How to Register

Registration is handled through the Family Law Information Centre (FLIC) at your courthouse, or sometimes online through the court's scheduling portal. After you file your application (Form 8), the court will give you scheduling information. Unless exempt, you must attend before your first appearance or case conference and no later than 45 days after the case starts.

Most courthouses offer MIP sessions on regular schedules (weekly or biweekly). Some locations have moved to virtual sessions since 2021, which means you may be able to attend by video rather than in person.

There is no fee for the MIP.

Can You Get an Exemption?

Rule 8.1 lists situations where MIP attendance is not required, including cases proceeding on consent and parties who have already attended a MIP. A judge may also excuse attendance in limited circumstances — for example, if an emergency motion cannot wait or a party has a severe physical or cognitive incapacity that prevents attendance.

Simply being inconvenient, busy, or located far from the courthouse is generally not enough. If you need to request an exemption, you file a motion (Form 14B) explaining why, and a judge decides.

What Happens If You Do Not Attend

Unless exempt, you must attend the MIP before your first appearance or case conference. If you do not attend, a judge can make an order against you, such as requiring you to pay the other party's legal costs. The Certificate of Attendance is filed in your continuing record.

For grandparents and relatives applying for decision-making responsibility, the MIP is straightforward — a two-hour time commitment that you complete once, early in the process. Treat it as an orientation session rather than a test.

If you are preparing for the entire filing process — from gathering your police record check and Form 35.1 affidavit through to your first case conference — the Ontario Decision-Making Order toolkit covers each step in sequence, including what to bring to your MIP session.

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