Inside Family Court

PRICES GO UP OCTOBER 10TH!

Inside Family Court is a one-day educational event designed to help self-represented litigants better understand the family court process and the resources available to them.

The Event

The event features educational presentations from legal professionals, along with an exhibitor area where attendees can connect with lawyers, mediators, forensic accountants, court support organizations, and other legal professionals and service providers. The conference schedule identifies the speakers and presentation topics, while additional professionals and organizations are available throughout the day to provide information about their services and resources.

Each ticket includes a program with a comprehensive list of resources for self-reps, access to all educational sessions, and complimentary coffee, water, and snacks. Attend the sessions that interest you, with in-and-out privileges throughout the day.

Whether you are just beginning your family court matter or preparing for trial, Inside Family Court provides practical information to help you better navigate the family justice system.

Registration fees are low so the event is accessible to everyone. Together, we are improving access to family justice in Ontario.

Info: Discover how the National Self-Represented Litigants Project (NSRLP) has become a national leader in improving access to justice for self-represented litigants through groundbreaking research, practical resources, and advocacy for meaningful change. Learn about the tools and resources the NSRLP has developed, the organizations and services it recommends, and how its research has helped advance innovations in legal practice, including limited scope (unbundled) legal services and legal coaching, making professional legal assistance more accessible and affordable for self-represented litigants.

Info: Family court conferences are one of the most important parts of the litigation process, yet they are often misunderstood by self-represented litigants. This session will take you inside every stage of the conference process, explaining the purpose of each conference, how they actually unfold in the courtroom, and the types of orders that can and cannot be made. Learn the practical ins and outs of preparing conference briefs, and presenting your position effectively. You’ll also gain a clear understanding of the differences between conferences and motions, including why conference briefs are not sworn evidence and how that affects the issues a judge can decide. Learn how to avoid the common pitfalls so you can approach every conference with confidence.

Info: Motions can have a significant impact on the direction of your family law case. This session will provide a practical guide to bringing or responding to a motion, including determining whether a motion is necessary, when a matter may be considered urgent, and when a motion without notice (ex parte) may be appropriate. Learn how to organize your evidence, draft effective affidavits and factums, and present your arguments clearly in court. We’ll also cover what happens after the motion, including endorsements, drafting and obtaining the formal order, and understanding exactly what the court has ordered.

Info: Explore the spectrum of financial disclosure in Family Law: What is legally required, what you should provide strategically, what you should ask for and what you should expect will be asked of you. We will consider how to separate necessary and relevant disclosure from requests that are disproportionate and possibly abusive, with practical guidance on how to draw the line.

Info: A separation agreement can shape your financial future, parenting arrangements, and legal rights for years to come. Learn what provisions should be considered, which clauses are essential, and how the terms of an agreement should be tailored to your family’s unique circumstances. This session will explore common pitfalls, important protections, and practical drafting considerations to help you understand what makes a strong, comprehensive separation agreement and why every clause matters.

Info: Understand what financial records can reveal in a family law case. This session explores forensic accounting and business valuation, covering financial disclosure, guideline income, business interests, and how to recognize potential financial irregularities. Learn how financial experts analyze complex business records and how these findings can influence support, equalization, and other financial issues in family law.

Info: Having evidence is not the same as proving your case. This session will cover what evidence you can actually use in family court, including texts, emails, recordings, financial records, social media, affidavits, exhibits and witness testimony, and how to properly put that evidence before the court. Learn about relevance, hearsay and authentication, the difference between evidence and argument, how to organize and present evidence effectively, and how to get documents admitted. Most importantly, learn how to separate relevant facts from the history and conflict surrounding your case, connect your evidence to the legal issues the judge must decide, and focus on what the judge actually needs to see and hear, without overwhelming the court or losing your strongest points in the noise.

Info: Learn the basics of legal research and how to use case law effectively in family court. This session will cover how to search CanLII, find relevant decisions, identify useful precedents, and understand how judges apply prior cases. You’ll then learn how those research skills apply to appeals, including how to determine whether a decision is appealable, identify potential grounds of appeal, understand standards of review, and distinguish an appealable error from simply disagreeing with the outcome. Most importantly, you’ll gain practical tools to help assess when an appeal may be worth pursuing and when it may not be.

Info: An effective Offer to Settle can be one of the most powerful tools in family law. Learn when and how to prepare strategic Offers to Settle, including why they should be served before a Settlement Conference, how they can encourage meaningful negotiations, and how they may significantly impact costs if your matter proceeds to trial. This session will also explain what happens after an offer is accepted, including how it is converted into Minutes of Settlement and ultimately a Consent Order, bringing your court case to a conclusion without the time, expense, and uncertainty of a trial.

Info: A successful trial requires more than knowing the law. It requires preparation, confidence, and effective courtroom advocacy. This session will guide you through every stage of a family law trial, including presenting evidence, examining and cross-examining witnesses, courtroom etiquette, making persuasive submissions, and avoiding common mistakes. Develop the practical courtroom skills needed to present your case in an organized, professional, and persuasive manner.

Event venue & nearby stays

Fairview Library Theatre, 35 Fairview Mall Drive, Toronto, Canada

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.

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