Mandatory Information Program Ontario: What to Expect and Who Must Attend
Mandatory Information Program Ontario: What to Expect and Who Must Attend
If you've started a contested family court case in Ontario involving parenting time, decision-making responsibility, or support, you're required to attend the Mandatory Information Program (MIP) before your first case conference. It's free, it takes about two hours, and skipping it can stall your entire case.
Who Must Attend
Both parties in a contested family case must attend MIP sessions. You attend separately — never at the same session as your co-parent.
Exempt from MIP:
- Joint divorce applications with no outstanding disputes
- Cases proceeding entirely on consent (both parties agree on all terms)
- Anyone who completed the program within the previous 12 months
If you're not sure whether your case requires MIP, check your court notice. Most Ontario courthouses include MIP registration information with your initial filing documents.
What the Program Covers
MIP is a two-hour educational session delivered by family lawyers and mental health professionals. It's not therapy, mediation, or legal advice. It covers:
The legal process — an overview of how family court cases move through the system in Ontario, including timelines for case conferences, settlement conferences, and trials. Most parents have no idea how long a contested case actually takes (often 12-18 months or longer for a trial), and MIP sets realistic expectations.
Impact on children — research-based information about how parental separation affects children at different developmental stages. This section focuses on what children need from their parents during and after separation: stability, permission to love both parents, and protection from adult conflict.
Out-of-court options — an overview of mediation, collaborative law, arbitration, and other dispute resolution methods. Many parents don't know that subsidized mediation is available through the court or that they can resolve their case without a trial.
Financial obligations — basic information about child support, Section 7 expenses, and the financial disclosure requirements under the Family Law Rules.
When and Where
MIP sessions are scheduled regularly at courthouses across Ontario. The program must be completed within 45 days of starting the case and before your first case conference. If you miss this deadline, the judge can delay your case conference or award costs against you.
Register through your local courthouse or the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General's family court services. Some locations offer virtual sessions, which expanded during the pandemic and remain available at many courthouses.
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What You Get Afterward
After completing MIP, you receive a Certificate of Attendance. This certificate must be filed with the court. Without it, the court clerk may refuse to schedule your case conference.
Keep a copy. If you start a new family court proceeding within 12 months, the certificate exempts you from attending again.
Is It Worth Your Time?
MIP is basic. If you've already researched Ontario family law, much of the content will be familiar. But it serves two practical purposes: it's a gate you must pass to move your case forward, and it occasionally surfaces options (like subsidized mediation or collaborative law) that parents hadn't considered.
The Ontario Child Custody & Parenting Plan Guide covers the same ground in far more depth — including step-by-step court process roadmaps, financial calculation worksheets, and parenting plan drafting tools that go well beyond what MIP's two-hour overview provides.
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Download the Ontario — Parenting Plan Starter Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.