The new online tool dubbed the Ontario Court Forms Assistant is designed to help applicants fill out the most commonly-used forms for the small claims and family courts. Using the forms assistant will enable applicants to fill out forms that will help them to get a restraining order or apply for child custody or change a child support order or open a family court case or reply to a family law claim. When an applicant selects a legal form online, they are asked certain questions relating to their case and once these have been answered they can download their own personal completed form.

The proposed information sessions will provide information on a variety of civil and family law topics such as how to come to terms with divorce and separation and the effect they have on children and adults as well as effective alternatives to solving civil disputes like mediation and arbitration. For the court authorities the online processing coupled with more information will speed up the court process.

The new program is part of Ontario Attorney General, Chris Bentley’s program of family justice reform, which he announced in December 2009. Bentley says that the move will make the province’s family court system more accessible, cost effective and simple to use. The information sessions will also help Ontarians to make better informed decisions. The program was applauded by Minister of Children and Youth Services and Minister Responsible for Women’s Issues, Laurel Broten who commented that “When relationships break down, it is important for families, especially women, to receive early information about their legal rights and responsibilities, and the impact of separation and divorce on children and adults, so they can make the best choices for themselves and their children.”