Generally More Restricted Than Other Court Files
Family court records in Ontario are generally subject to more restricted access than many other types of civil court files, reflecting the sensitive and personal nature of the information involved — finances, children, and personal relationships. This is part of why, as discussed in our guide on finding out if a spouse has filed for divorce, you generally can't simply search a fully open public database the way you might for some other legal matters.
Who Generally Has Access
The parties to a case and their lawyers generally have access to their own file. Beyond that, public and media access to family court records is generally more limited and can depend on the specific type of document and the circumstances, with courts generally retaining some discretion over access to protect sensitive information, particularly anything concerning children.
Why Family Records Are Generally Treated This Way
The general policy reasoning is that family law matters generally involve highly personal information about people's finances, parenting situations, and relationships, and that open, unrestricted public access could generally cause real harm — particularly to children, who generally aren't choosing to be part of litigation but whose lives are often central to the case.
What This Generally Means Practically
Practically, this generally means you shouldn't expect to find a stranger's family court details through a casual online search, and it generally means that if you need information about a specific case — including your own — going through the proper channels (your own lawyer, or the court office for your own file) is generally the reliable path, rather than assuming informal searching will work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can anyone look up details of a family court case online?
Generally, no — family court records are generally subject to more restricted access than many other court files, given the sensitive and personal information typically involved.
Do the parties to a case have full access to their own file?
Generally, yes — the parties and their lawyers generally have access to their own case file as a matter of course.
Can media or members of the public attend family court hearings?
Access can vary and courts generally retain some discretion, particularly where sensitive information or children's interests are involved — this is generally more restricted than for many other types of proceedings.
Why are family court records treated differently from other civil cases?
Generally because of the highly personal nature of the information involved — finances, parenting, and relationships — and a policy interest in protecting that information, particularly for children involved in a case.
How can I get information about my own family court case?
Generally through your own lawyer, if you have one, or directly through the court office handling your file, rather than relying on an informal public search.