Family Law Act updated: child definition clarified and family arbitration award enforcement rules now in force

Plain-language summary · AI-assisted

Three previously pending amendments to Ontario's Family Law Act have now taken effect. The definition of "child" has been revised to read "a person in respect of whom a parent has demonstrated a settled intention" — a minor grammatical correction that does not change the practical scope of who qualifies as a child under the Act. The rule for enforcing family arbitration awards has been amended to make enforcement subject to a new section (59.9), which creates a separate filing process specifically for arbitration awards containing support or maintenance provisions. Under that new section, a party can file such an award directly with the court clerk — along with the arbitration agreement and supporting documents — rather than making a full court application, though the right to apply to set aside an award is preserved. Anyone relying on a family arbitration award for support should be aware of this new filing route and its documentation requirements.

Who this affects
parties to family arbitration agreements · recipients of support or maintenance under arbitration awards · family law practitioners · parents seeking recognition of parental relationships