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How the Family Responsibility Office works in Ontario

Navigating the ins and outs of family law can be difficult to do on your own, especially when there are support agreements in place. If your situation involves, or is about to involve, child or spousal support payments in Ontario, you have probably heard of the Family Responsibility Office.

The Family Responsibility Office, or FRO, is a government agency in Ontario that steps in to make sure court ordered or contractually obligated child and spousal support is being paid correctly.

Whether you’re making or receiving payments, understanding the process and position of the FRO is essential. If you’re looking to learn more about the FRO, what it does and how it can help in your situation, you’re in the right place.

How and when the FRO gets involved

When a person in Ontario is ordered by the court to pay spousal or child support, the court order is automatically filed with the FRO. The agency is then brought in to oversee the payments, making sure they are made on time and received by the right people.

There are three main duties of the FRO:

  1. Collecting payments from the person paying support
  2. Sending payments to the correct recipient
  3. Enforcing support payments ordered by the court

Domestic contracts or agreements can also be enforced. Since these agreements aren’t court ordered, they are not automatically filed to the FRO. If you have a domestic contract or agreement you want to enforce, you will have to register the paperwork with the FRO independently.

Despite what some might think, the FRO doesn’t change the terms of your agreement or support order, including the amount of support you are entitled to pay, or be paid. Changes to your agreement can occur as your situation changes, but only the courts can put these changes in place. If this happens, you need to let the FRO know to keep all information accurate and up to date.

Remember: Without legally binding documents, the FRO can’t get involved and provide support. If you are looking to take the next steps in enforcing support payments, review your documentation or even make changes to your agreement, we can help. Get in touch with our team and we can provide the necessary guidance for your individual situation.

Managing your case with the FRO Online

Once you have an active case with the FRO, you can register to use the FRO Online – a secure, online service available 24/7 to access your case information easily. Here, you can view key details including payment history, as well as send questions or digital forms and documents to your case contact.

If you’re having trouble getting set up to manage your case online, the FRO Online provides a guide to help users get enrolled, understand how to navigate the website and offer instructions for doing key actions like submitting a form or sending in a question.

How to make or receive support payments through the FRO

The FRO doesn’t exist to change the amount of support being paid, and it doesn’t get involved in custody issues. Its purpose is to make sure support payments are happening as ordered by the court or agreed to in writing – in full and on time.

Making Payments

You can think of the FRO as a middleman. The payor sends their payment to the office, which is then forwarded to the recipient. If a case is opened with the FRO, the payments must only be made to the FRO, not directly to the recipient. Direct payments to the recipient won’t show up on the FRO record, and the person paying support will have a charge applied to their account every time the record needs to be updated.

If the FRO is involved because of court ordered support, they can enforce payment by contacting the payor’s employer directly. The employer can be requested to deduct the support amount from the payor’s income and send it to the FRO.

Receiving Payments

The FRO sends payments through to the recipient via direct deposit. When a case is registered with the office, a direct deposit form is sent, setting up the recipient for receiving their support right from the start. If all paperwork is in order and there are no difficulties with enforcing payments, the recipient can begin to receive them within one to two months of registration.

Once the payor has sent their installment, recipients can expect to see the deposit of their support payments usually within two business days.

Tip: Keep your account details up to date with the FRO to avoid any complications or interruptions in payment processing or communications.

Can you withdraw from, or reopen your case with the FRO?

Once you are registered, you are able to opt out of the FRO’s involvement so long as both parties agree to withdrawing in writing. A notice of withdrawal form has to be completed and sent in. This, however, doesn’t close your case forever. If your situation changes and you would like to re-open your case, you will then need to fill out a notice of refiling form and send it to the office. This form can be submitted by either party, though both will be required to pay a re-filing fee.

Our recommendations for a smooth process

Dealing with separations and co-parenting is stressful. You don’t need the added stress of a complicated payment and collections process. Here are a few recommendations we suggest to make sure everything runs as smooth as possible:

  1. Keep your account information up-to-date, making any updates as promptly as possible.
  2. Maintain a detailed record of all communications involved in the FRO process.
  3. Be proactive with your communications and ask questions before problems arise.
  4. If there are disputes, or if there is anything you are unsure about, seek legal advice.

How we can help you navigate the FRO

Understanding the FRO doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Remember that it is in place to help, not hinder. It provides beneficial services like payment processing & distribution, enforcement of payments and online case management, making the process smoother for everyone involved.

While the FRO handles administrative aspects of the support payment process, having proper legal guidance can help you understand your role, your responsibilities and ensure your interests are protected. Whether you need assistance registering agreements, managing enforcement issues or understanding your position, our team of experienced family lawyers are here to guide you through each step and navigate the FRO with confidence. We offer a free initial 30-minute consultation to talk through your individual situation and how we can help.

Get in touch with us and speak to one of our knowledgeable family law attorneys who can provide you with support and guidance to get the best possible outcome for you and your family.