Form 13 vs. Form 13.1 in Ontario Family Court: An Ottawa Financial Disclosure Checklist

Published October 13, 2026 · Meysami Law Professional Corp. · Ottawa

Financial disclosure is central to many Ontario family cases, but the correct financial statement depends on the claims. Form 13 is designed for support claims, while Form 13.1 is used when property or debt claims are involved, whether or not support is also claimed. Choosing the wrong form, omitting required records or failing to update material information can delay negotiations and court steps.

Start with the claims, not the form name

Review the application, answer, motion and any existing order or agreement. A parenting dispute does not always require a financial statement, although a court may order one. Support, property, debt, equalization and matrimonial-home claims can trigger different disclosure requirements. Use the current Ontario forms and instructions rather than an old saved copy.

Form 13 is for support claims without property claims

Ontario identifies Form 13 as the Financial Statement for support claims. It asks for income, expenses, assets and debts relevant to support. The form itself warns that a person making or responding to a property, equalization or matrimonial-home claim must use Form 13.1 instead.

Form 13.1 covers property and support claims

Form 13.1 is the Financial Statement for property and support claims. Use it when the case includes claims about property or debts, even if support is also in issue. It includes information used to calculate net family property as well as present income, expenses, assets and liabilities.

Collect the supporting disclosure before filing

Depending on the claim and Rule 13, required records can include income-tax returns and notices of assessment, current pay information, corporate or self-employment records, pension information, bank and investment statements, debt records and documents showing ownership and value. Form 13A is used to certify financial disclosure. The exact package depends on the case.

Serve, file and update accurately

Financial disclosure is not a one-time estimate. Follow the current rules and court directions for service and filing, and update information when required or when a material change makes an earlier statement inaccurate. Keep proof of what was delivered and when. An online submission is not the same as court acceptance or filing.

Organize information without exposing it publicly

Create a dated inventory of requested documents, note missing items and explain legitimate gaps to the lawyer. Redact or transmit sensitive identifiers only as the rules and secure process permit. Do not place tax returns, account numbers, children's information or confidential case facts in an ordinary website inquiry, analytics record or marketing file.

This article is general information as of October 13, 2026, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and circumstances can change. Contacting the firm does not create a lawyer-client relationship.