Ontario. Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services
Family Responsibility Office
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Record #:
CDR0180
Last Modified:
15 Aug 2024
Last Full Update:
15 Aug 2024
Phone
| Office Phone | Automated Information line 416-326-1817 |
| Fax | 416-240-2401 |
| TTY Phone | 1-866-545-0083 |
| Toll Free Phone | Toll-free 1-800-267-4330 |
Address/Location Info
| Located In Community | Mississauga |
| Mailing Address | c/o Family Responsibility Office PO Box 220 Toronto, ON M3M 3A3 |
Description/Eligibility/Service Details
| Description | The Family Responsibility Office (FRO) works under the authority of the Family Responsibility and Support Arrears Enforcement Act, 1996. The role of the FRO is to ensure that support payments flow properly from payors (people who make support payments) to recipients (people who receive them). The FRO has the legal authority to take enforcement action against those that do not meet their family responsibilities. The FRO receives every support order made by a court in Ontario and enforces the amounts owed under the order. It also enforces private written agreements that include child or spousal support terms. Private written agreements can include separation agreements, other domestic contracts and paternity agreements. These types of agreements must first be filed with the Ontario Court of Justice, the Superior Court of Justice (Family Court), or their predecessor courts before they can be enforced by FRO. The payor and the recipient must inform the FRO within 10 days of any change of address or of income source, such as an employer. The FRO has the legal authority to collect support payments and arrears and to take the following enforcement actions against those who do not meet their responsibilities: Collect funds from federal sources (such as income tax refunds and employment insurance benefits); * Report the payor to the credit bureau * Seize the payor's bank account or assets * Suspend the payor's passport or other federal licenses (eg: pilot's license) * Seize lottery winnings * Suspend the payor's driver's license * Take the payor to court. Written communication (NOT for payments) should be mailed to: Family Responsibility Office PO Box 220 Downsview, ON M3M 3A3 Financial Payments (NOT for correspondence) should be mailed to: Family Responsibility Office PO Box 2204, Station P Toronto, ON M5S 3E9 |
| Hours | Mon-Fri 8am-5pm |
| Areas Served | Ontario |
| Eligibility | Any person who receives or who pays support under a support order made by an Ontario court, or under a domestic contract or paternity agreement that is accompanied by an affidavit in support of filing from the Ontario Court of Justice, the Superior Court of Justice (Family Court) or their predecessor courts Support obligations contained in orders made outside of Ontario may also be enforceable by FRO |
| Application | Check web-page for details on applying for payments |
| Languages | English ; French ; Interpretive Services - Other Languages (upon request) |
Contact Information
| Social Media |  Website: www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss/programs/familyResponsibility/ |
| Website | www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss/programs/familyResponsibility/index.aspx |
| Primary Executive | Susan Erwin, Director, Family Responsibility Office, Ministry of Community and Social Services |
Other Info
| Alternate Name | FRO |
| Former Name | Family Support Plan |
| Service Level | (30) Provincial Government |
Subjects
| Subjects | Courts ; Support payments |
| Service Categories | Child Support Assistance/Enforcement ; Support Orders |