Ontario. Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services

Family Responsibility Office

Record #: CDR0180
Last Modified: 07 Jan 2020
Last Full Update: 07 Jan 2020

Phone

Office Phone Automated Information line 416-326-1817
Fax 416-240-2401
TTY Phone 1-866-545-0083
Toll Free Phone Toll-free 1-888-267-4330

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