When one person lives in Ontario and the other lives outside of Ontario, the Family Responsibility Office (FRO) may be able to enforce support or work with another support enforcement agency to collect and distribute support payments. If the address of the other party is known, let the FRO know. If the other party lives in a reciprocating jurisdiction the FRO may be able to enforce support in Ontario, or send the case to the reciprocating jurisdiction that would be responsible for enforcing the case. Any questions should be directed to the FRO.
Reciprocating Jurisdiction
A reciprocating jurisdiction is another province, territory, state or country that has entered into a formal arrangement with Ontario to enforce each other’s support orders. Reciprocating jurisdictions must have support laws that are similar to those in Ontario.
All Canadian provinces and territories, the United States of America, and a number of other countries are reciprocating jurisdictions. View the list of reciprocating jurisdictions.
Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act, 2002
The legislation that sets out the process of obtaining and enforcing support orders when one person lives in a reciprocating jurisdiction is the Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act, 2002 (ISO Act).
The ISO Act applies to:
- Registering support orders made in reciprocating jurisdictions for enforcement in Ontario.
- Making a support order when the applicant lives in Ontario and the respondent lives in a reciprocating jurisdiction.
- Making a support order when the applicant lives in a reciprocating jurisdiction and the respondent lives in Ontario.
The ISO Act does not apply to:
- Varying a support order made under the Canadian federal Divorce Act.
- Making a support order when both parties reside in Ontario.
To obtain a copy of the ISO Act visit the Government of Ontario’s e-laws website or purchase a copy through ServiceOntario Publications.
More Information When One Person Lives Outside of Ontario