What is FRO? (Family Responsibility Office)

What is FRO?

Get me my support payments!

What is FRO? Just when you thought your hands are clean of the family dispute you notice that the payor is not making their payments on time or at all. What are the available resources that you can have recourse to in order to take enforcement action to receive the money you are rightfully owed.

FRO = Family Responsibility Office

The FRO is short for the Family Responsibility Office. This is an agency of the government that aids in collecting money from a payor who resides in Canada, and 30 other reciprocating jurisdictions including the United States that Ontario has come into an agreement with.

Once you make the decision to involve the FRO they can actively collect support payments directly from the person who has to pay you. They will docket the account accordingly and ensure that the support payments are being paid.

In order to the involve the FRO there must be either a:

• A Domestic Contract for example, Separation Agreement (filed with the court)
• Court Order
• Notice of Calculation or Notice of Recalculation filed by the government

What is FRO? If the aforementioned are not with you then unfortunately the FRO will not be able to help you. Verbal agreements will not suffice. You can talk to a lawyer at AYOUN LAW about what steps you can take in order to have your support payments enforced. Remember the FRO does not have to be involved to have your payments paid out.

If the FRO is involved

Once you complete and submit the pertaining documents with the FRO (ask your lawyer for details) the FRO will take the time to inquire into the details of why the payments were not made or why they are late. If the payor has a reasonable explanation the FRO will work diligently to put together a payment plan.

If the payor does not cooperate with the FRO, the actions they can take are:

• Garnishing bank accounts
• Garnishing money the payer receives from the Government of Canada
• Reporting the payer to the credit bureau
• Suspending Driver’s licences
• Suspending Canadian passports or other federal licences
• Placing a lien on personal property
• Issuing a writ of seizure and sale for property the payer owns
• Reporting the payer to his/her professional
• Seizing lottery winnings
• Starting a Default Hearing

Can the FRO change support order or payment amount?

The FRO does not have the authority to change a support order or payment plan. The court sets the terms of support orders or domestic contracts (Separation Agreements). The FRO’s obligation is to have the payments simply paid to the recipient.

Click Here:  Learn how to change a support order

When the FRO does “not” have to be involved

If you and your ex-partner are on good parting terms this may mean that you two can work out a good understanding to have the support payments paid into your accounts.

If you feel that you do not need the aid of the FRO you can set up your own plan. You and the paying party may feel that you can:

• Have the payment plan entrenched into the Separation Agreement at the time of drafting.
• Agree to a monthly payment plan.
• Set up a automatic payout with a bank.
• Talk to your lawyer and have the payment plan addressed before the Court issues and Order.
• Talk to your lawyer about the other forms of methods available to you.

In order to learn more about the FRO click here 

If you are in need of a family lawyer talk to the team at AYOUN LAW. The lawyers at AYOUN LAW offer a free consultation. Call now at 905-232-2793. We are located in central Mississauga for your convenience.

I work can I book my meeting for after hours?

Just ask! If you find yourself stuck at work and are in need of a consultation just ask to be booked for after hours.