Educational how-to
Which Ontario court hears my case
This page is a public educational walkthrough. It is not a retainer, a court form, or a promise about your result. For legal advice, you should contact an appropriate Lawyer or Paralegal specializing in the area of law you need assistance with.
There is no single “Ontario court” counter for every problem
The building and the form set change with the problem. Filing the right form in the wrong court wastes months.
Ontario Court of Justice
Most adult and youth criminal charges start here. Many parenting, support, child-protection and adoption files start here too. Provincial offences (tickets) are heard in POA courts that sit under this system. The Learning Centre criminal and ticket guides on this site walk the usual first steps.
Superior Court of Justice
Divorce, equalization of property, civil claims above the Small Claims limit, estates and probate, many jury trials, and Divisional Court reviews. Serious criminal trials that are not finished at OCJ also go here. The divorce, civil claim and estate guides on this site start those files.
Unified Family Court is a Superior Court branch in listed cities
In those cities one Family Court branch hears divorce, property, parenting, support, child protection and adoption. Outside those cities the file is split: divorce and property at SCJ, many other family files at OCJ. The Unified Family Court guide on this site lists how to tell whether your city is unified or split.
Small Claims Court is a branch of the Superior Court
Money claims up to the current limit use Form 7A, not Form 14A and not Family Form 8.
Provincial offences courts are often municipal offices
A speeding ticket is not a criminal Information at 10 Armoury. Use the municipal POA location list on ontario.ca.
The Court of Appeal is not a starting court
You appeal an order that already exists. Civil appeals usually need Form 61A within 30 days unless a statute says otherwise. Criminal appeals use the Criminal Appeal Rules. The Court of Appeal guide on this site covers Form 61A and criminal appeal notices.
Confirm the address before you file
Use the court-date guide on this site before you travel. Confirm the street address on your issued document. Toronto family files are split between 47 Sheppard and 311 Jarvis by riding. Criminal Toronto OCJ is often 10 Armoury.
Official law on this site: courts-of-justice-act.
Disclaimer: Know The Law publishes legal information for the public, not legal advice. Court forms, fees and filing channels change. Read the official statute text and the official form page linked from this guide before you act. We do not represent you and we do not file documents for you. For legal advice, you should contact an appropriate Lawyer or Paralegal specializing in the area of law you need assistance with.