The Ontario court for your divorce or custody case will be started in the municipality where you or the other party live. If you are asking for custody of or access to a child, the case must be started in the municipality where the child ordinarily lives.

If you bring your case forward in the wrong court, your case may be dismissed or transferred to the correct municipality and costs may be awarded against you.

It is also important to consider which of the family courts, the Superior Court of Justice or the Ontario Court of Justice, can deal with the issues that you need resolved. Only the Superior Court of Justice can address issues regarding property or grant a divorce, but both courts can deal with issues of custody and support.

If your spouse or former spouse has started a case in the wrong place, you need to act quickly to have it transferred, as any delay on your part could prejudice your case.

If you need help starting your case or having your case transferred, please contact Natalie Taccone by calling 416-987-3300 or email her at ntaccone@bortolussifamilylaw.com

Below is a list of local courthouses across the GTA, which service York Region, Peel Region, Toronto, Simcoe County, Halton Region, Durham Region and Dufferin County:

Newmarket Courthouse
50 Eagle St. W.
Newmarket, ON L3Y 6B1
Areas Serviced: York Region including Vaughan, King City, Richmond Hill, Aurora, Markham, Newmarket, Whitchurch-Stouffville and East Gwillimbury

Brampton Courthouse
7755 Hurontario Street
Brampton, ON L6W 4T1
Areas Serviced: Peel Region including Caledon, Brampton and Mississauga

North York Courthouse
47 Sheppard Ave. East
North York, ON M2N 5N1
Areas Serviced: Toronto

Toronto Courthouse
393 University Ave., 10th Floor
Toronto, ON M5G 1E6
Areas Serviced: Toronto

Toronto Courthouse
311 Jarvis St.
Toronto, ON M5B 2C4
Areas Serviced: Toronto

Barrie Courthouse
75 Mulcaster Street
Barrie, ON L4M 3P2
Areas Serviced: Simcoe County, including Barrie, Innisfil, Bradford and surrounding areas

Milton Courthouse
491 Steeles Ave E. Milton ON L9T 1Y7
Areas Services: Halton Region including Oakville, Milton and Burlington

Oshawa Courthouse
150 Bond Street East
Oshawa ON L1G 0A2
Areas Serviced: Durham Region including Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, Pickering and surrounding areas

Orangeville Courthouse
10 Louisa St.
Orangeville, ON L9W 3P9
Areas Serviced: County of Dufferin including Orangeville, Mono and surrounding areas