In Ontario, family law matters are heard in the Ontario Court of Justice, the Superior Court of Justice, or the Family Court branch of the Superior Court of Justice, depending on the issue in dispute and where you are located in the province.

Family Court (sometimes referred to as the unified Family Court)

There are 17 Family Court of the Superior Court of Justice locations in Ontario: Barrie, Bracebridge, Brockville, Cobourg, Cornwall, Hamilton, Kingston, L'Orignal, Lindsay, London, Napanee, Newmarket, Oshawa/Whitby, Ottawa, Perth, Peterborough, and St. Catharines.

Where the Family Court branch exists, the court hears all family law matters, including divorce, division of property, child and spousal support, custody and access, adoption, and child protection applications. In all other sites across the province, family law matters are divided between the Ontario Court of Justice and the Superior Court of Justice.

Ontario Court of Justice

The Ontario Court of Justice hears family law disputes that fall under most Ontario legislation. Issues include: custody, access, child and spousal support, adoption and child protection applications.

The Ontario Court of Justice does not decide divorce or division of property matters.

Superior Court of Justice

The Superior Court of Justice can decide family law disputes involving divorce, division of property, child and spousal support, and custody and access.

The court does not hear adoption and child protection matters, except on appeal.

Links to Related Sites

General Information

The Guide to Ontario Courts provides general information about courts in Ontario.

The Court Process

Information on the court process in each family court can be found in the guides to procedure:

Guide to procedures in Family Court

The Family Court is a branch of the Superior Court of Justice. The Family Court is the only court in Ontario that can hear all family law cases, including divorce, child and spousal support and child custody/access cases

Guide to procedures in the Ontario Court of Justice

The Ontario Court of Justice can hear family law cases involving child and spousal support, child custody and access, child protection and adoption

Guide to procedures in the Superior Court of Justice

The Superior Court of Justice can hear family law cases involving the same types of issues as those in the Family Court, except for adoption and child protection applications. These types of cases can only be heard in the Family Court or Ontario Court of Justice

Services

For a description of family mediation and information services that are available in Ontario's courts, please refer to:

• Family Mediation Services
• Family Law Information Centres
• Parent Information Sessions