How family court venue works in Ontario
Ontario family matters are heard in different courts depending on where you live: some municipalities have a courthouse that hears family cases directly, while others are served by a regional courthouse in a neighbouring city. Filing in the wrong place is one of the most common early missteps in a family matter — it generally does not end a case, but it can cost weeks.
Use the finder below to see the courthouse that serves your municipality, with a link to the official government listing for hours and contact details. If you are unsure how venue applies to your situation, a short consultation can settle it quickly.
Working out the money side too? See our child support calculator and spousal support calculator — both show the arithmetic.
| Municipality | County / District | Family cases are filed at | Courthouse city | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto | Toronto | 361 University - Toronto | Toronto | Official listing |
| Ottawa | Ottawa | Ottawa Courthouse | Ottawa | Official listing |
| Mississauga | Peel | Brampton (A. Grenville and William Davis) Courthouse | Brampton | Official listing |
| Brampton | Peel | Brampton (A. Grenville and William Davis) Courthouse | Brampton | Official listing |
| Hamilton | Hamilton | Hamilton Courthouse | Hamilton | Official listing |
| London | Middlesex | London Courthouse | London | Official listing |
| Markham | York | Newmarket Courthouse | Newmarket | Official listing |
| Vaughan | York | Newmarket Courthouse | Newmarket | Official listing |
| Kitchener-Waterloo | Waterloo | Waterloo Region Courthouse | Kitchener-Waterloo | Official listing |
| Windsor | Essex | Windsor Courthouse | Windsor | Official listing |
| Oakville | Halton | Milton Courthouse | Milton | Official listing |
| Richmond Hill | York | Newmarket Courthouse | Newmarket | Official listing |
| Burlington | Halton | Milton Courthouse | Milton | Official listing |
| Oshawa | Durham | Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel S. Sharpe, DSO, MP Courthouse | Oshawa | Official listing |
| Greater Sudbury | Sudbury | Sudbury Courthouse | Greater Sudbury | Official listing |
| Barrie | Simcoe | Barrie Courthouse | Barrie | Official listing |
| Guelph | Wellington | Guelph Courthouse | Guelph | Official listing |
| Whitby | Durham | Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel S. Sharpe, DSO, MP Courthouse | Oshawa | Official listing |
| Cambridge | Waterloo | Waterloo Region Courthouse | Kitchener | Official listing |
| St. Catharines | Niagara | St. Catharines Courthouse | St. Catharines | Official listing |
| Milton | Halton | Milton Courthouse | Milton | Official listing |
| Kingston | Frontenac | Kingston Courthouse | Kingston | Official listing |
| Ajax | Durham | Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel S. Sharpe, DSO, MP Courthouse | Oshawa | Official listing |
| Waterloo | Waterloo | Waterloo Region Courthouse | Kitchener | Official listing |
| Thunder Bay | Thunder Bay | Thunder Bay Courthouse | Thunder Bay | Official listing |
| Brantford | Brant | Brantford Courthouse | Brantford | Official listing |
| Chatham-Kent | Chatham-Kent | Chatham Courthouse | Chatham-Kent | Official listing |
| Clarington | Durham | Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel S. Sharpe, DSO, MP Courthouse | Oshawa | Official listing |
| Pickering | Durham | Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel S. Sharpe, DSO, MP Courthouse | Oshawa | Official listing |
| Niagara Falls | Niagara | More than one courthouse serves this county — confirm which applies before filing | St Catharines/Welland | Directory |
| Newmarket | York | Newmarket Courthouse | Newmarket | Official listing |
| Peterborough | Peterborough | Peterborough Courthouse | Peterborough | Official listing |
| Kawartha Lakes | Kawartha Lakes | Lindsay Courthouse | Kawartha Lakes | Official listing |
| Caledon | Peel | Brampton (A. Grenville and William Davis) Courthouse | Brampton | Official listing |
| Sault Ste. Marie | Algoma | Sault Ste. Marie Courthouse | Sault Ste. Marie | Official listing |
| Sarnia | Lambton | Sarnia Courthouse | Sarnia | Official listing |
| Norfolk | Norfolk | Simcoe Courthouse | Norfolk | Official listing |
| Halton Hills | Halton | Milton Courthouse | Milton | Official listing |
| Aurora | York | Newmarket Courthouse | Newmarket | Official listing |
| Welland | Niagara | Welland Courthouse | Welland | Official listing |
| North Bay | Nipissing | North Bay Courthouse | North Bay | Official listing |
| Whitchurch-Stouffville | York | Newmarket Courthouse | Newmarket | Official listing |
| Cornwall | Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry | Cornwall Courthouse | Cornwall | Official listing |
| Georgina | York | Newmarket Courthouse | Newmarket | Official listing |
| Woodstock | Oxford | Woodstock (Oxford County) Courthouse | Woodstock | Official listing |
| Brant | Brant | Brantford Courthouse | Brantford | Official listing |
| East Gwillimbury | York | Newmarket Courthouse | Newmarket | Official listing |
| Centre Wellington | Wellington | Guelph Courthouse | Guelph | Official listing |
| Orangeville | Dufferin | Orangeville (County of Dufferin) Courthouse | Orangeville | Official listing |
| King | York | Newmarket Courthouse | Newmarket | Official listing |
| Woolwich | Waterloo | Waterloo Region Courthouse | Kitchener | Official listing |
| Strathroy-Caradoc | Middlesex | London Courthouse | London | Official listing |
| Brockville | Leeds and Grenville | Brockville Courthouse | Brockville | Official listing |
| Owen Sound | Grey | Owen Sound Courthouse | Owen Sound | Official listing |
| Scugog | Durham | Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel S. Sharpe, DSO, MP Courthouse | Oshawa | Official listing |
| Uxbridge | Durham | Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel S. Sharpe, DSO, MP Courthouse | Oshawa | Official listing |
| Wilmot | Waterloo | Waterloo Region Courthouse | Kitchener | Official listing |
| Huntsville | Muskoka | Bracebridge (Muskoka District) Courthouse | Bracebridge | Official listing |
| South Frontenac | Frontenac | Kingston Courthouse | Kingston | Official listing |
| Middlesex Centre | Middlesex | London Courthouse | London | Official listing |
| Selwyn | Peterborough | Peterborough Courthouse | Peterborough | Official listing |
| Tillsonburg | Oxford | Woodstock (Oxford County) Courthouse | Woodstock | Official listing |
| Petawawa | Renfrew | Pembroke (Renfrew County) Courthouse | Pembroke | Official listing |
| North Grenville | Leeds and Grenville | Brockville Courthouse | Brockville | Official listing |
| Bracebridge | Muskoka | Bracebridge (Muskoka District) Courthouse | Bracebridge | Official listing |
| St. Clair | Lambton | Sarnia Courthouse | Sarnia | Official listing |
| West Nipissing | Nipissing | North Bay Courthouse | North Bay | Official listing |
| Pembroke | Renfrew | Pembroke (Renfrew County) Courthouse | Pembroke | Official listing |
| Thames Centre | Middlesex | London Courthouse | London | Official listing |
| Guelph/Eramosa | Wellington | Guelph Courthouse | Guelph | Official listing |
Compiled from the Ministry of the Attorney General’s public court directory; every row was individually verified on August 9, 2026. Page updated August 24, 2026. Court assignments can change — confirm with the courthouse before filing. You are welcome to cite or reproduce this table with a link back to this page.
Key takeaways
- Family filings go to the courthouse serving your municipality — not necessarily the nearest building.
- Several fast-growing municipalities are served by a regional courthouse in another city.
- Every row links to the official Ministry of the Attorney General listing so you can confirm hours and services.
- Court assignments can change; this table was last verified August 9, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Can I file a family case in a different city than the one listed?
Venue rules generally tie a family filing to the municipality where the parties live, but there are exceptions — for example where a related case already exists elsewhere. If the listed courthouse seems wrong for your situation, it is worth confirming before filing.
What if my municipality is not in the table?
The table covers 70 of Ontario’s largest municipalities. Smaller communities are typically served by the courthouse for their county or district — the official directory linked in each row is the fastest way to confirm.
Is the courthouse the same for divorce and for parenting or support issues?
Usually, but not always — a few locations split matters between the Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Justice. The official listing for your courthouse shows which family services it offers.
How current is this information?
Each row was verified individually against the Ministry of the Attorney General’s public directory on August 9, 2026. Assignments do change, so confirm with the courthouse before filing.
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