What to expect at the downtown Toronto family court, 311 Jarvis Street

311 Jarvis Street is the downtown Ontario Court of Justice family courthouse. Since September 1, 2024, new parenting, support and child protection cases start here if you live in one of 11 provincial electoral districts covering downtown and central Toronto, Etobicoke Centre, Etobicoke-Lakeshore, Beaches-East York and Scarborough Southwest. Like every Ontario Court of Justice location, it cannot grant a divorce or divide property; those claims go to the Superior Court at 361 University Avenue.

Most of what happens at 311 Jarvis follows the same Family Law Rules as the North York courthouse. What differs is who is assigned here, which older cases are not, and the local contacts. For the citywide picture, see our guide for Toronto families.

Which districts are assigned to 311 Jarvis?

The Ontario Court of Justice set these as temporary boundaries in a practice direction. You can check your district by postal code on the Elections Ontario website. The direction applies to everyone in a family case, including parents in child protection cases and institutional parties such as the Children's Aid Society of Toronto, the Family Responsibility Office and the Office of the Children's Lawyer. It does not apply to Native Child and Family Services or Jewish Child and Family Services cases.

Your old case is at 47 Sheppard but you live downtown: which court?

Usually 47 Sheppard. The practice direction lets Ontario Court of Justice family cases started before September 1, 2024 continue at 47 Sheppard Avenue East. It also sends status review applications, motions to change and contempt motions that relate to an earlier case, started after that date, to 47 Sheppard. So a parent living in Davenport who wants to change a support order made in a 2022 Ontario Court of Justice case would normally file the motion to change at 47 Sheppard, not here. Read what to expect at the North York family court if that is your situation.

If the case involves a divorce or property, neither Ontario Court of Justice courthouse is the right place. Our page on which Toronto family court handles your case explains when the Superior Court is needed and how parenting and support claims can travel with a divorce.

What is different about filing at 311 Jarvis?

• No filing fee, and no fee payments on site. There is no fee to file documents in the Ontario Court of Justice, and the ministry's location page notes that court fees cannot be paid at 311 Jarvis.
• A court date from the start. When your application is filed, the clerk sets a court date (Family Law Rules, rule 8(4)). On or before it, the clerk checks service and filing and refers the parties to information about mediation and the court process (rule 40(4)).
• French. French-language services are available at this courthouse at the counter and by phone.
• Hours. Court offices are open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with counter service from 9 to 11 a.m. and 2 to 4 p.m.

Most parties in a parenting or support case must also attend a Mandatory Information Program within 45 days after the case starts (rule 8.1). Our step-by-step guide to what happens after you start a family case in Toronto covers service, the answer and conferences.

What help is available at 311 Jarvis?

Mediation can be open or closed. In closed mediation, which is the default unless both parties agree otherwise, what is said cannot be used in court, apart from limited exceptions such as concerns about a child's safety. In open mediation, the mediator may report to the court on what was resolved and what was not.

What happens if the other parent does not answer?

The respondent normally has 30 days after being served to serve and file an answer, or 60 days if served outside Canada or the United States (rule 10). If no answer has been filed by the first court date, the clerk can send the case to a judge to decide on affidavit evidence, or schedule a case conference if the applicant asks (rule 40(4)(d)). If the other parent lives abroad, read how child support is set when a parent lives outside Canada. Travel worries, including trips to Iran, are covered in whether a parent can take a child abroad without consent.

What changes the answer?

• The district on your application. Assignment follows the provincial electoral district in the practice direction. Parkdale-High Park and Davenport go to 311 Jarvis, while York South-Weston goes to 47 Sheppard.
• Where the child habitually lives. A parenting case starts in that municipality (Family Law Rules, r. 5(1)(b)). If the children live in York Region, the case is not a Toronto case at all; see how York Region family cases work.
• An earlier Ontario Court of Justice case. Older cases and follow-up motions continue at 47 Sheppard, even for downtown families.
• A divorce or property claim. The Family Law Act says the Ontario Court of Justice is not a "court" for property and matrimonial home claims, and only the Superior Court grants divorces.
• Child protection agencies. Cases with the Children's Aid Society of Toronto or the Catholic Children's Aid Society follow the boundaries; cases with Native Child and Family Services or Jewish Child and Family Services do not.
• Language. French-language services are available at this courthouse. For other languages, family court interpretation is provided if you qualify for a fee waiver or the court orders it.

A worked example

For example, imagine a father living in the Toronto-St. Paul's district who came to Canada from Iran and separated from his wife, who lives with their son near the Danforth. They were married, but neither is ready to divorce; the immediate issue is a parenting schedule and child support. The son habitually lives with his mother in Toronto, both parents are in districts assigned to 311 Jarvis, and they only need parenting and support orders, so the father can start at 311 Jarvis. There is no filing fee, and the clerk gives him a court date when he files.

His wife answers within 30 days and also claims spousal support. A year later, the couple decides to divorce and divide their property. Those claims cannot be added at 311 Jarvis; they belong in the Superior Court at 361 University Avenue, where parenting and support can be dealt with together with the divorce. This is a hypothetical walk-through of the process, not a prediction of any outcome. For the divorce side, see our main page on divorce in Toronto.

What mistakes do people make at 311 Jarvis?

1. Starting a motion to change here when the original Ontario Court of Justice case began before September 1, 2024; it continues at 47 Sheppard.
2. Trying to pay a court fee at the counter. Court fees cannot be paid at this location, and there is no fee to file documents in this court.
3. Filing a divorce or property claim, which this court cannot hear.
4. Skipping the information program, which most parties must attend within 45 days.
5. Leaving a language need until the court date. Ask about interpretation early.

What to do this week

1. Check your provincial electoral district on the Elections Ontario website.
2. Find out whether there is an earlier Ontario Court of Justice case and where it was heard.
3. Write down what you need decided: parenting, child support, spousal support.
4. Start gathering income documents; our guide to which financial statement to file lists them.
5. If documents from Iran are part of your evidence, arrange certified English translations.
6. Read our first-week separation checklist if you have only just separated.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a family telephone line for 311 Jarvis?

The ministry's location page for 311 Jarvis lists hours, accessibility and payment information but no separate family telephone number. The Family Law Information Centre (416-326-1694) and duty counsel (416-646-1278) can be reached by phone.

Can I get help in French at 311 Jarvis?

Yes. The ministry says French-language services are available at this location over the phone and at the counter, and French interpretation is provided in all family matters.

Is a Persian interpreter free in my parenting case?

Only if you qualify for a fee waiver or the court orders interpretation. Otherwise, ask early about your options. Our consultations are available in Persian (Farsi), so you can prepare in your own language.

What can duty counsel do for me at 311 Jarvis?

Legal Aid Ontario lists talking to a lawyer, legal representation, preparing documents, referrals and general information among the help available from Toronto Family Duty Counsel in Room 154. Hours are Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., in English and French.

How do I find my provincial electoral district?

The practice direction points to the Elections Ontario website, where you can search by postal code. Use the address where you live now and keep a note of the result.

What if the children's aid society is involved?

Child protection cases with the Children's Aid Society of Toronto or the Catholic Children's Aid Society of Toronto follow the same district boundaries. The direction does not apply to Native Child and Family Services or Jewish Child and Family Services cases.

Can the Office of the Children's Lawyer be involved in a case here?

Yes. A judge can ask it to become involved in a parenting case at either Ontario Court of Justice courthouse. Read what the Office of the Children's Lawyer does.

What if I need supervised parenting time?

The order can require supervised visits or exchanges, and Toronto's Ontario-funded centre is in North York. See how supervised parenting time works in Toronto.

Sarbazevatan Law works with parents across Toronto on parenting and support cases, from the first filing to conferences and motions. Consultations are available in English, Persian (Farsi) and French. Call +1 (416) 628-2041 or use our contact page.