Ontario has 8 Superior Court of Justice regions for family law. You must file in the region where you, your spouse, or your children live. File in the wrong one and your case gets transferred — which means delay, extra paperwork, and a headache you didn't need.
This guide tells you exactly which region you're in and where to file, without making you dig through government PDFs to find out.
The Filing Rule (The Simple Version)
File your divorce or separation application at the Superior Court of Justice in the region where you live, your spouse lives, or your children live. You get to pick from those options — useful if you and your spouse are in different regions.
That's it. The complication is knowing which of Ontario's 8 regions your city falls into. That's what the table below is for.
Ontario's 8 Court Regions at a Glance
| Region | Cities / Areas Covered | Where to File |
|---|---|---|
| Central East | Durham (Oshawa, Whitby), York (Newmarket, Richmond Hill), Simcoe County (Barrie, Orillia), Kawartha Lakes, Peterborough, Northumberland | Oshawa, Newmarket, Barrie, or Peterborough |
| Central South | Hamilton, Niagara Region (St. Catharines, Welland), Brantford / Brant County | Hamilton, St. Catharines, Welland, or Brantford |
| Central West | Peel (Brampton, Mississauga), Halton (Milton, Burlington, Oakville), Waterloo (Kitchener, Cambridge), Wellington / Dufferin (Guelph, Orangeville) Not Toronto | Brampton, Milton, Kitchener, or Guelph |
| East | Ottawa, Kingston, Cornwall, Belleville, Leeds & Grenville, Prescott-Russell | Ottawa, Kingston, Cornwall, or Belleville |
| Northeast | Sudbury, North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins, large northern districts | Sudbury, North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, or Timmins |
| Northwest | Thunder Bay, Kenora, Dryden, Fort Frances | Thunder Bay or Kenora |
| Southwest | London, Windsor, Sarnia, Stratford, Woodstock, Chatham-Kent | London, Windsor, Sarnia, or Stratford |
| Toronto | City of Toronto only — not Mississauga, not York Region Toronto proper only | 393 University Ave or 361 University Ave, Toronto |
The Confusions That Trip People Up
Mississauga and Brampton Are NOT Toronto Region
This is the most common GTA filing mistake. Mississauga is in Peel Region. Peel Region is Central West. You file at the Brampton courthouse (7755 Hurontario St), not downtown Toronto.
Same goes for Brampton, Caledon, and the rest of Peel. If you file at 393 University Ave in Toronto because you think of yourself as a "Toronto-area" person — your case gets bounced back to Brampton and you've wasted time.
Richmond Hill and Newmarket Are NOT Toronto Region
York Region is Central East, not Toronto. If you live in Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Markham, Newmarket, or Aurora — you're filing in Newmarket. Not Toronto. The line between Toronto Region and Central East runs at the City of Toronto's northern border.
"Toronto" Really Means Just the City of Toronto
The Toronto court region covers the amalgamated City of Toronto — the area formed in 1998 when the six former municipalities merged. If your address is in Toronto proper, you file at 393 University Avenue (main family court) or 361 University Avenue. Everything outside that boundary is a different region, regardless of how "GTA" it feels.
The Full Breakdown: All 8 Regions
1. Central East Region
Durham Region (Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, Pickering), York Region (Newmarket, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Markham, Aurora), Simcoe County (Barrie, Orillia, Collingwood), Kawartha Lakes, Peterborough, Northumberland (Cobourg)
Family Court branch locations at Newmarket, Oshawa/Whitby, Barrie, and Peterborough — consolidated courts handling the full range of family law matters.
2. Central South Region
Hamilton (including the former Wentworth County), Niagara Region (St. Catharines, Welland, Niagara Falls, Fort Erie), Brantford and Brant County
St. Catharines has a Family Court branch location.
3. Central West Region GTA Confusion Zone
Peel Region (Brampton, Mississauga, Caledon), Halton Region (Milton, Burlington, Oakville, Halton Hills), Waterloo Region (Kitchener, Cambridge, Waterloo), Wellington County (Guelph), Dufferin County (Orangeville)
If you live in Mississauga — this is your region. Brampton courthouse. Not Toronto.
4. East Region
Ottawa, Kingston, Cornwall, Belleville, Quinte West, Prince Edward County, Leeds and Grenville, Prescott-Russell, Lanark County, Frontenac County, Lennox and Addington, Hastings County
Ottawa, Kingston, Cornwall, and Belleville all have Family Court branch locations.
5. Northeast Region
Sudbury (Greater Sudbury), North Bay (Nipissing District), Sault Ste. Marie (Algoma District), Timmins (Cochrane District), Parry Sound, Espanola, Elliot Lake, and a large swath of northern Ontario
This region covers an enormous geographic area. If you're in a smaller northern community, confirm your nearest courthouse — distances matter here in a way they don't in the GTA.
6. Northwest Region
Thunder Bay (Thunder Bay District), Kenora (Kenora District), Dryden, Fort Frances (Rainy River District), and surrounding remote areas
Ontario's most geographically sparse region. Virtual hearings have made things more manageable for people outside the main centres.
7. Southwest Region
London (Middlesex County), Windsor (Essex County), Sarnia (Lambton County), Stratford (Perth County), Woodstock (Oxford County), Chatham-Kent, Huron County, Grey County, Bruce County
London has a Family Court branch location.
8. Toronto Region
The City of Toronto only. The amalgamated city — Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough, East York, York, and old Toronto, all within the City of Toronto's boundaries. Nothing outside.
Online filing uses the Ontario Courts Public Portal — not the Family Submissions Online portal used by all other regions.
What Happens If You File in the Wrong Region
Your case doesn't get automatically dismissed. But it does get flagged, and the other party or the court can bring a motion to transfer it to the correct region.
To transfer, you (or they) need to file:
- Form 14B — Motion Form
- Form 14A — Affidavit (General)
The court weighs convenience of the parties and witnesses, and whether transfer leads to a faster, fairer outcome. In practice, filing in the wrong region almost always results in transfer — with added cost and delay attached.
The Lawyer Location Myth
Here's something most people don't realize: you're tied to the court region, not to where your lawyer's office is.
A lawyer licensed in Ontario can file documents in any court region and appear at any courthouse — either by traveling or virtually. So if you live in Windsor but found a family lawyer in Toronto whose expertise you trust, that's fine. They file in the Southwest Region (Windsor courthouse) on your behalf.
This matters because some people limit their lawyer search to their immediate area, thinking they have to hire someone local. You don't. The best fit for your case matters more than proximity.
How to File: Online vs. In Person
Toronto Region
Use the Ontario Courts Public Portal for online filing. As of October 2025, this replaced the Family Submissions Online portal for Toronto.
All Other Regions
Use the Family Submissions Online portal (available through the Ontario government website). This handles electronic filing for all Superior Court of Justice and Ontario Court of Justice family matters outside Toronto.
In Person
Walk into the courthouse in your region with your completed forms. The family court office accepts filings during regular business hours.
Filing Fees
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I file for divorce in Ontario?
At the Superior Court of Justice in the region where you live, your spouse lives, or your children live. Ontario has 8 regions — find your city in the table above to identify which courthouse handles your area.
What happens if I file in the wrong Ontario court region?
Your case can be transferred to the correct region, which causes delay and additional cost. You'll need Form 14B and Form 14A to initiate the transfer. It's entirely avoidable — check your region before you file.
Is Mississauga in the Toronto court region?
No. Mississauga is Central West Region — file at the Brampton courthouse (7755 Hurontario Street). Toronto Region covers only the City of Toronto proper. This is the most common GTA filing mistake.
Is Richmond Hill or Newmarket in the Toronto court region?
No. Both are Central East Region. File at the Newmarket courthouse. Toronto Region ends at the City of Toronto's northern boundary.
Can my lawyer be from a different region than where I file?
Yes. An Ontario lawyer can file in any region and appear virtually or in person at any courthouse. You choose your filing location based on where you live — your lawyer's office location is irrelevant.
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Ontario?
$214 provincial fee plus $10 federal fee = $224 total. The same in every region.
Can I file for divorce online in Ontario?
Yes. Toronto Region uses the Ontario Courts Public Portal. All other regions use the Family Submissions Online portal. Both handle family law filings digitally — no need to go in person unless you prefer to.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Court procedures and fee structures can change. Confirm current filing requirements at ontariocourts.ca before filing.