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Need help finding specific case information or understanding key terms? The following frequently asked questions can help.

If you have reviewed the questions below and still can't find the information about a case, please contact the courthouse where the matter is being heard (List of Ontario Court Addresses).

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Questions

  1. What are the "daily court lists"?
  2. I don't know if my case is being heard by the Superior Court of Justice or the Ontario Court of Justice. Which one should I choose?
  3. I'm not sure of the name of the municipality in which my case is being heard. How do I find out?
  4. I don't know what my "case type" is. Which should I choose?
  5. I don't know which courthouse to select. Which should I choose?   
  6. What is meant by "Appearance/Event Type"? What do the terms in this column mean?
  7. What is meant by “Method of Attendance”?
  8. What is meant by "Docket Line” on the Ontario Court of Justice criminal list?
  9. My name and/or court date does not appear on the daily court list. Do I still have to go in court?
  10. Which types of cases do not appear on the daily court lists?
  11. How can I find out more information about my case?
  12. My search produced a very long list of results, how do I find my specific case?
  13. I have a disability and I am planning to attend court. Who should I contact to find out about the accessibility services available at that court location, or if I need accommodation?
  14. How current is the daily court list information found on this website?
  15. I want information about a case that was heard in the past or that is being heard sometime in the future, not tomorrow. How do I find the information about court dates other than the dates posted?

Answers

  1. What are the “daily court lists”?

    The daily court lists provided on this website include basic information about cases being heard in the Ontario Court of Justice and the Superior Court of Justice at all court locations across the province, with some exceptions. (See question 8 below for a full list of the types of proceedings and cases that are excluded from the online daily court list.)

    The case information included in the online daily court lists includes:
    • party's or accused's name (the names of the different people involved in the case, e.g. the accused in a criminal case, or the plaintiff and defendant in a civil case, or the applicant and respondent in a family case)
    • short title of proceedings  (the name of the case as listed in the courts' computer system)
    • case number (the file number assigned to the case when it started)
    • time of the hearing
    • location of the hearing
    • purpose or type of the appearance or hearing
    • the method of how the hearing will proceed
    • Docket Line Number (for criminal matters in the Ontario Court of Justice only).

    Information is available about the present and next court date; information is posted each day at 8:00 a.m. This means that, every day at 8:00 a.m., the previous court day's cases are removed, the current day's cases are updated and information about the next day's cases are added. For example, at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday December 1:

    • Case information for Monday November 30 is removed;
    • Case information for Tuesday December 1 is updated; and
    • Case information for Wednesday December 2 is added.

    Court users should confirm the information found on the online daily court lists at the courthouse where the matter is being heard (Ontario court locations, service hours and contacts | Ontario.ca).

  2. I don't know if my case is being heard by the Superior Court of Justice or the Ontario Court of Justice. Which one should I choose? 

    If you are unsure which court is hearing your case, simply select "both", and the search results page will display daily court lists for both courts.

  3. I'm not sure of the name of the municipality in which my case is being heard. How do I find out?

    If you are not sure of the municipality in which your case is being heard, please use the Ontario court locations, service hours and contacts | Ontario.ca or contact the courthouse where you think the case is being heard.

    You can also search and view Superior Court of Justice civil and criminal court case information and Ontario Court of Justice adult criminal court case information at Search for court cases online | ontario.ca.

  4. I don't know what my “case type” is. Which should I choose?

    The online daily court lists include the different types of cases listed below.  For more information on each type, follow the links below:

     If you are not sure which type of case to select, simply select “all”, and the search results page will display daily court lists for all types of cases.

  5. I don't know which courthouse to select. Which should I choose?

    If are not sure which court location to choose, simply select "all", and the search results page will display daily court lists for all court locations in the municipality.

  6. What is meant by "Appearance/Event Type"? What do the terms in this column mean?

    The information in this column indicates what is expected to happen with that case when it is in court that day, for example, whether the case is going to trial, or that there will be a settlement or pretrial conference.   If you do not understand a term found in this column, you should contact the courthouse where the matter is being heard (See Ontario court locations, service hours and contacts | Ontario.ca).

  7. What is meant by “Method of Attendance”?

    When your matter is scheduled to be heard, you will need to appear before the Court in-person, by virtual technology or a combination of in-person and virtual technology. The “Method of Attendance” column will display how your matter is scheduled to proceed. Here are what each of the methods mean:

    • Attendance: A court hearing that will be held in-person at the courthouse. The courtroom will be listed under the “Room” column of this website.
    • Videoconference: A court hearing that will be by videoconference technology, such as Zoom. If your next hearing is by videoconference, you or your legal representative (if you have one) will be provided with a link to join the videoconference hearing. If you did not receive the hearing link, contact the court office where your proceeding will be heard.
    • Teleconference: A court hearing that will held by phone. If your next hearing is proceeding by teleconference, you or your legal representative (if you have one), will be provided with a phone number and additional information about how to join. If you did not receive the telephone information, contact the court office where your proceeding will be heard.
    • Hybrid: A court hearing that is a combination of in-person, teleconference and/or videoconference. If you do not know which method of attendance applies to you, speak with your legal representative (if you have one) or call the court office where your proceeding will be heard.

    Court users should confirm the information found on the online daily court lists at the courthouse where they think the matter is being heard (See a List of Ontario Court Addresses).

  8. What is meant by "Docket Line” on the Ontario Court of Justice criminal list?

    The number under Docket Line indicates where your case can be found on the Court’s docket list that the justice, court staff and duty counsel have. Whether you attend in-person or virtually, it is a good idea to know which line your case is on so that you can refer the presiding judiciary, court staff and duty counsel to it. It is a quick way of finding your case that could be among several other cases.

    It does not mean the order in which a case will be heard by the Court.

  9. My name and/or case does not appear on the daily court list. Do I still have to go in court?

    Yes. If you have been served a summons, or have otherwise been notified by the court that you are to attend court, you must appear in court, even if your name does not appear on a list. Failure to attend may result in a warrant for your arrest, dismissal of your case, or the case proceeding in your absence.

    There are many reasons why your name or case may not appear on this website. For example, your case may have been added to the court list after the list was posted on the site. In addition, certain types of cases are not included on this site (for example, criminal cases involving youth or family law adoption and openness cases), and cases under a publication ban will be listed using only the initials of the parties, not full names.

    See question 10 below for a list of the types of proceedings and cases that are not included on the online daily court lists.

    Court users should confirm the information found on the online daily court lists at the courthouse where they think the matter is being heard (See a List of Ontario Court Addresses).

  10. Which types of cases do not appear on the daily court lists?

    Several types of proceedings and cases do not appear on this website. These include:

    • Cases subject to statutory, common law or court-ordered public access. This includes adoption and openness cases (under the Child, Youth and Family Service Act, 2017) and youth criminal cases (under the Youth Criminal Justice Act). Other cases under the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017 - such as child protection and secure treatment cases - will be anonymized using only the initials of the parties.
    • Provincial offences prosecutions (for example, prosecutions under the Highway Traffic Act) and municipal by-law prosecutions. (These cases are usually heard in municipal court.)
    • Cases involving a publication ban (imposed at any part of the proceedings) will be listed with an individual's initials only, not the full name
    • Cases updated or added after the daily court lists are posted
    • Weekend and statutory holiday court hearings

    Important note: The daily court lists do not contain details about publication and disclosure bans and may not reflect bans that were recently granted (i.e., within the last day or two). It is your responsibility to confirm whether a case is subject to a publication ban and to comply with any publication bans or other restrictions.

  11. How can I find out more information about my case?

    For more information about the case, such as the name of counsel (the lawyers representing either party), please contact the courthouse where the matter is being heard (See a List of Ontario Court Addresses).

    You can search and view Superior Court of Justice civil and criminal court case information and Ontario Court of Justice adult criminal court case information at Search for court cases online | ontario.ca.

  12. My search produced a very long list of results, how do I find my specific case?

    Search results display all cases in alphabetical order by the name of the party involved in the case, e.g., the name of the accused, or the plaintiff (in a civil case). Simply scroll down through the list to find your case, or use the “find” or “search” function on your internet browser to search for keywords associated with your case, e.g., case number or name of party. 

    Tip: To quickly locate your internet browser's search function, use your browser's search feature:

    PC users -  hold down the “Ctrl” and “F” keys on your keyboard at the same time.
    Mac users – hold down the “Apple” and “F” keys on your keyboard at the same time.

  13. I have a disability and I am planning to attend court. Who should I contact to find out about the accessibility services available at that court location, or if I need accommodation?

    Each courthouse location has an accessibility coordinator, who responds to disability-related accommodation requests, and provides information about the accessibility services available at that location. If you have any questions about the accessibility features of a particular court location, please contact the accessibility site coordinator at that courthouse. The Ontario court locations, service hours and contacts | Ontario.ca includes contact information for the accessibility site coordinator at each courthouse.

  14. How current is the daily court list information found on this site?

    Case information is posted and updated each day at 8:00 am. Information is also updated at different times during the day. For example, at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday December 1:

    • Case information for Monday November 30 is removed;
    • Case information for Tuesday December 1 is updated; and
    • Case information for Wednesday December 2 is added.

    Because the information is subject to frequent change, please check back often for updates. For the most accurate, up-to-date information about your case, contact the courthouse where the matter is being heard (See Ontario court locations, service hours and contacts | Ontario.ca).

  15. I want information about a case that was heard in the past or that is being heard sometime in the future, not tomorrow. How do I find the information about court dates other than the dates posted?

    Information is posted each day at 8:00 a.m. This means that, every day at 8:00 a.m., the previous court day’s cases are removed, the current day's cases are updated, and information about the next day’s cases are added.

    Information about cases that have already been heard or that are scheduled to be heard sometime in the future is not available on this website. For information about a past court date or a future court date, users should contact the courthouse where the matter is being heard (See a List of Ontario Court Addresses).

    You can search and view Superior Court of Justice civil and criminal court case information and Ontario Court of Justice adult criminal court case information at Search for court cases online | ontario.ca.