Superior Court Family Court in Toronto: What to Expect

In Toronto, Superior Court of Justice family cases are heard at the 361 University Avenue courthouse, which the court lists as its Criminal and Family courthouse. This is the court for divorces, property and matrimonial home claims. Since October 14, 2025, Toronto family filings go through the Ontario Courts Public Portal, and many steps are scheduled by email with the Family Trial Office.

Where the Superior Court hears family cases in Toronto

Toronto has two family courts: the Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Justice. This page covers the Superior Court. For how the two divide the work, see our Toronto family court guide. The Ontario Court of Justice courthouses at 47 Sheppard Avenue East and 311 Jarvis Street are covered in the Ontario Court of Justice family courts in Toronto.

The facts below come from the court's own pages and the Ontario government's court locations listing:

Address: 361 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1T3. The Superior Court describes it as the "361 University Ave Criminal and Family Courthouse".
Court office hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., according to the Ontario court locations page for 361 University.
Family scheduling: the court's location page lists the Family Trial Office ([email protected]) for trials, long motions, exit pre-trials, Dispute Resolution Officer (DRO) conferences and children's aid society matters, and a separate address ([email protected]) for conferences.
Family court telephone: the Ontario listing gives 416-327-2064 for the Superior Court family office at this location.
Nearby offices: the Superior Court's enforcement office (writs and finance) is at 393 University Avenue, 6th Floor, and the Office of the Children's Lawyer is at 393 University Avenue, 14th Floor.

Which family cases belong in the Superior Court

Some claims can only be decided by the Superior Court. The Divorce Act names the Superior Court of Justice as the court for Ontario, so every divorce, and every parenting or support claim made within a divorce, is heard there. The property and matrimonial home parts of the Family Law Act expressly exclude the Ontario Court of Justice (ss. 4(1) and 17), so equalization claims, claims about the matrimonial home and related orders also belong in the Superior Court. Our page on how property is divided in Ontario explains those claims. Who stays in the home is covered in exclusive possession of the matrimonial home.

Type of claim	Superior Court (361 University)	Ontario Court of Justice (47 Sheppard, 311 Jarvis)
Divorce	Yes	No (Divorce Act names the Superior Court)
Equalization of net family property	Yes	No (Family Law Act s. 4(1))
Matrimonial home, including exclusive possession	Yes	No (Family Law Act s. 17)
Child and spousal support under the Family Law Act	Yes	Yes, with limits on lump sums and similar orders (s. 34(2))
Parenting under the Children's Law Reform Act	Yes	Yes

How a Toronto Superior Court family case moves, step by step

The Toronto Region of the Superior Court publishes a consolidated practice direction that sits on top of the province-wide family rules. Its key points for family cases:

File through the Ontario Courts Public Portal. Beginning on October 14, 2025, all electronic court filings for Toronto family proceedings must be submitted through the Ontario Courts Public Portal, which replaced the Justice Services Online portal. Applications and motions to change are issued electronically, and affidavits must be commissioned before materials will be issued.
Flag urgent filings. Urgent filings, and anything for a hearing or deadline three or fewer business days away, must be flagged as time sensitive in the portal.
Attend the first conference. Under the Family Law Rules, no motion may be heard before a conference on the substantive issues, unless the court finds urgency or hardship (r. 14(4) and (4.2)). In Toronto, conferences before a judge can be booked on consent through the court's online booking link, or by asking the Family Trial Office for dates.
Use To Be Spoken To (TBST) Court for early direction. A judge is available on Monday mornings from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. (Tuesday if the court is closed on Monday) for 20-minute virtual appointments on limited urgent or procedural matters. The brief is limited to three pages, and parties must certify that they discussed the issues in advance unless the motion is without notice.
Motions to change go to a DRO first. When a motion to change is filed, a DRO conference is automatically scheduled by court staff. DRO conferences run in set one-hour slots on Tuesdays and Thursdays and on Wednesdays.
Settlement, then trial. Settlement and trial management conferences follow if the case does not resolve.

Getting help at and around the courthouse

People without a lawyer, and people who want to understand the process before they hire one, have several free resources. Family Law Information Centres provide information about separation, divorce, child protection, family justice services, alternatives to court and court processes, and make referrals to court-connected mediation and the Mandatory Information Program. Their information and referral coordinators do not give legal advice. Legal Aid Ontario duty counsel are available virtually and in person at courthouses on the day of a family proceeding; they can review forms and explain the law, but they cannot represent you in your case.

Accessibility needs should be raised early. The Ontario court locations listing names an accessibility coordinator for 361 University Avenue, and the government's court location pages ask people to provide the court address, file number, date and time of the proceeding, and the type of accommodation needed.

What changes the answer

Urgency. Urgent cases can be brought forward, through TBST Court or an urgent motion, but the court expects real urgency; see support before the case is decided for how interim support fits in.
Disclosure. Property and support cases rise and fall on financial disclosure; see financial disclosure in an Ontario property case.
Deadlines. Equalization claims have limitation periods, such as six years after separation or two years after a divorce; see the deadline to claim equalization.
The children's voice. Where parenting is in issue, the court may involve the Office of the Children's Lawyer; see whether a child gets a say.
Costs. The number of court steps and how prepared each side is drives the cost of a case; see what drives the cost of a property case.
Mode of hearing. The Toronto direction sets presumptive modes (in person, virtual or in writing) for each family step, and a party can ask the judge to change the mode; requests for a virtual hearing must be made at least 14 days before the event.

A worked example

For example, imagine spouses in Toronto who separate after a long marriage, with a house in both names and a pension in one spouse's name. One spouse wants a divorce and equalization; the other wants to stay in the house with the children for now. Because the case involves a divorce and the matrimonial home, it is filed in the Superior Court, through the Ontario Courts Public Portal, for hearing at 361 University Avenue.

After the application and answer, the parties exchange financial statements and book a case conference. If the parent at home needs a temporary order about the house before then, their lawyer might first book a TBST Court appointment on a Monday morning to ask for procedural direction, and if needed, bring an urgent motion. At the conference, the judge would explore settlement, confirm the disclosure each side must give, and set a timetable. This example is hypothetical.

Common mistakes at the Toronto Superior Court

Filing in the wrong court. A divorce or equalization claim cannot be started in the Ontario Court of Justice.
Using the old portal. Since October 14, 2025, Toronto family filings go through the Ontario Courts Public Portal.
Not flagging time-sensitive filings. Filings due within three business days must be flagged, or they may not be processed in time.
Arriving at a conference without disclosure. Conferences are where cases settle; missing documents waste the date.
Treating TBST Court as a full motion. It is a short appointment with a three-page brief, for limited urgent or procedural matters.
Ignoring the confirmation forms. The practice direction says that unless confirmation forms are filed in advance as required, a matter will not proceed as scheduled.

What to do this week

Confirm whether your case needs the Superior Court (divorce, property, matrimonial home) or can proceed in the Ontario Court of Justice.
Set up an Ontario Courts Public Portal account if you will be filing yourself.
Gather three years of tax returns and the property and debt records needed for a financial statement.
Write down any urgent issue, such as housing or support, and whether it can wait for a first conference.
Note the Family Trial Office and conference email addresses for scheduling.
Book a free consultation with us to plan the first steps in the Toronto Superior Court.

Frequently asked questions

Is 393 University Avenue the family court?

The Ontario court locations listing shows 393 University Avenue, 6th Floor as the Superior Court's enforcement office (writs and finance), and the Superior Court lists 393 University as its civil courthouse. Superior Court family cases in Toronto are listed under 361 University Avenue.

Can I file family documents in person?

The Toronto direction requires electronic filings for Toronto family proceedings to go through the Ontario Courts Public Portal. If you cannot file electronically, ask the court office how to proceed.

What is a DRO conference?

A conference before a Dispute Resolution Officer. In Toronto, a DRO conference is automatically scheduled when a motion to change is filed, and parties on an application can, on consent, ask for a case conference before a DRO.

Where can I get free information about the process?

Family Law Information Centres provide free information about separation, divorce and court processes, and referrals to court-connected mediation. Legal Aid Ontario duty counsel are available at courthouses on the day of a family proceeding, according to the Ontario government.

Are hearings in person or virtual?

The Toronto direction sets a presumptive mode for each type of family step, and a judge can change it. Requests for a virtual hearing must be made at least 14 days before the event.

Where is your office?

Our office is at 401 Bay Street, 16th Floor, in downtown Toronto. Contact us to book a free consultation about your case.

What to expect at the Superior Court of Justice family court in Toronto