Effective April 2, 2026, the Integrated Domestic Violence Court (IDVC) is moving from 311 Jarvis to OCJ-T and expanding its eligibility to all of Toronto.
The IDVC will operate every Thursday in Courtroom 703 at 10:00 a.m. with four rostered IDVC Judges who will each engage in single judge case management over both the criminal and family matters.
All summary conviction intimate partner violence charges that are scheduled for appearance at 10 Armoury St. Toronto where the accused is not in custody and is a litigant in a related Children’s Law Reform Act or Family Law Act case at the Ontario Court of Justice family courts at 47 Sheppard Avenue or 311 Jarvis Street are eligible to be considered for the Integrated Domestic Violence Court.
In advance of the April 2nd start date, an updated IDVC Practice Direction will be released and published on the Ontario Court of Justice website.
Before any case is transferred to the Integrated Domestic Violence Court, the following is required:
- A Children’s Law Reform Act or Family Law Act case that has already started in the family court requires the consent of the family case management judge before the case is transferred to the Integrated Domestic Violence Court. Consent of the family case management judge is only required if there has been active involvement in the case by the judge prior to the transfer that involves more than a 14B motion. The Children’s Law Reform Act or Family Law Act case will be adjourned from the First Appearance Court at the family courts at either 47 Sheppard Avenue or 311 Jarvis Street to the Integrated Domestic Violence Court at OCJ-T for the same date as the criminal case.
- Eligible intimate partner violence cases will be adjourned from their originating courtrooms at OCJ-T to the Integrated Domestic Violence Court.
- Parties may appear in-person or virtually.
- Where the Court determines there is one or more triable issues under either the Criminal Code, Children’s Law Reform Act and/or Family Law Act, the proceeding will be referred back to the originating court and set for trial accordingly. The Integrated Domestic Violence Court will not hear trials (other than short, focused hearings in a family law context).
- Parties will be required to continue to file their family court documents at the identified family court office at either 47 Sheppard Ave. or 311 Jarvis St. Documents are also able to be filed in-person or online using the Ontario Courts Public Portal. Family court documents cannot be filed at OCJ-T. Accused persons (or their counsel) required to file documents relating to their criminal proceeding will do so at OCJ-T.