Ontario Court of Justice - West Region

  • August 25, 2021

For the latest information from the Courts and MAG, including the latest courthouse COVID-19 updates, visit the OBA Courts Reopening page

HEALTH INFORMATION UPDATE – LONDON COURTHOUSE

On August 25, 2021 MAG was informed that an OPS person who attended the building was diagnosed as having a probable case of COVID-19. View Memo

OCJ Bail Protocol Updates

The OCJ has updated its Bail Protocol (introduced in May 2020). These revisions serve to clarify and reinforce the Protocol’s objectives of ensuring that bail proceedings are conducted justly and efficiently. For more information, please see the Protocol.

OCJ Adjourning All Family and Child, Youth, and Family Services Act Trials

The OCJ will adjourn all family and Child, Youth, and Family Services Act trials (including in-person, hybrid, and remote trials) scheduled between April 26 to May 7, 2021. Counsel and parties should not attend Court for these types of trials during this period. The Court is committed to facilitating proceedings by remote technology where possible, unless an in-person hearing is required to ensure meaningful access to justice. For more information please see the Notice.

MAG Update re Small Estates

The Ministry of the Attorney General has announced that it will establish a threshold limit for small estates in order to simplify the probate process for such estates, as per the Smarter and Stronger Justice Act, 2020. Beginning on April 1, 2021, Ontario will set the limit for a small estate at $150,000 and will remove the requirement to post bond in most small estate probate applications. For more information, please see this News Release

OCJ Revised Notice to Counsel/Paralegals and the Public re: POA Matters

The OCJ has revised its May 19th Notice to Counsel/Paralegals and the Public regarding Provincial Offences Act matters in the OCJ. Beginning on January 25, 2021: Unless otherwise ordered by the Regional Senior Justice of the Peace or the presiding Justice of the Peace, remote appearances will continue to be the presumption. For more information, please see the Notice.

OCJ Directive re Scheduling of Family Law Matters Revised

In lights of the Ontario government’s new emergency orders, the OCJ has revised the COVID-19: Scheduling of Family Law Matters at the Ontario Court of Justice. The new Scheduling of Family Law Matters directive eliminates the reference to certain appearances being presumptively in person and waives the requirement to file sworn documents, beyond unsworn affidavits of service. Electronically signed documents are acceptable for filing.

Regulation to Amend Rules of Civil Procedure

On December 8, 2020, a regulation was filed to amend the Rules of Civil Procedure, O. Reg. 711-20. The regulation makes administrative amendments to align the Rules of Civil Procedure with legislative amendments that were introduced to remove the office of a traditional master.

OCJ & SCJ (All regions): Dec 7 Update

The Daily Court Lists website publishes the daily court lists for both the OCJ and SCJ. This website provides information about case names, as well as the time, location, and reasons for court appearances. As of December 7, 2020, two changes have been made to this website

OCJ Message re COVID-19

The OCJ has issued a Message re COVID-19 regarding COVID-19 that includes encouraging judicial officials, parties and counsel to actively explore whether all, or any portion, of trials or other hearings that would otherwise be in person can be conducted using remote technology, and to be accommodating of such requests from opposing counsel or parties.