Lawsuits and Disputes

A civil suit usually involves a dispute about the terms of a contract, or a claim for injury to a person, or their property or reputation (often defined as a tort). More…

There are many alternatives to suing that you may wish to consider before you start a civil case, and at any point after you bring your claim. More…

• Claims for money or the return of personal property valued below $35,000 can be started in Small Claims Court.
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You will have to prove your case. Consider what witnesses and/or documents you have to support you. More…

There may be a time limit on how long you can wait before starting a lawsuit, which is set out in the Limitations Act. If you are uncertain about what limitation period applies to your case, you should consult a lawyer. More…

Fees are payable to the Minister of Finance upon filing a claim and for most steps in an action, such as filing a motion. More…

• The Superior Court of Justice has jurisdiction over family, civil, and certain criminal cases.
• A judge, or a judge and jury hear trials in the Superior Court of Justice.
• What is simplified procedure (Rule 76)? - PDF
• Learn more about the Superior Court of Justice.

• Divisional Court reviews the decisions of administrative tribunals, which are groups that have the power to investigate complaints, such as school boards, police commissions and municipal boards.
• Divisional Court hears certain appeals from civil cases heard in the Superior Court of Justice, appeals of final orders from the Superior Court involving payment below a certain level and appeals from the Small Claims Court.
• Divisional Court also hears combined appeals, appeals of interim orders and final orders of masters and case management masters.
• Learn more about Divisional Court.

• The Court of Appeal for Ontario is located in Toronto, in the historic courtrooms within Osgoode Hall.
• Its function is to rule on "final" trial judgments, applications, and motions that have already taken place in lower courts. Although you cannot always appeal directly to the Court of Appeal, the lower courts with civil jurisdiction include Small Claims Court, Divisional Court and the Superior Court of Justice.
• The court deals with a range of issues including contracts, negligence, bankruptcy, criminal procedure, parenting time and decision-making responsibility in respect of a child, human rights and the application of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
• The Court of Appeal sits in panels of one to five judges. Normally a panel of three judges decides each appeal. Motions are heard by one judge. There are no juries at the Court of Appeal.
• Learn more about the Court of Appeal for Ontario.

Mediation is one way for people to settle disputes or lawsuits outside of court. More…

A mediator assists parties to resolve issues in dispute. Mediators do not take sides or make decisions for the parties, nor do they provide legal advice.

This program applies in Toronto, Ottawa and Windsor and is designed to help parties involved in civil litigation and estates matters attempt to settle their cases before they get to trial, thereby saving both time and money. More… - PDF

• Mediation can take less time, be more flexible, and cost less than going to court.
• Mediation often leads to resolutions that are tailored to the needs of all parties. Generally, the best solution to a problem is one worked out by the people themselves.
• Many people find mediation more satisfying than a trial because they play an active role in resolving their dispute, rather than having a solution determined by a judge.
• The mediation process is informal and completely confidential. Parties in mediation may speak more openly than in court. Many people find mediation a more comfortable and constructive process than a trial.
• In situations where the parties have an ongoing relationship, mediation is particularly helpful because it promotes cooperative problem solving and improved communication.

More information is available in the mandatory mediation fact sheet - PDF

Arbitrators, like mediators, are neutral third parties. However, unlike mediation, parties who wish to arbitrate a case must agree to be bound by any decision made by the arbitrator. More…

• It can be a fast and effective way to settle your dispute
• It lets you choose who will decide your case, and
• You can ask that your hearing be private.

The Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 sets out the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants who rent residential properties. The Landlord and Tenant Board administers the Act, resolves disputes between landlords and tenants, regulates rent increases in most residential rental units, and educates landlords and tenants about their rights and responsibilities under the Act. More information for landlords….

The Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 sets out the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenant who rent residential properties. The Landlord and Tenant Board administers the Act, resolves disputes between landlords and tenants, regulates rent increases in most residential rental units, and educates landlords and tenants about their rights and responsibilities under the Act. More information for tenants….

The Landlord and Tenant Board resolves disputes between landlords and tenants through either mediation or adjudication, regulates rent increases in most residential rental units, and educates landlords and tenants about their rights and responsibilities under the Residential Tenancies Act. More…

You can call the Landlord and Tenant Board at 1-888-332-3234 from outside Toronto or 416-645-8080 from the GTA. More…

• A landlord can only end a tenancy for the reasons allowed by the Residential Tenancies Act. More…
• To learn more about the eviction process, you can call the Landlord and Tenant Board at 1-888-332-3234 from outside Toronto or 416-645-8080 from the GTA. More…

The landlord cannot increase the rent for a new tenant until 12 months after the tenancy started. Then, the landlord is allowed to increase the rent once every 12 months. More…

When a rental unit is vacant, a landlord and the person looking to rent the unit negotiate a rent and decide what services (such as hydro or parking) are included. More…

It is the landlord's responsibility to maintain the unit and ensure that it is in a good state of repair. More…

The Residential Tenancies Act allows a landlord to enter a tenant's unit only under specific circumstances. More…

If the landlord enters the tenant's unit as allowed by the Residential Tenancies Act, the tenant cannot refuse to let the landlord in. More…

A tenancy agreement is a contract between a landlord and tenant in which the tenant agrees to pay rent for the right to live in a rental unit provided by the landlord. More…

Yes, information on the Act is available in:

• English
• French
• Arabic
• Chinese
• Farsi (Persian)
• Korean
• Punjabi
• Russian
• Spanish
• Tamil
• Urdu
• Vietnamese

The Landlord and Tenant Board has created a set of frequently asked questions.

e-Laws is a database of Ontario's statutes and regulations, both consolidated and source law. More…

The Government of Canada's Justice Laws website is your online source for consolidated Acts and regulations of Canada. More…

CanLII is a non-profit organization managed by the Federation of Law Societies of Canada. CanLII's goal is to make Canadian law accessible for free on the Internet. More…

Links are provided as a service and are not legal advice. For legal advice, please read more about finding a lawyer. Links marked with a globe point to external Web sites that are not maintained by the Government of Ontario. Related comments or inquiries regarding those sites should be directed to the individual organization. If you discover a broken link, please let us know.