Jurisdiction – Custody or Access in Ontario

Often times I decline taking on child custody cases from potential new clients because Toronto courts, where I practise, lacks jurisdiction for child custody or child access and as such I advise those potential clients to retain a lawyer in the jurisdiction where the child resides to commence proceedings in that jurisdiction. Section 22 of the Children’s Law Reform Act 2009, RSO 1990, c C.12, provides the authority for jurisdiction in custody and access areas. The sections states that: Jurisdiction…