Integrated Domestic Violence Court: Criminal and Family Cases

What Is Toronto’s Integrated Domestic Violence Court?

The Integrated Domestic Violence Court is a special court of the Ontario Court of Justice. The IDVC assists families facing criminal intimate partner violence charges and family law issues simultaneously.

In regular courts, the criminal charges would be handled by a criminal judge and the family matters by a family court judge. This may lead to conflicting orders and scheduling conflicts.

In IDVC, the coordinated process ensures that the judge understands the family situation well.

How Does the Integrated Domestic Violence Court Work?

The IDVC follows a one-family, one-judge approach. Instead of attending separate court hearings before different judges, eligible families have their related proceedings managed together.

The court aims to:

• Reduce unnecessary court appearances and scheduling conflicts.
• Improve coordination between criminal and family court orders.
• Address parenting arrangements affected by criminal release conditions.
• Help identify safety concerns involving children and separated partners.
• Resolve appropriate matters without requiring separate proceedings before different judges.

For instance, an individual charged with assault may have a no-contact order under criminal law and also be going through a family law matter in regards to parenting time.

The IDVC judge may take into account both matters when dealing with the issue, but there has to be compliance with both sets of laws.

The criminal and family cases remain legally separate, even when one judge manages both.

What Changed on April 2, 2026?

On April 2, 2026, Toronto’s Integrated Domestic Violence Court moved from 311 Jarvis Street to 10 Armoury Street, Toronto.

The changes also expanded access to qualifying cases from across Toronto.

Under the updated practice direction:

• Eligible criminal intimate partner violence proceedings are scheduled at 10 Armoury Street.
• Related family proceedings from 47 Sheppard Avenue East or 311 Jarvis Street may be coordinated with those criminal proceedings.
• One IDVC judge manages the related matters.
• Eligible family and criminal appearances are scheduled together where required by the court’s procedures.
• Longer trials continue in the appropriate originating courts.

This makes the process of qualifying Toronto families more systematic. This does not imply that all criminal or domestic violence cases qualify.

Who Qualifies for Toronto’s Integrated Domestic Violence Court?

There are eligibility criteria for the IDVC. Just having a family law dispute and criminal charges does not mean that the case is eligible to be heard in the special court.

Which Criminal and Family Cases Are Eligible?

Under the April 2026 practice direction, the following conditions generally apply:

Criminal Case Requirements

• The charge must involve alleged intimate partner violence.
• The Crown must be proceeding by summary conviction.
• The criminal matter must be scheduled at 10 Armoury Street.
• The accused must not be in custody.

Family Case Requirements

The accused must also be a party to a related proceeding under Ontario’s Children’s Law Reform Act or Family Law Act at one of these locations:

• 47 Sheppard Avenue East, Toronto.
• 311 Jarvis Street, Toronto.

Eligible family law matters may involve:

• Parenting time.
• Decision-making responsibility for children.
• Child support.
• Spousal support.
• Restraining orders.

For example, two separated parents may have an ongoing parenting dispute while one faces a summary conviction assault charge involving the other parent.

If their proceedings meet the court’s requirements, the cases may be managed through the IDVC.

Can the IDVC Handle Divorce and Property Division?

No. The Integrated Domestic Violence Court cannot grant divorces, divide family property or hear child protection proceedings.

These matters fall outside its jurisdiction.

A married couple may therefore have parenting and support issues addressed through the IDVC while their divorce or property claims continue separately in the Superior Court of Justice.

This distinction matters when spouses own a matrimonial home, have significant assets or need a formal divorce.

How Does the Integrated Domestic Violence Court Process Work?

How Are Criminal and Family Cases Transferred to the IDVC?

The process generally follows these steps:

1. Identify the related proceedings
   The court identifies a qualifying intimate partner violence charge and a related family proceeding at an eligible Toronto courthouse.
2. Review eligibility
   The criminal charge, custody status of the accused and type of family law case must meet the IDVC requirements.
3. Obtain any required judicial approval
   If the family case already has a case management judge who has been substantively involved beyond an initial case conference or Form 14B motion, that judge’s consent is required before transfer.
4. Coordinate court appearances
   The eligible criminal proceeding is adjourned to the IDVC at 10 Armoury Street.
   The related family proceeding is also scheduled before the IDVC judge, generally on the same date.
5. Address appropriate legal issues
   The IDVC judge may deal with family motions, case conferences, criminal pre-trial matters and applications concerning release conditions.
6. Refer cases requiring trials
   Where a criminal or family matter requires a full trial, it returns to the appropriate originating court. The IDVC may conduct short, focused family law hearings where permitted.

What Happens During an IDVC Hearing?

The judge considers the related proceedings while applying the separate rules governing criminal and family law.

On the family law side, the court may:

• Conduct case conferences.
• Consider temporary parenting arrangements.
• Hear motions relating to support or parenting.
• Address restraining order applications.
• Make appropriate orders where the legal requirements are satisfied.

On the criminal side, the court may conduct pre-trial meetings, consider bail variation applications and accept guilty pleas.

Where Must Court Documents Be Filed?

The family court filing needs to be done at the original family court office located at 47 Sheppard Avenue East or 311 Jarvis Street. An online option is also available for this purpose through the Ontario Courts Public Portal.

The criminal court filing is done at Ontario Court of Justice located at 10 Armoury Street.

Family court documents cannot be filed at the IDVC location at 10 Armoury Street.

How Does the IDVC Affect Parenting, Bail Conditions and Family Safety?

What Happens When Bail Conditions Conflict With Parenting Orders?

Where a person is charged with an intimate partner violence offence, he or she can be released subject to conditions of non-contact with the complainant.

Nevertheless, there could be an existing order from the family court requiring the person to communicate with the other parent or have parenting exchanges.

For instance, a father who has been ordered to have parenting time with the children every weekend will have conditions for non-contact with the mother of the children after being charged with a crime.

The IDVC can help in identifying such conflicts. Depending on the circumstances, possible arrangements may involve:

• A lawful variation of criminal release conditions.
• Supervised parenting exchanges.
• Parenting arrangements that avoid prohibited contact.
• Communication through approved third parties, where expressly permitted.
• Changes to the existing family court order.

A family court parenting order does not automatically override criminal bail conditions. Both orders must be followed until legally changed.

The complainant’s willingness to communicate also does not, by itself, cancel a no-contact condition.

How Does the Court Address Family Violence and Children’s Safety?

Under Ontario family law, the child’s best interests are central when courts decide parenting arrangements.

Family violence is an important consideration, including its effects on the child’s physical, emotional and psychological safety.

The court may consider:

• Allegations and evidence of physical violence or threats.
• Patterns of coercive or controlling behaviour.
• The child’s exposure to violence between parents.
• Whether parenting exchanges create safety risks.
• Whether the parents can communicate safely.
• The need for supervised parenting time or other safeguards.

For instance, when the child has been subjected to threatening behavior on many occasions, the family court will have to examine whether there is a need for supervised visits.

The coordinated approach of IDVC assists the judge to comprehend the criminal and family court scenario.

It needs to be noted that an allegation cannot by itself determine that a crime has been committed. The court will have to follow legal standards and review evidence.

If immediate danger arises, then the family members will have to get protection.

What Legal Risks Should Families Understand Before Attending the IDVC?

Can Criminal Proceedings Affect Your Family Law Case?

Yes. Criminal allegations, release conditions and convictions may affect related family law decisions, particularly those involving parenting and safety.

There is a difference between the legal test used in criminal and family cases.

For the Crown to win a case in a criminal proceeding, there must be proof of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

In family court, the standard test for the facts is the balance of probability. It entails the likelihood that something happened.

Thus, a not guilty verdict in a criminal trial does not mean the issue of violence in the family matter is resolved.

Similarly, laying of charges does not in any way demonstrate the parental unfitness or deny parenting rights.

Other important considerations include:

• Statements made in one proceeding may have implications for another.
• Evidence must satisfy the rules applicable to each proceeding.
• Criminal release conditions remain enforceable during family court proceedings.
• Parenting arrangements must be assessed according to the child’s best interests.
• An accused person’s legal rights in criminal proceedings require separate consideration.

What Should You Prepare Before Your Court Date?

Organized documents can help the court understand existing orders and identify issues requiring attention.

Depending on your circumstances, relevant materials may include:

• Criminal charge documents and release conditions.
• Existing parenting or support orders.
• Family court applications and responding documents.
• Current parenting schedules.
• Financial disclosure for support claims.
• Relevant communications concerning parenting or safety.
• Documents identifying upcoming court dates.
• Evidence supporting any requested changes to court orders.