Frequently asked questions.

Court locations

Which Durham court location do I need?

The Lt.-Col. Samuel S. Sharpe Courthouse at 150 Bond Street East in Oshawa handles Ontario Court of Justice and Superior Court matters including criminal, family, civil, and Small Claims Court services. Its main telephone number is 905-743-2800.

Durham Region Court Services at 605 Rossland Road East in Whitby handles many Provincial Offences Act matters, including common traffic-ticket services. Its telephone numbers are 905-668-3130 and 1-866-779-8839. Always use the location printed on your notice, summons, or court document.

Tickets and provincial offences

What can I do after receiving a ticket?

Read the options and deadline printed on the ticket. Depending on the ticket, options may include paying it, requesting an early-resolution meeting, or requesting a trial. Do not ignore the ticket: missing the response deadline can lead to a conviction being entered without you.

For Durham provincial-offence matters, the Whitby Court Services office can explain filing and scheduling procedures but cannot give legal advice. If you are ready to make a payment, the Paytickets button on the homepage opens the official transaction service.

Court dates

How do I confirm when and where to attend?

Start with your notice, summons, release document, endorsement, or court-issued email. Confirm the courthouse address, courtroom or virtual-appearance instructions, date, and time. Daily court lists generally cover current or next-day appearances and may not include matters protected by a publication ban or privacy rule.

If anything is unclear, call the court office shown on your document. The Oshawa courthouse main line is 905-743-2800; Durham Region Court Services in Whitby can be reached at 905-668-3130 or 1-866-779-8839.

Accessibility

How do I request a courthouse accommodation?

Request an accommodation as early as possible. If available, provide the court location, file number, proceeding date and time, and the accommodation required. The Oshawa courthouse provides accessible parking, barrier-free entrances and routes, elevators, accessible washrooms, and assistive features.

The Oshawa accessibility coordinator is Jennifer Morrison at 905-743-2800 or Jennifer.Morrison@ontario.ca. Do not send evidence, detailed medical records, or other sensitive case information unless court staff specifically instruct you how to provide it securely.

Courthouse hours

When are court offices open?

Court office hours are generally Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. At the Oshawa courthouse, counter service is offered from 9:00–11:00 a.m. and 2:00–4:00 p.m.

Court files

Copies and photographs of documents

Court staff can provide a copy of a document when the requester has the right to see it, the document can be copied, and the relevant fee is paid. Members of the public may photograph eligible documents in the administration area using their own device at no charge.

Access to a digital recording of a hearing may require a right of access, judicial direction, and payment of the applicable copy fee.

Peace bonds

How do I apply for a peace bond?

Custody

How can I locate someone in an Ontario jail?

Contact the Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General or the correctional institution you believe is holding the person. You may be asked for the person’s legal name and date of birth. Privacy and safety rules can limit what staff may disclose, and courthouse staff may not know where a person has been transferred.

If the person was recently arrested and you do not know the institution, contact the police service involved or the court office connected with the appearance. For urgent legal assistance, contact a licensed Ontario lawyer or Legal Aid Ontario.

Legal help

Where can I get legal help in Ontario?

A lawyer can advise and represent you in areas such as criminal, family, and civil law. Licensed paralegals can provide advice and representation within their permitted scope, including many Provincial Offences, Small Claims Court, and tribunal matters.

Legal Aid Ontario may provide certificates, duty counsel, or other services depending on the legal issue and financial eligibility. The Law Society Referral Service can connect Ontario residents with a lawyer or paralegal for an initial consultation. You can also use the trained court-information bot on this site for general questions, or the Help form when you need direction.