Increase in Ontario Civil Filing Fees

BY RACHEL SPENCE AND LARA FRIEDMAN

As of November 6, 2016, Ontario civil and small claims courts have increased their fees, the new amounts can be found here.

This will impact both legal professionals and Ontario citizens involved in legal battles as the amount to have any document issued or filed has increased anywhere between $10-$20, which naturally increases the cost of the process but also aligns with the consumer price index increases.

Examples of some of the changes in fees:

• Small Claims Court Plaintiff's Claim issuance is moving from $75.00 to $95.00 (infrequent claimant); 
• Small Claims Court Defence filing is moving from $40.00 to $50.00;
• Superior Court of Justice Statement of Claim/Notice of Action issuance is moving from $181.00 to $220.00;
• Superior Court of Justice Statement of Defence filing is moving from $181.00 to $220.00;
• Superior Court of Justice Notice of Intent to Defend filing is moving from $144 to $175.00;
• Superior Court of Justice filling of a Trial Record is moving from $337.00 to $405.00;

- Rachel Spence and Lara Friedman

Visit our Toronto Law Office website: www.wiselaw.net

LawFact of the Day: Employment Law

Here is your daily LawFact from Wise Law for Wednesday August 3, 2016. Today we are talking about Employment Law.

A video posted by Wise Law Office (@wiselaw) on Aug 3, 2016 at 6:13am PDT

In 2015, an Ontario Court awarded 27 months’ of pay in lieu of reasonable notice to a 65-year-old civil engineer who had been employed for 40.66 years.

In exceptional circumstances involving extraordinarily long-service employees, it is within the discretion of Ontario Courts to award more than 24 months’ damages.

- Garry J. Wise, Toronto

Visit our Toronto Law Office website: www.wiselaw.net

LawFact of the Day: Family Law

Here is your daily LawFact from Wise Law for Wednesday July 27, 2016. Today we are talking about Family Law.

A video posted by Wise Law Office (@wiselaw) on Jul 27, 2016 at 6:55am PDT

The first same-sex marriage in Ontario occurred on January 14, 2001. Its legality, along with the legality of many other same-sex marriages, was affirmed by the Ontario Court of Appeal on June 10, 2003 in a case called Halpern v. Canada.

Same-sex marriage and divorce have been recognized throughout Canada since July 20, 2005, when the Government of Canada passed the Civil Marriage Act, which newly defined marriage in a gender-neutral manner.

- Garry J. Wise, Toronto

Visit our Toronto Law Office website: www.wiselaw.net

LawFact of the Day: Family Law

Here is your daily LawFact from Wise Law for Thursday May19, 2016. Today we are talking about Family Law.

A video posted by null (@wiselaw) on May 19, 2016 at 6:23am PDT

In determining entitlement to spousal support, Ontario courts consider the financial means of both spouses, the length of their marriage, and any economic disadvantage experienced by a spouse as a result of the marriage.

Also relevant is any significant disparity between the incomes of the spouses, the goal of encouraging economic self-sufficiency, and several other important factors. 

- Garry J. Wise, Toronto

Visit our Toronto Law Office website: www.wiselaw.net