Ontario Toll-Free: 844-647-6869

Text Your Ticket (226) 240-2480

Email Us: help@otdlegal.ca

Summons To Appear In Court Ontario, What’s It Mean?

by | May 2, 2023 | General Videos

Receiving a summons to attend court in Ontario can be a daunting experience. Let’s break down what it means and how to approach it:

The Contents of a Summons

  • Your Personal Information: A summons typically includes your name and the specific charge you are facing.
  • Command to Attend: Instead of indicating a fine, it serves as a directive for you to appear in court. You have two options for attending court: in person or by designating a representative to appear on your behalf.

Seek Professional Guidance

  • Legal Counsel: For serious charges, (ie. Careless Driving) you will be served a summons, indicating the gravity of the situation. In such cases, it’s highly advisable to seek professional representation.
  • Experienced Assistance: Consult with a paralegal experienced in handling similar cases. They can guide you through the process and help you understand the best course of action.
  • Charge Disclosure: While the summons specifies the charge, it does not provide evidence of what transpired. Your representative will play a pivotal role in gathering and presenting evidence in your favor.

Court Proceedings

  • Higher-Level Court: When you receive a summons, you are entering a higher level of the provincial offenses court system. This often involves the participation of a crown attorney and may lead to discussions about potential penalties, including the possibility of incarceration.
  • Importance of Professional Representation: Given the seriousness of these proceedings, attempting to handle the matter on your own is not recommended. Legal representation can be instrumental in safeguarding your rights and ensuring a fair outcome.

Explore Your Options

  • Free Consultation: Consider reaching out to OTD Legal for a free consultation. This initial step can provide valuable insights into your rights, options, and the kind of assistance you may need to address a significant legal matter.
Receiving a summons to appear in court is a crucial moment that demands a strategic and informed approach. Whether you decide to engage a representative or explore the legal process yourself, understanding your rights and the nature of the charges is essential.

Video Transcription:

You’ve received a summons to attend court in Ontario. The question becomes: “what does that mean?” A summons, if you read it, it will have your name on it. It will have what you’re charged with. You will not see a fine there. It’ll just simply be a command statement that you must attend court. We know that you can attend court in person or you can elect someone else to do that for you. That may be a lawyer, that may be a paralegal. When a charge is serious, you will be served what’s called a summons. What you would do with that at that point in time is consider consulting with someone who’s faced this before. You’re going to want to talk to someone who has some experience and knowledge on what exactly needs to be done with the charge.  The summons itself will disclose exactly what charge you are facing. It will not have any evidence of what actually happened. That will be determined by your advocate or paralegal that is attempting to help you with this charge. It’s not a charge, when they’re proceeding by summons, that I would recommend you attend court on your own. You’re going into a higher level of court within the provincial offenses court system, one in which you usually have the crown attorney be involved and you know that the penalties, including possible period of incarceration, might be included in the discussions. These are situations when it’s generally never recommended that you try to deal with this matter on your own. I would suggest whenever this happens, at the very least, you may want to try to deal with us on your own, but it would certainly not hurt you to go through a free consultation to know what your options are, your rights are, and how you can get some assistance in dealing with a matter such as serious as this might be.
<a href="https://www.otdlegal.ca/about-us/ron-harper/" target="_self">Ron Harper</a>

Ron Harper

Author, Owner of OTD Ticket Defenders Legal Services and Licensed Paralegal

Licensed Paralegal & Founder of OTD Ticket Defenders Ron Harper holds a BA in Psychology, a Certificate in Public Administration, and an Honours degree in Political Science, along with a Master’s in Judicial Administration. With over 40 years of experience in traffic law, including years of experience as a Prosecutor, Ron Harper leads one of Ontario's top traffic ticket defence firms.

Related Videos

What To Say At An Early Resolution Meeting

What To Say At An Early Resolution Meeting

by | Feb 10, 2025 |

Attending an early resolution meeting can be challenging, especially if you're not familiar with the legal process. Many people try to handle these meetings on their own but often feel unprepared or unsure about what to say. Knowing what’s helpful—and what could hurt...

What To Do If You’re Pulled Over By Police

What To Do If You’re Pulled Over By Police

by | Feb 7, 2025 |

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbb0GYoDIxQ Knowing what to do when pulled over by the police can make a big difference in how the situation unfolds. It is essential to recognize when you are being signaled to stop and to do so safely and calmly. Pull over to the side...

Things To Never Say When Police Pull You Over

Things To Never Say When Police Pull You Over

by | Feb 7, 2025 |

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65HbrsqYSPE When a police officer signals you to stop, pull over safely and use your turn signal. Once stopped, stay in your car unless instructed otherwise. Then, prepare your driver's license, vehicle registration, and proof of...

Video Categories

All Videos
Careless Driving
Speeding Tickets
Distracted Driving
Suspended Licence
Failure To Remain
Stunt Driving / Street Racing
Appeals
Stop Sign Tickets
SeatBelt Tickets
CVOR Tickets
Blog Posts

FREE CONSULTATION & QUOTE

Get A Free Quote & Consultation For Your Ticket

We have the skill and experience to help drivers just like you, all while protecting your best interests in the process. We provide free, no obligation, confidential consultations. To start a free consultation, text a copy of your ticket to 226-240-2480 or email a copy to help@otdlegal.ca. Once we receive a copy of your ticket, we will call you. As always, we can also be contacted toll-free by calling 1-844-647-6869.

RESOURCES

Our Recent Blog Posts