Serving Court Documents

Court documents can be delivered to the City Clerk by drop-off at the Legal and Clerks Services Counter at City Hall. If the City Clerk is unavailable, delivery can be made to the Deputy Clerk.

Please note: During the COVID-19 pandemic, City facilities are either closed or have limited access to the public. Court documents can be served by leaving a copy of the document with the City Clerk. You can arrange to schedule a drop-off by emailing the City Clerk.

If the City Clerk is unavailable, you can email the Deputy Clerk.

We ask that all visitors, if able, wear a face covering in compliance with the City and Niagara Regions' mask by-laws.

Service of an Originating Process

If your court documents are an Originating Process, please read the following.

Personal service

An Originating Process can be served by leaving a copy of the document with the City Clerk or Deputy Clerk in the same manner as described above.

Service by e-mail

If you have a court order which authorizes service by e-mail, or the consent of the Corporation of the City of St. Catharines, please email the Originating Process documents to the City Clerk.

Your message must include the following information:

• Your name, address, telephone number, fax (if applicable), and e-mail address;
• The date and time of transmission; and
• The name and telephone number of a person to contact in the event of transmission problems.

Please note that if service is made by e-mail between 4:00 p.m. and midnight, service will be deemed to have been made on the following day.

If the City Clerk is unavailable, delivery can be made by email to the Deputy Clerk.