Family Law: Legal help
There are different ways to work through your family law issues. This resource tells you about some ways you can:
- get free legal information and help
- make an agreement with your partner
- find a lawyer
- get help if you cannot afford a lawyer
- get help if you have experienced family violence
Free legal information and help
Legal information can help you understand your rights and responsibilities in family law.
Community Legal Education Ontario
CLEO’s Steps to Justice website has step-by-step information about family law issues. It also has free tools like checklists, videos, and courtroom drawings, and links to legal and social services where you can get help. Visit stepstojustice.ca/family-law.
The website also has Steps in a Family Law Case. This is a series of 3 interactive flowcharts that help you understand and work through the family law court process. Visit familycourt.cleo.on.ca.
CLEO’s Family Law Guided Pathways are free online interviews that help you fill out family court forms. Visit guided-pathways.ca/family.
Family Law Information Centres
There are Family Law Information Centres (FLICs) in every Ontario family court. All FLICs have free publications on family law. Many also have staff, called Information and Referral Coordinators, who can give general information and refer you to other services.
To find a FLIC in your area, find your local court at ontario.ca/page/family-law-information-centres.
Legal Aid Ontario
Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) has a phone line that you can call to get up to 20 minutes of free general legal advice and information in different languages. Call 1-800-668-8258. LAO also offers online chat at legalaid.on.ca.
Ontario Legal Information Centre
The Ontario Legal Information Centre offers a free 30-minute meeting with a lawyer online or by phone in English or French. Book a meeting online at legalinfocentre.ca or call 1-844-343-7462.
Law Society Referral Service
The Law Society of Ontario (LSO) has a service that connects you to a lawyer you can speak with for up to 30 minutes for free. You can ask for a lawyer in your area and who speaks your language. Visit findlegalhelp.ca or call their crisis line at 416-947-5255 or 1-855-947-5255, if you cannot use their online service.
Government of Ontario website
The Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General has guides and information on many family law issues. Visit ontario.ca/document/guide-procedures-family-court.
Ontario court websites
Ontario’s family courts have information about their court process.
Go to the Ontario Court of Justice website at ontariocourts.ca/ocj and search for Representing Yourself at Your Family Law Trial – A Guide.
Go to the Superior Court of Justice website at ontariocourts.ca/scj and search for A Guide to Process for Cases at the Superior Court of Justice.
Making an agreement
You and your partner can try to make a separation agreement about the things you agree on. You can talk to your partner on your own or with the help of someone you both trust, if it’s safe to do this.
You can also work with a family law professional, such as a mediator, arbitrator, parenting coordinator, or collaborative family law lawyer.
These options are sometimes called alternative dispute resolution (ADR) or family dispute resolution processes.
Each family court location offers subsidized mediation services for up to 8 hours. The fees you pay depend on your income. And if you have a court case, you can get up to 2 hours for free. See ontario.ca/page/family-mediation-service-providers.
In family law cases, you must think about using ADR to resolve your issues out of court if it’s suitable for your situation. ADR might not work for you if:
- you’re afraid of your partner because there’s a history of family violence
- there are serious mental health or drug abuse issues
For more information on ADR and for help finding a family law professional, visit stepstojustice.ca/adr.
Finding a lawyer
You do not have to hire a lawyer to help you with your family law issues. But only a lawyer can give you legal advice. This means they can explain what the law says, how it applies to your situation, and what your options are.
You and your partner must not have the same lawyer because you may have different rights and responsibilities.
Unbundled services
Some lawyers provide unbundled services. This means you pay a lawyer to help you with part of your case. For example, you might only hire a lawyer to prepare your documents, or to represent you at a certain step in your case.
Unbundled services are also called limited scope services or legal coaching.
You can find directories of lawyers that offer unbundled services through:
- The Family Law Services Directory.
Visit yorku.ca/osgoode/flsd and select “Find a Family Law Lawyer”. - The National Self-Represented Litigants Project.
Visit representingyourselfcanada.com and select “SLR Resources”, and then “National Directory of Professionals”.
Law Society of Ontario
The Law Society of Ontario (LSO) has a directory of all lawyers who can practice law in Ontario. You can search the directory by area of law, name, city, postal code, or language spoken. Visit lso.ca and select “Public Resources”, and then “Finding a Lawyer or Paralegal”. You can also call 416-947-3300 or 1-800-668-7380.
Lawyers at reduced rates
JusticeNet
JusticeNet is a not-for-profit organization that helps people find legal services when their income is too high to get legal aid but too low to afford legal fees. Their website has a list of lawyers, paralegals, and mediators who charge reduced fees based on your income and the size of your family. Visit justicenet.ca.
You must register and pay a fee to use the website. This fee may be returned to you if you do not find a lawyer to work with.
The Advice and Settlement Counsel Project
The Advice and Settlement Counsel Project provides up to one hour of advice with a lawyer for $200 plus tax. If you want to hire the lawyer for more time, ask about their rates and if they can take your case. Visit ascfamily.com.
If you cannot afford a lawyer
Legal Aid Ontario
Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) offers free legal help for some legal issues if your income and assets are low enough. These services include:
- Legal aid certificates
LAO pays a lawyer to work on your legal problem for a certain number of hours. You can apply online or by phone. Visit legalaid.on.ca/services/how-do-i-apply-for-legal-aid or call 1-800-668-8258.You can use LAO’s online tool to find a lawyer who accepts LAO certificates. Visit legalaid.on.ca/lawyers.
- Lawyers at family courts
Talk to duty counsel for help on the day of your court hearing. They may be able to give legal advice, explain the court process, or help you work out a settlement. They cannot represent you at trial.Talk to advice counsel for general information. They may be able to give you legal advice if your income is low enough.
- Family Law Service Centres
These centres have staff lawyers and legal workers who can help prepare court documents, refer you to other services, and help you apply for a legal aid certificate. - Family Law Offices
There are 3 offices located in Kenora, Ottawa, and Thunder Bay with lawyers and paralegals who help with family court cases and accept legal aid certificates. - Law school clinics
Each law school in Ontario has a legal aid clinic staffed by law students who are supervised by lawyers. These clinics are located in Kingston, London, Ottawa, Thunder Bay, Toronto, and Windsor.
For more information about these services, visit legalaid.on.ca or call 1-800-668-8258. For TTY, call 711.
Pro Bono Students Canada – Family Justice Centre
The Family Justice Centre is staffed by law students who are supervised by lawyers. People with low incomes who do not have a lawyer can get general legal advice and help with court forms. Visit probonostudents.ca/family-justice-centre or call 647-952-3354.
Domestic violence resources
Legal Aid Ontario
If you have experienced family violence, you can get a legal aid certificate for 2 hours of free advice from a lawyer. You can get a certificate at some women’s shelters, community legal clinics, and Family Law Service Centres. Or call 1-800-668-8258.
Sexual Assault Survivors Pilot Program
If you have experienced sexual abuse, you might be able to get 4 hours of free advice from a lawyer. Visit ontario.ca/page/independent-legal-advice-sexual-assault-victims or call 1-855-226-3904.
Luke’s Place
Luke’s Place offers legal advice, support, and referrals to abused women across Ontario. They have a Virtual Legal Clinic that connects women with lawyers for free legal advice on family law issues. Visit lukesplace.ca/for-women/lukes-place-virtual-legal-clinic or call 905-728-0978, ext. 235 or 1-866-516-3116, ext. 235.
Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic
The Clinic helps women in Toronto who have experienced physical, sexual, or psychological abuse. The Clinic represents women in family and immigration court for free. Visit schliferclinic.com or call 416-323-9149. For TTY, call 416-323-1361.
Jared’s Place
Jared’s Place offers information and legal support to women in Hamilton who have experienced abuse. Staff can help prepare documents or provide support at court. Visit intervalhousehamilton.org or call 905-522-0127, ext. 207.
Ontario Women’s Legal Centre
The Center offers free legal information and general advice about family law in French to Francophone women in Ontario who are experiencing family violence. Visit cjfo.ca or call 1-833-632-0838.
More information and legal help
Visit stepstojustice.ca/family-law for more information. CLEO also has other family law publications.
CLEO’s Guided Pathways are free online interviews that help you to fill out your family court forms. Visit guided-pathways.ca/family.