Getting legal help
Family law
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Legal Aid Ontario may be able to provide help with family issues such as child custody, access and support.
Legal Aid Ontario may provide assistance in retaining a lawyer if applicants meet eligibility requirements.
Duty counsel
If you have a low income and an immediate court date but you do not have a lawyer yet, duty counsel can provide legal help.
Domestic violence
Legal Aid Ontario has special services to help victims of domestic violence. People who are experiencing violence or the effects of violence, crisis and abuse can click here for information on how to get immediate help.
Family violence authorization program
People experiencing violence or the effects of violence, crisis and abuse, who are in need of urgent assistance can get authorization for a 2 hour consultation with a private lawyer through some shelters and community legal clinics.
Family Law Information Centre (FLIC)
The Family Law Information Centre offers free assistance and information related to family law issues. For further information, click here.
Family Law Information Centres have been established in most courts that deal with family law matters. Click here for a listing of the FLIC offices.
Advice lawyer service
Legal Aid Ontario offers out-of-court support with the Advice Lawyer Service. Advice lawyers, available through Family Law Information Centres (FLIC) across the province, provide general advice and review legal documents on family law issues.
Family law offices
These offices are staffed with experienced family lawyers and paralegals that can assist clients who LAO has helped to retain a lawyer, with issues such as custody, access, support, child protection, restraining orders, equalization claims, property division, at all levels of court, including trial and appellate work.
For a list of our Family Law offices, click here.
Types of family law assistance
Select from the following questions:
Are you or your children victims of domestic abuse / violence?
If you or your children are experiencing violence or the effects of violence, crisis and abuse you can click here for immediate assistance.
Are you trying to get child custody, access or support?
Legal Aid Ontario may be able to provide assistance for child custody, access and support in "contested matters," meaning when parents/guardians cannot agree on an issue concerning their children.
Do you want to change your spousal or child support order?
Legal Aid Ontario does not provide coverage to change a spousal or child support order unless there are significant changes in circumstances.
What is mediation and how does it work?
Mediation is available to people who would like to resolve family matters outside of the courtroom. For further information on family mediation, click here.
If your legal issue is not covered by the options, please try another category (e.g. civil matter), visit our other resources page, or call Legal Aid Ontario toll-free at 1-800-668-8258 or 416-979-1446 to speak to a representative. Legal Aid Ontario accepts collect calls.
Other resources
Please note that these are external links and Legal Aid Ontario is not responsible for their content.
Separation and divorce:
Parenting after divorce
Over two hundred Canadian and international resources in the area of separation and divorce.
Child and spousal support:
Family Responsibility Office
Helps families in Ontario receive the financial support they are entitled to by enforcing court ordered support responsibilities.
Child support guidelines
Provides step-by-step information on Federal Child Support Guidelines.
Services for children:
The Office of the Children's Lawyer
Delivers programs in the administration of justice on behalf of children under the age of 18 with respect to their personal and property rights.
Children's information portal
Brings together information about all the children and youth programs and services provided by the Government of Ontario.
Children's Aid Society
A non-profit agency that provides help and support to children and their families in local communities.
Government:
Ministry of Children and Youth Services
Find services for child welfare, family intervention, youth justice, children's community support, children's mental health, and childcare.
Government of Ontario - families
Find resources on parenting, staying healthy and other topics that affect your family’s well-being. Also learn more about marriage and divorce, financial assistance and other services to help families.
Ministry of the Attorney General - family law
Find information about family justice programs and services, child support information, online publications and more.
Ministry of the Attorney General - Family Mediation Services
Mediation is a voluntary way of resolving disputes where a trained mediator helps parties of relatively equal bargaining positions to resolve disputes about family issues.
Ontario court addresses
Find local courthouses by location or region.
Ontario family court structure
Find services and information about Ontario’s family courts.
Family court forms
Provides you with electronic versions of forms under the Family Law Rules.
Human Rights Legal Support
Offers legal assistance to people in communities across Ontario who believe they have experienced discrimination.
Ombudsman Ontario
Investigates complaints against provincial government organizations.
- Click here for a larger listing of other resources
Domestic violence
Legal Aid Ontario has special services to help victims of domestic violence. People who are experiencing violence or the effects of violence, crisis and abuse can click here for information on how to get immediate help.
Family violence authorization program
People experiencing violence or the effects of violence, crisis and abuse, who are in need of urgent assistance can get authorization for a 2 hour consultation with a private lawyer through some shelters and community legal clinics.