Domestic Violence

Last updated: August 5, 2020

Staying at home is not always safe and during the COVID‑19 crisis, LAO has waived all legal and financial eligibility for people in abusive relationships. This accommodation will remain in effect until further notice.

Domestic violence or abuse is never ok. There are laws in Ontario that protect you from it.

Find out more in this infographic.

Sharing information with us about your personal circumstances will help us give you the service you need. Your information will remain private and confidential, unless you give us permission to tell someone, like a staff member at a shelter for abused women or a counsellor.

Call LAO

If you have experienced domestic violence and need help with a family law or immigration and refugee matter, please call us from Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EST). We can help you in more than 300 languages.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, please tell us when you apply because it will help us to determine how we can help. The lawyer has to be from this list.

We can help if you have:

  • a family law issue such as requiring a restraining order from an abusive partner, or keeping access to your child during the COVID‑19 emergency;
  • a refugee law issue; and/or
  • been charged with assault because you were trying to defend yourself against an abusive partner

Two hours of free legal service

If you need legal advice right now about

  • an immigration or refugee matter or
  • a family issue

We will pay a lawyer to give you two hours of free legal advice.

You do not have to qualify for legal aid.

You can ask about this service at a shelter, community agency or a community legal clinic. You will then get a referral voucher so that you can get two hours of free legal advice from a lawyer.

All lawyers who accept these vouchers must be trained to help clients who tell us they have experienced domestic abuse.

Your shelter or legal clinic can help you find a trained lawyer. You can also use our “find a lawyer” tool on our website.

Additional Resources

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