Domestic Violence
Last updated: January 27, 2021
Domestic violence is never ok. Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) understands that staying home is not always safe and that during the COVID‑19 crisis, it is important to help survivors protect their personal safety and continue providing critical family law services.
There are laws in Ontario that protect you from domestic abuse. Find out more.
LAO’s Contact Centre—Confidential Telephone Services
If you have experienced domestic violence and need help with a family law matter, please call LAO’s Contact Centre immediately:
- Toll-free: 1-800-668-8258
- GTA: 416-979-1446
- Bell Relay: 1-800-855-0511
LAO can help with family law matters such as a restraining order for an abusive ex‑partner, or maintaining access to your child during the COVID‑19 emergency.
This confidential telephone line is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EST). When you reach our Contact Centre, you may ask to speak with a LAO family lawyer for free summary legal advice and/or apply for a legal aid certificate. This service can be accessed in over 300 languages.
Two hours of free legal service
This program provides two hours of free legal advice for domestic violence survivors in Ontario who need immediate advice and assistance in relation to family law and immigration and refugee law matters. There is no financial eligibility requirement.
Please call your local shelter or community legal clinic to ask about accessing this service. They will then give you a referral voucher so that you can get two hours of free legal advice from a lawyer. Only lawyers with experience in domestic abuse issues can provide this service
Additional Resources
- COVID-19: Legal Aid Services
- Law Society of Ontario emergency family law telephone line for 30 minutes of free legal advice to help determine whether a family law matter is urgent, toll free: 1-800-268-7568
- To locate a shelter: Shelter Safe
- For safety tips: Luke’s Place, Social distancing? Safety tips for women living with an abusive partner”
- For public legal information: Steps 2 Justice: COVID‑19 Abuse and Family Violence
Related Pages
Cover your tracks
If you’re experiencing domestic abuse or violence, remember that your abuser can track what you’re looking at on your computer or phone, which can put you at risk. At any time, you can click on the “Leave Site Now” button at the bottom of each page on LAO’s website if…
Temporary service changes due to COVID-19
Last updated: January 27, 2021 As part of our response to the COVID-19 emergency, all of our office locations, including those in courthouses, are closed until further notice. We continue to provide legal aid services via telephone only. Call us at: Toll-free: 1-800-668-8258 GTA:…
Learn more about common legal problems
Do you have a legal problem and live in Ontario? Steps to Justice provides practical information on common legal problems including: step-by-step information to help you work through your legal problems practical tools, such as checklists, fillable forms, and self-help guides…