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Français LAO Client Portal
Français LAO Client Portal
  • Services
    • Temporary service changes due to COVID-19
    • COVID-19 and the courts: Answers to frequently asked questions
    • Our services
    • Criminal legal issues
    • Domestic Violence
    • Family legal issues
    • Mental health legal issues
    • Refugee and immigration legal issues
    • Legal clinics
    • How to apply
    • Find a lawyer
      • Finding the right legal aid lawyer
    • What do you think about our services?
  • For legal professionals
    • COVID-19: Ongoing list of supports for lawyers
    • LASA 2020 process updates for lawyers
    • Changes to policies and certificate coverage
    • Roster resources
      • Audit & Compliance
      • Billing
      • Case management
      • Forms library
      • Legal Aid Services Act, 2020 policies
      • Legal Aid Online
      • LAO LAW
      • More resources
    • Do legal aid work
    • Mentoring
    • Test case funding
    • News for lawyers
    • B3 Newsletters
    • Contacts for lawyers
  • Corporate
    • About
    • Rules and policies
    • By-laws
    • Board of Directors
    • Executive Team
    • Board Advisory Committees
    • Our clients
    • Sidney B. Linden Award
    • French Language Services
    • Consultations
    • Open Government
    • Reports
    • Publications
    • News
    • Social media
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
  • FAQ

Family legal issues

Important notice:
Some of our services have temporarily changed due to the COVID‑19 crisis. Please visit our COVID‑19 client or COVID-19 FAQs: family page to learn how this may impact you.

Check the table below to see if you qualify:

Number of family members The amount of money your family earns in a year For domestic abuse
1 $18,795 $22,720
2 $32,131 $32,131
3 $39,352 $39,352
4 $45,289 $45,440
5+ $50,803 $50,803
Single boarder $12,330

We might be able to help if you qualify and if:

  • you need to decide decision-making responsibility (formerly custody), support, or parenting time/contact (formerly access)
  • Children’s Aid has your children or contacted you

If you are not sure if you qualify, please call our contact centre:

  • Toll-free: 1-800-668-8258
  • GTA: 416-979-1446

If you qualify for assistance from LAO, you will receive a certificate to work with a lawyer; the lawyer you choose must be on the list of those who accept legal aid work.

To find a lawyer in your area who does legal aid work in the type of law that you need help with, you can use our Find a Lawyer tool. To use the tool, you must have a certificate. If you do not have a certificate, you must first apply for legal aid.

  • You can use filters to choose the type of legal help you are looking for and the language you prefer to speak.
  • If you enter your postal code, you can see which lawyers work closest to you.
  • You will be given the lawyers’ address and phone number, so you can contact them directly.

Settling problems outside of court

You do not have to go to court to decide every legal issue. If you and your former partner want to work together, you can mediate.

We have mediators in Milton, Ottawa, Brampton, Peel and Newmarket that can help you if you qualify. If you do not qualify, we can refer you to other mediators who are either free or charge you depending on what you’re able to pay.

Click here to download image.
Mediation: Is mediation right for you? (infographic)

Click here to download image.
Mediation versus family court (infographic)

 

If you do not qualify for a lawyer we may still be able to help

You can get help from the Family Law Information Centre at your courthouse if you qualify financially. The legal aid lawyer (called advice lawyers) can give you up to 20 minutes of free general advice if you qualify financially. The advice lawyer may also be able to give you a referral to a family law service centre.  If there is no advice lawyer available, you will find various brochures and fact sheets to help guide you.

In addition, LAO offers a Summary Legal Advice service over the telephone. If you call our Client and Lawyer Service Center at 1-800-668-8258 and qualify financially, your information will be taken by an agent and an LAO staff member will call you back within 48 hours to provide legal information and advice.

Check the table below to see if you qualify for advice lawyer services.

Number of family members How much money does your family earn in a year?
1 $22,720
2 $32,131
3 $39,352
4 $45,440
5+ $50,803

Family law information program

Important notice:
As of January 1, 2021, the online version of Mandatory Information Program is no longer available on LAO’s website.

Did a judge tell you to take a course about family law because you are separating or getting a divorce?

Contact your local family mediation and information services centre for more information about participating in a Mandatory Information Program.


How do I apply for legal aid?


  • This form is feedback only.

Related Pages

Temporary service changes due to COVID-19

Making a motion to change without a lawyer

Youth (family)

Getting help in the courtroom

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Need legal help?

Call us toll free at 1‑800‑668‑8258 Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EST) for help in over 300 languages.

Current wait time: 4 minutes

Wait times: Monday is our busiest day. For faster service, try calling Tuesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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