Domestic violence
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, please tell us when you apply for legal aid services because we have special services that may help you. All information provided to Legal Aid Ontario and collected by any of our staff is confidential and will not be shared with anyone.
You can use the “Find a Lawyer” tool to find a lawyer who accepts legal aid work.
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 (current wait time is: The CLSC is currently closed.):
- Toll-free: 1-800-668-8258
- GTA: 416-979-1446
This confidential telephone line is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. When you reach our contact centre, you may ask to speak with an LAO family lawyer for free summary legal advice and/or apply for a legal aid certificate. This service can be accessed in more than 300 languages.
LAO’s summary legal advice program
This program offers confidential and free general legal information and advice over the phone to individuals experiencing domestic abuse.
Call us at 1-800-668-8258 Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET.
Depending on your situation, a legal professional will either call you back between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or, in exceptional or emergency circumstances, you may be immediately connected to speak with a legal professional.
Please note: calls will come from a private number during the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The legal professional can:
- Offer legal information, guidance, and advice
- Provide general information about court procedures and documents
- Review the legal options available to you
- Explain the next steps to move your case forward
- Suggest community services that may help you
- Refer you to a Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) service suitable for the next step in your case
For more information, please visit: Summary legal advice – Legal Aid Ontario
Two hours of free legal service from a certificate lawyer
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 check if this service is available. If the service is provided, the clinic or shelter 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
- LAO – Frequently asked questions
- 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”
