Programs and services across Ontario - Child support

During the COVID-19 situation, duty counsel services are being provided by phone. Call LAO's summary advice line at 1-800-668-8258 for more information.

Family duty counsel give free legal advice to people who don’t have a lawyer on the day of their hearing and who have a low income. Family duty counsel are paid for by LAO and are at every family law court.

They can't represent you at a trial, but they can:

• give legal advice and information about the court process
• help work out an agreement
• review and help prepare court documents
• help in the courtroom for certain things like asking for your case to be postponed, and at child protection hearings and hearings related to child and spousal support
• help in hearings before a trial for issues like custody, access, child protection, or support, when the issues are not complicated
• make referrals to other sources of help, such as mediation or finding your own lawyer

During the COVID-19 situation, family mediation services are being provided remotely. 

Family mediation services are available at family court locations in Ontario. Even if you don't have a court case, you can get up to 8 hours of mediation for a fee based on your income. If you have a court case, you can get up to 2 hours of mediation for free at court.

You don't need to be referred to mediation by a judge. Mediation is a voluntary process that all parties must agree to use, to try and resolve issues such as:

• how and when to separate
• custody and access
• child support
• spousal support
• dividing property

For more information, go to the Family Law Information Centre at the courthouse and speak with the Information and Referral Coordinator. 

The Law Society of Ontario has on online Law Society Referral Service that gives you the name of a lawyer or licensed paralegal who will give free legal advice for up to 30 minutes in any area of law.

If you can’t wait for a legal representative to call you back, or if you don’t have a call-back number, email lsrs@lso.ca. Or, if you’re in crisis or in custody, call 1-855-947-5255 or 416-947-5255, Monday to Friday, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The directory lists all lawyers and paralegals licensed to give legal services in Ontario. You can search by name, address or postal code, language, and area of law. You can also search for services offered in French and for unbundled services.

The Advice and Settlement Counsel (ASC) provides people who don't have a lawyer with 1 hour of advice with a lawyer for $200 plus HST. The service can help you:

• prepare for a court attendance, case conference, or motion
• negotiate consents when both parties are present
• give advice about potential settlements, drafting agreements, and court procedures
• give advice on a consent you have negotiated with a Dispute Resolution Officer (DRO) or at mediation, court conference, or motion
• prepare "to do" lists so that you understand what steps need to be taken next

To use the ASC, you can check their calendar to see which lawyers are available. All lawyers spend at least 50% of their practice in family law and have at least 5 years experience. You will also be required to complete a form that confirms your identity, sign a consent, pay the fee, and sign a retainer agreement that explains the service you are getting. You will be charged extra for any time over 1 hour.