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Programs and services across Ontario - Getting help in Family law
Programs and services across Ontario - Getting help in Family law
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LAO has a free summary advice line that lets you talk to a lawyer for up to 20 minutes to get information and general advice about your family law matter.
This includes information about:
- your legal options and what might happen
- separation, divorce, custody, access, child support, or spousal support
- the family court process and mediation
You usually have to call and give some information about your legal issue and where you live, and a lawyer will call you back.
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If you get a legal aid certificate, this means that LAO pays a lawyer to work for you. To get a certificate you must show that you have a low income by giving information about your income, property, and savings.
And, your legal issue must be one that LAO covers. You may get a certificate for some legal issues about:
- domestic violence
- family law
- criminal law
- immigration law
- refugee law
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LAO funds family law service centres across the province that can help with a number of family matters. At these centres you can connect with a family lawyer who can:
- help answer your questions
- see if you qualify for additional services from LAO
- prepare court documents, in some cases
You must call to make an appointment. To qualify for legal aid, you must show that you have a low income by giving information about your income, property, and savings. And, your family law issue must be one that LAO covers.
To find a family law service centre near you, call us toll-free at 1-800-668-8258 from Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Legal Aid Ontario funds Student Legal Aid Services Societies that operate out of Ontario's law schools. They offer free legal help to people with a low income in certain legal areas, including minor crimes, housing, and immigration, and when dealing with some tribunals.
They can also help with some family law issues, such as child custody, access, and child support issues. And some help with other family law issues, such as property division and spousal support.
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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
FLIC’s are available in every court in Ontario that deals with family law. All have free pamphlets. Many have staff who can:
- tell you about community and legal services
- explain the court process
- tell you about ways to solve legal issues without going to court
Some FLICs have advice lawyers at certain times. These are lawyers paid by Legal Aid Ontario to answer questions, give general legal advice, and review legal documents on family law issues.
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There are family law service centres that help people who have a low income. The legal professionals at the centres give information, and help with custody, access, child support, and domestic violence. They can’t represent you in court, but they can help with court documents, support orders, and procedural motions.
Check the list of centres to see where they are and when they are open.
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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.
Website
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The Ontario Legal Information Centre offers a free 30-minute meeting with a lawyer to anyone in Ontario by telephone or in person at their Ottawa office in any area of law in English or French. You may have to leave a message, and a lawyer will call you back.
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.
Website
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JusticeNet helps people find a legal professional if their income is too high to get legal aid but too low to afford legal fees. If your net family income is less than $59,000, they refer you to an online directory of lawyers, paralegals, and mediators who provide help at reduced rates.
JusticeNet is a non-profit organization. You must register and pay a $25 fee to use their website. They may return the fee if you don’t find a professional to work with.