“Family Law” includes legal issues like separation, divorce, child custody and access, child support, and spousal support. This page includes information and links about family law, family/domestic violence and getting legal help.
Although we do not practice family law, we can provide information and referrals. We can also work with family lawyers on HIV-related issues. Please see Getting legal help below.
Family Law information
The Ontario Government website has information about family law in Ontario: www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/english/justice-ont/family_law.asp
The Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) website includes information on family law and legal aid in Ontario: www.legalaid.on.ca/en/getting/type_family.asp
Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO) has pamphlets about family law on the CLEO website or in print: www.cleo.on.ca/english/pub/onpub/subject/family.htm
The Family Law Education for Women (FLEW) website provides family law information in thirteen languages and different formats: www.onefamilylaw.ca/
Family/Domestic Violence
If you are afraid that someone might hurt you, your child or someone that you know, you can talk to a lawyer or a legal clinic to find out about options (see below for legal help). Please see our Other Areas of Law section for more information for victims of crime.
The Assaulted Women’s Helpline is a free 24 hour confidential telephone service for women in Ontario: telephone 416-863-0511 or toll-free 1-866-863-0511, TTY 416-364-8762 or TTY toll-free 1-866-863-7868, www.awhl.org/
The Family Law Education for Women (FLEW) includes information about how to “cover your tracks” on-line so that someone else cannot easily find out the websites that you have visited: www.onefamilylaw.ca/en/reset/
The Family Law Education for Women (FLEW) website also includes information:
- for women who are thinking about leaving an abusive relationship at www.onefamilylaw.ca/en/resources/
- about family law and family violence in thirteen languages, different formats (audio, ASL) and for specific communities of women: www.onefamilylaw.ca/
Here are some other sources of information about family/domestic violence:
- Do you know a woman who is being abused? A legal rights handbook that includes information on many issues is available on the Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO) website and in print: www.cleo.on.ca/english/pub/onpub/PDF/criminal/handbook.pdf
- Immigrant women and domestic violence fact sheet from Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO): www.cleo.on.ca/english/pub/onpub/PDF/immigration/immwomdv.pdf
- Elder Abuse booklet on the Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO) and in print: www.cleo.on.ca/english/pub/onpub/PDF/seniors/elderab.pdf
- Domestic violence information from Legal Aid Ontario (LAO): telephone 416-979-1446 or toll-free 1-800-668-8258, TTY 416-598-8867 or TTY toll-free 1-866-641-8867, www.legalaid.on.ca/en/getting/type_domesticviolence.asp
- Ontario Government website information about programs and services for victims of crime: www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/english/ovss/programs.asp
- Government of Canada Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime website information about victim services, victim rights, and registering as a victim: www.victimsfirst.gc.ca/index.html
Getting legal help
If you are living with HIV and have family law questions, please contact us for information and referrals.
Your local community legal clinic may provide you with information and referrals: www.legalaid.on.ca/en/contact/contact.asp?type=cl
If you are living in Ontario but not living with HIV, you can contact Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) for family law information and assistance: www.legalaid.on.ca/en/getting/type_family.asp
You can also contact the Ontario Lawyer Referral Service for a referral to a lawyer for up to 30 minutes of free legal advice: www.lsuc.on.ca/with.aspx?id=654.