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Find a Lawyer » Canada Legal Guides » Ontario Legal Guides » Family Law & Divorce Ontario » Domestic Violence & Restraining Orders Ontario » Page 5
💡If you are a survivor of severe domestic violence or sexual abuse, you can file a motion at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice for a non-publication order or sealing…
🚨In Ontario, an “ex parte” motion means applying for a family court restraining order without notifying your abusive ex-partner beforehand. You must convince a judge at the Superior Court of…
🐶Threatening to harm a family pet is legally recognized as a severe form of coercive control and family violence under the Divorce Act. While Ontario family courts treat pets as…
💡You can file and serve a written ‘Notice of Change of Address for Service’ under Rule 6(6) of the Family Law Rules, or use Form 4 if changing your legal…
📱In Ontario, if an abusive ex is actively evading physical service, you can urgently apply to the Family Court for “substituted service.” This legal order allows you to serve a…
🚨In Ontario, if a restraining order is granted, the judge will almost always impose a mandatory weapons prohibition. The abuser must immediately surrender all restricted and non-restricted firearms, ammunition, and…
🚔After a domestic violence incident in Ontario, you can contact your local police non-emergency line to arrange a free “keep the peace” escort. This allows you to safely return to…
📞Withholding a passport is a severe form of coercive control and domestic violence. In Ontario, you can contact the police to request a “Keep the Peace” escort to retrieve your…
👥The Victim Witness Assistance Program (VWAP) is a free Ontario government service that provides information, court preparation, and safety planning for victims of domestic violence. While they guide you through…
💡In Ontario, when both spouses claim the other is abusive and file cross-applications for restraining orders, the family court must untangle the allegations. Applying for a restraining order in Family…
💰In Ontario, the landmark Ahluwalia Court of Appeal decision clarified that while a specific “tort of family violence” does not exist, family courts can award victims significant financial damages during…
🚫Ontario family courts recognize spiritual and religious abuse as a serious form of coercive control. If an ex-partner uses religious doctrine to isolate, threaten, or dictate your life, you can…
🚨If you live in Toronto and your abusive ex-spouse lives in Ottawa, you can generally file for an Ontario restraining order at your local family court. Once granted, the order…
🚨Marital sexual assault is a severe crime in Canada. You have the right to seek an immediate, emergency restraining order in an Ontario family court while simultaneously pressing criminal charges.…
👦The first appearance for a restraining order in Ontario is almost never a full trial. It is a brief procedural hearing where the judge will determine if temporary safety measures—such…
📝A strong Form 14A Affidavit in Ontario family court must be strictly chronological, intensely factual, and free of hyperbole. Judges rely on specific dates, direct quotes of the abuser’s threats,…
💬You do not need a long, documented history of ongoing abuse to get a restraining order in Ontario. A family court judge can grant a protective order after a single,…
💡Yes, Ontario family courts generally permit victims of domestic violence to bring a trusted support person or a trained victim advocate to sit with them during a hearing. However, you…
💡If an accidental public encounter occurs in Ontario, the person bound by the Restraining Order or Peace Bond must immediately turn around and leave the area without saying a single…
💡Under the Ontario Family Law Act, standard restraining orders are strictly reserved for spouses, former spouses, or individuals who have lived together in a conjugal relationship. You cannot get a…
💡Elderly residents in Ontario experiencing abuse, financial exploitation, or threats of violence from adult children or grandchildren can secure legal protection through a Section 810 Peace Bond under the Criminal…
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🎯 Specialization: Divorce, Child Custody, Domestic Violence, Prenuptial Agreements, Estate Planning
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 500 Mapleton Ave, Barrie, Ontario
🏢 Est: 2001
🎯 Specialization: Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Internet Crimes, Professional Regulation
🗣️ Languages: English, French
📍 Address: 120 Adelaide St W, Toronto, Ontario
🏢 Est: 2013
✨ Free Consultation
🎯 Specialization: Contested Divorce, Child Custody Disputes, Domestic Assault Defence, Separation Agreements
🗣️ Languages: English, Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu
📍 Address: 218 Export Blvd Suite 505, Mississauga, Ontario
🏢 Est: 2012
🎯 Specialization: Divorce, Child Custody, Collaborative Family Law, Child Protection, Adoption
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 304 Stevenson Rd N, Oshawa, Ontario
🏢 Est: 2003
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🎯 Specialization: Parental Alienation, Estate Litigation, Civil Litigation, Contested Divorce
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 218 Export Blvd Suite #309, Mississauga, Ontario
🏢 Est: 2002
✨ Free Consultation
🎯 Specialization: DUI Defence, Domestic Assault, Sexual Assault, Drug Trafficking, Bail Hearings
🗣️ Languages: English, Punjabi
📍 Address: 161 Bay St. Suite 2725, Toronto, Ontario
🏢 Est: 2006
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🎯 Specialization: DUI Defence, Assault Charges, Civil Litigation, Corporate Legal Services
🗣️ Languages: English, Arabic
📍 Address: 200 Matheson Blvd W, Mississauga, Ontario
🏢 Est: 2013
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🎯 Specialization: Legal Aid Certificates, Refugee Claims, Domestic Violence, Duty Counsel
🗣️ Languages: English, French
📍 Address: 110 King St W, Hamilton, Ontario
🏢 Est: 1998
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🎯 Specialization: DUI Defence, Domestic Assault, Drug Trafficking, Youth Justice, Bail Hearings
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 476 Steeles Ave E, Milton, Ontario
🎯 Specialization: DUI Defence, Domestic Assault, Drug Trafficking, Bail Hearings
🗣️ Languages: English, Punjabi, Hindi
📍 Address: 6200 Dixie Rd, Mississauga, Ontario
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⚙️ Services: Patrol Division, Criminal Investigations, Community Response Unit, Traffic Services
📍 5230 Finch Ave W, Toronto, Ontario
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⚙️ Services: Criminal Record Checks, Vulnerable Sector Checks, Police Reports, Accident Reports
📍 500 Water St, Peterborough, Ontario
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⚙️ Services: accident-reports, police-stickers
📍 500 Water St, Peterborough, Ontario
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⚙️ Services: Court Filings, Restraining Orders, Support Orders
📍 159 Cedar St, Greater Sudbury, Ontario
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⚙️ Services: Collision Reports, Occurrence Reports, Police Record Checks (Online preferred)
📍 171 Major MacKenzie Dr W, Richmond Hill, Ontario
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⚙️ Services: Collision Reports
📍 344 Elgin St, Brantford, Ontario
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⚙️ Services: Court Forms, Filing Assistance
📍 80 Dundas St, London, Ontario
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⚙️ Services: Accident Reports, Occurrence Reports, Witness Statements
📍 2700 Rutherford Rd, Vaughan, Ontario
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⚙️ Services: Criminal Record Checks, Vulnerable Sector Checks, Police Reports, Freedom of Information Requests
📍 176 Hespeler Rd, Cambridge, Ontario
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⚙️ Services: Court Records, Divorce Decrees, Probate Documents
📍 59 Church St 4th Floor, St. Catharines, Ontario
Welcome to the Ontario Domestic Violence & Restraining Orders guide centre. Here you will find comprehensive resources covering everything from applying for a peace bond to securing exclusive possession of a family home, based on current provincial regulations.
Domestic violence and intimate partner abuse are serious issues that require immediate legal and physical protection. In Ontario, the law provides robust mechanisms to shield victims and their children from harm, threats, and harassment. Navigating the legal avenues for protection involves understanding both family law remedies, governed by the provincial Family Law Act, and criminal law interventions under the federal Criminal Code. Whether you need urgent protection in Toronto or are looking to secure a restraining order in Thunder Bay, safety is the primary focus of the justice system.
Recognizing the signs of abuse and knowing your legal options can be life-saving. Protective orders can restrict an abusive partner from coming near you, your workplace, or your children’s school. By taking swift legal action, survivors can create a secure boundary, allowing them to focus on healing and safely restructuring their lives away from violence.
Protective orders in Ontario are handled by different courts depending on the nature of your case. If you are dealing with a family breakdown, divorce, or child-related disputes, you will typically apply for a restraining order through the Ontario Superior Court of Justice or the specialized Family Court. If your situation does not involve a family law dispute, or if the police have laid criminal charges, protection is often established through a peace bond in the Ontario Court of Justice.
Local infrastructure plays a crucial role in immediate safety. Police services across the province, including municipal forces like the Ottawa Police Service and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), are responsible for responding to emergencies and enforcing these orders. Additionally, community organizations like the Victim Witness Assistance Program (VWAP) and local women’s shelters provide essential support, safety planning, and crisis intervention for those fleeing domestic violence.
Fleeing domestic violence and navigating the court system at the same time is extremely dangerous and emotionally overwhelming. We strongly advise against attempting to represent yourself in court or drafting legal protection applications without a professional. A mistake in your application or a failure to clearly articulate the risk can result in an order being denied, leaving you vulnerable to further harm.
An experienced family or criminal lawyer understands how to present evidence of abuse effectively and can file emergency applications to secure your safety as quickly as possible. You can find a list of relevant local lawyers, crisis hotlines, and government agencies at the top of this page. Relying on professional legal counsel and victim support services is vital for securing a legally enforceable layer of protection for you and your family.
A restraining order is issued by a family court and is used against a former spouse or partner with whom you have lived or shared a child. A peace bond is a criminal court order that can be placed on anyone, regardless of your relationship, if you have a reasonable fear they will harm you or your property.
You do not strictly need a lawyer to apply for a peace bond; you can report your fear directly to the police or a Justice of the Peace. However, having a lawyer is highly beneficial when applying for a restraining order in family court, as the legal tests and paperwork are much more complex.
There are no court filing fees to apply for a restraining order or a peace bond in Ontario. If you hire a lawyer, you will pay their legal fees, but victims of domestic violence often qualify for Legal Aid Ontario services or free emergency legal advice certificates.
Breaching a family court restraining order or a criminal peace bond is a serious criminal offence. If the person violates the conditions—such as contacting you or coming near your home—you should call the police immediately, as the offender can be arrested and face criminal charges.
A standard restraining order prevents contact, but to legally force a married spouse out of a shared house, you must apply for an “exclusive possession” order of the matrimonial home under the Family Law Act.
In situations of immediate danger, a lawyer can file an “ex parte” motion, which means applying to the court without giving advance notice to the abuser. A judge can review these urgent applications and grant a temporary restraining order on the very same day.
A peace bond typically lasts for up to one year and cannot be renewed without a new application. Family court restraining orders do not have a standard time limit; they can last for a specific period, until the child reaches a certain age, or indefinitely, depending on what the judge decides.