Find a Lawyer » Canada Legal Guides » Ontario Legal Guides » Family Law & Divorce Ontario » Domestic Violence & Restraining Orders Ontario » Page 6
💡Ontario family courts recognize that family violence extends far beyond physical assault, encompassing severe emotional, psychological, and coercive controlling behaviour under the amended Divorce Act and Children’s Law Reform Act.…
💡If the Children’s Aid Society (CAS) determines a parent poses a physical or emotional risk due to domestic violence, they will mandate supervised parenting time. This ensures the child can…
💡Yes, an Ontario Family Court judge can order absolute no contact, completely severing a parent’s access to their child. However, this is an extreme, rare measure reserved exclusively for cases…
💡If you are a domestic violence victim in Ontario, the Children’s Aid Society (CAS) may intervene under the claim of “failure to protect.” To keep your children, you must generally…
💡Under the Ontario Employment Standards Act (ESA), victims of domestic or sexual violence are legally entitled to up to 10 days and 15 weeks of job-protected leave per calendar year.…
💡In Ontario, you can safely navigate child drop-offs with a Restraining Order by using explicit court-approved exceptions. These usually mandate third-party exchanges, the use of government-funded Supervised Access Centres, or…
💡Yes. In Ontario, exposing a child to domestic violence—even if they are not physically hit—is legally defined as emotional abuse under the Child, Youth and Family Services Act (CYFSA). Professionals…
💡In Ontario, you cannot legally be fired simply because your abusive ex is harassing your workplace. Terminating an employee for being a victim of domestic violence is a human rights…
💡A workplace safety plan in Ontario should include practical measures like changing the employee’s phone extension, providing a security escort, and sharing the abuser’s photo with reception. By law, employers…
💡Under Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), employers have a strict legal duty to take every reasonable precaution to protect workers if they become aware, or ought reasonably to…
💡If your teenager is physically assaulting you or destroying your home in Ontario, prioritize your immediate safety by calling 911. Beyond the police, you can involve the Children’s Aid Society…
💡In Ontario, you cannot get a Family Court Restraining Order against a sibling. Family court orders are strictly reserved for spouses or former cohabiting partners. To protect yourself from an…
💡If you are fleeing domestic violence in Ontario, you can legally change your name and file a specific request to prevent it from being published in the Ontario Gazette. This…
💡A safety plan is a personalised strategy to protect yourself and your children from an abusive ex-partner. Presenting a formal safety plan at an Ontario family court demonstrates that you…
💡In Ontario, signing a standard Peace Bond for domestic violence allegations includes a mandatory weapons prohibition. For police officers, correctional workers, and armed security guards, this usually results in immediate…
💡LGBTQ+ individuals facing domestic abuse in Ontario can apply for a Restraining Order in Family Court. This order protects against physical violence as well as “coercive control,” which includes malicious…
💡In Ontario, nurses must self-report any domestic violence criminal charges to the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) within 30 days. Failing to report an assault charge, even if it…
💡In Ontario, if an adult child is financially or physically abusing an elderly parent, the senior (or their advocate) can immediately revoke a Power of Attorney and apply for a…
💡If you are experiencing financial abuse in Ontario, you can immediately contact your bank to freeze your joint accounts, requiring both signatures for any future withdrawals. If your spouse has…
💡Yes, it is generally legal to secretly record your spouse in Ontario, provided you are actively participating in the conversation. Canada follows a “one-party consent” rule. Ontario family courts will…
💡Coercive control is a devastating form of domestic violence that involves a continuous pattern of psychological abuse, financial domination, and isolation. Recent updates to the Divorce Act and the Children’s…
🎯 Specialization: Collaborative Family Law, Child Protection (CAS), Grandparent Rights, Separation Agreements
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 4145 N Service Rd 2nd Floor, Burlington, Ontario
🏢 Est: 2004
✨ Free Consultation
🎯 Specialization: Sexual Assault, Drug Trafficking, Impaired Driving, Domestic Assault, Charter Applications, Criminal Appeals
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 75 Pitt St E, Windsor, Ontario
🏢 Est: 2012
✨ Free Consultation
🎯 Specialization: Family Mediation, Domestic Violence, Child Protection
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 261 Main St W, Hamilton, Ontario
🎯 Specialization: High-Net-Worth Divorce, Cryptocurrency Division, Fathers Rights, Emotional Support Services
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 300-116 Albert Street, Ottawa, Ontario
🏢 Est: 2013
🎯 Specialization: DUI Defence, Mental Health Advocacy, Indigenous Rights
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 16775 Yonge St, Newmarket, Ontario
✨ Free Consultation
🎯 Specialization: High-Net-Worth Divorce, Child Custody, 24/7 Legal Assistance, Complex Asset Division
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 410 North Service Rd E, Oakville, Ontario
🏢 Est: 2005
✨ Free Consultation
🎯 Specialization: Uncontested Divorce, Spousal Support, Domestic Assault Defence, Bail Hearings
🗣️ Languages: English, Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu
📍 Address: 2557 Dougall Ave #6, Windsor, Ontario
🏢 Est: 2012
🎯 Specialization: Child Protection, Legal Aid Cases
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 5063 N Service Rd, Burlington, Ontario
✨ Free Consultation
🎯 Specialization: Personal Injury, Criminal Defence, Regulatory Offences, DUI Defence, Slip and Fall
🗣️ Languages: English, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, Spanish, French, Arabic, Italian
📍 Address: 205 Main St S, Newmarket, Ontario
🏢 Est: 2014
🎯 Specialization: Impaired Driving Defence, Weapons Offences, Domestic Assault, Youth Justice
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 30 Queen St N, Kitchener, Ontario
🚶 Walk-ins Welcome
⚙️ Services: Collision Reports, Damage Reported Stickers
📍 110 Fairview Rd, Barrie, Ontario
📅 Appt. Recommended
⚙️ Services: Police Reports, Criminal Record Checks, Vulnerable Sector Checks
📍 429 Harry Walker Pkwy S, Newmarket, Ontario
📅 Appt. Recommended
⚙️ Services: Accident Reports, Occurrence Reports, Witness Statements
📍 2700 Rutherford Rd, Vaughan, Ontario
⚙️ Services: Secure Treatment, Forensic Services, Youth Detention, Section 23 School
📍 475 Iroquois Shore Rd, Oakville, Ontario
🚶 Walk-ins Welcome
⚙️ Services: Accident Reports
📍 160 Clair Rd W, Guelph, Ontario
📅 Appt. Recommended
⚙️ Services: Criminal Record Checks, Vulnerable Sector Checks, Police Reports, Freedom of Information Requests,…
📍 7150 Mississauga Rd, Mississauga, Ontario
📅 Appt. Recommended
⚙️ Services: Court Forms, Filing Assistance
📍 80 Dundas St, London, Ontario
🚶 Walk-ins Welcome
⚙️ Services: Homicide Unit, Sexual Assault Unit, Major Fraud Branch, Forensics, Vice and Drugs,…
📍 100 Wilson St, Hamilton, Ontario
📅 Appt. Recommended
⚙️ Services: Criminal Record Checks, Vulnerable Sector Check, Accident Reports
📍 3699 Bloor St W, Toronto, Ontario
📅 Appt. Recommended
⚙️ Services: Criminal Investigations, Community Response Unit, Neighborhood Officers, Youth Services, Primary Response Unit
📍 51 Parliament St, Toronto, 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.
