Facing an urgent family or custody situation in Canada? If you or your children are in immediate danger, call 911 now. Otherwise, Legal Hotline's free information line answers 24/7 on 1-855-LAW-1555, so you can understand your options straight away — including how protection orders and urgent family court applications work in your province or territory. It is a free AI legal assistant trained on Canadian law and gives legal information, not advice — it is not a law firm and does not create a lawyer-client relationship. A paid consultation with a Canadian lawyer is coming soon.
Free legal information, 24/7. A paid consultation with a local lawyer is coming soon.
If you or your children are in immediate danger, call 911 now. Free, confidential help is available any time from the pan-Canadian VictimConnect and crisis lines, and from local women's shelters and family violence services in your province or territory. You do not have to face this alone.
Call the free Legal Hotline on 1-855-LAW-1555, any time of day. You will get free information about your family law situation immediately, so you understand your options. It is a free AI legal assistant trained on Canadian law and gives legal information, not advice — it is not a law firm and does not create a lawyer-client relationship. A paid consultation with a Canadian lawyer is coming soon.
Family violence protection in Canada is mostly provincial, so the exact names and steps vary across the provinces and territories. Many provinces offer emergency protection orders (sometimes called EPOs) or protection orders that a judge can grant quickly, often on an urgent or ex parte basis, before the other person is notified. Under the federal Criminal Code, a peace bond (section 810) can also require someone to keep the peace and stay away from you. In Québec, the Civil Code of Québec and the Cour du Québec apply. The free information line can explain how protection generally works in your province and what an urgent application involves.
If a child has been taken or kept without agreement, or there are urgent concerns for a child's safety, courts can act on an urgent or ex parte basis to make emergency custody or parenting orders. These applications are made under provincial family law, or under the federal Divorce Act where the parents are married and divorcing. The exact process depends on your province or territory. The free information line can explain your options so you know where you stand — and if a child is in immediate danger, call 911 first.
Free help is available alongside the hotline: local women's shelters and family violence services, provincial Legal Aid (such as Legal Aid Ontario, Legal Aid BC, or the Commission des services juridiques in Québec), and community legal clinics. For information on your legal options, the free line answers 24/7 across family law and civil law. A paid consultation with a Canadian family lawyer through Legal Hotline is coming soon.
How do I get urgent family law help in Canada?
If you or your children are in immediate danger, call 911. Otherwise call the free Legal Hotline on 1-855-LAW-1555, 24/7, for free information on your family law situation, including protection orders and urgent family court applications in your province. It is an AI legal assistant trained on Canadian law and gives legal information, not advice. A paid consultation with a Canadian lawyer is coming soon.
How do I get a protection order in Canada?
Family violence protection is mostly provincial, so the name varies — many provinces offer emergency protection orders (EPOs) or protection orders a judge can grant quickly, often on an urgent or ex parte basis before the other person is notified. Under the federal Criminal Code, a peace bond (section 810) is another option. The free information line on 1-855-LAW-1555 can explain how this works in your province.
What can I do if my child has been taken or kept from me?
If a child has been taken or kept without agreement, courts can often act on an urgent or ex parte basis to make emergency custody or parenting orders, under provincial family law or the federal Divorce Act for divorcing parents. The process depends on your province or territory. Call the free hotline on 1-855-LAW-1555 for information on your options. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911.
Is there free family violence support in Canada?
Yes. Local women's shelters and family violence services are available across Canada, and provincial Legal Aid and community legal clinics can also help. The free Legal Hotline on 1-855-LAW-1555 gives legal information on your options, 24/7.
Is the family law information line free to call?
Yes. The information line on 1-855-LAW-1555 is free to call, 24/7, with no appointment. It gives legal information, not advice, and does not create a lawyer-client relationship.
Can I speak to a lawyer through Legal Hotline now?
Not yet — a paid consultation with a Canadian lawyer is coming soon. For now, the free information line on 1-855-LAW-1555 is live 24/7 to help you understand your options, including protection orders and urgent custody. Provincial Legal Aid and community legal clinics can also help with urgent matters.
Call the free information line any time for clear legal information. A paid consultation with a local lawyer is coming soon.
Free legal information. Not legal advice.