• In order to legally end your marriage, you must apply to the court for a divorce.
• An application for divorce can only be filed in a Superior Court of Justice or Family Court branch of the Superior Court of Justice. More…

• An application for divorce can usually be finalized within four to six months, provided there are no other issues, such as custody/access, support or division of property. If your application is more complicated, the completion time will depend on how complex the issues are and whether they can be resolved with the agreement of both parties.
• In order for a divorce to be granted, you must have been separated from your spouse for one year, unless you have established other grounds, such as adultery or mental or physical cruelty.

• It costs approximately $450.00 to file for divorce in Ontario.
• Court fees of $167.00 are due when an application is filed. An additional $280 is due when an affidavit for divorce is filed, for total of $447.00.
• Court fees may be paid by cash, cheque or money order payable to the Minister of Finance.
• If you are unable to pay the court fees, you may request a fee waiver.

• While you do not need a lawyer to file a divorce application, it is a good idea to consult one before doing so.
• A lawyer can help you understand the effects a divorce can have on your rights and obligations. For example, you may no longer qualify for health benefits under a spouse's plan after a divorce has been granted.

• In most cases, in order for a divorce to be granted, you must have been separated from your spouse for one year. This means living separate and apart.
• While you can file an application beforehand, you cannot complete an affidavit for divorce based on a separation until a year has passed. If you have established other grounds, such as adultery or mental or physical cruelty, a divorce can be granted at any time.

• If your relationship has ended but both spouses are still living in the home, you may still be considered to be living separate and apart if you are no longer behaving as though you were married.
• If you are unclear about whether you are living separate and apart, you should speak with a lawyer.

• If you have children, a court will not grant the divorce until you have shown that adequate child support arrangements are in place.
• You can apply for a divorce before the other issues have been resolved, but your spouse could then ask the court to deal with them, which may delay the process.

• A simple divorce is a request for a divorce only. It can be prepared either by one spouse, or by both spouses as a joint application.
• Through a joint application, the spouses can request a divorce only, or a divorce with other orders (e.g. agreed upon child support payments). In this case, both spouses must complete all documents necessary to obtain the divorce.
• If a divorce application is prepared by one spouse only, it must be served (legally delivered) upon the other spouse after it has been issued. He or she would then have 30 days to respond (60 days if the application is served outside of North America).

• No, only married spouses need a divorce.
• Common law spouses may, however, have other issues that need to be resolved, including child custody and access, and support and division of jointly owned property. You should speak to a lawyer about your rights and obligations arising from a common law relationship.

• If children's issues (custody of, or access to, children) are involved, you should start the case in the place where your children normally live.
• Otherwise, it can be started in the place where either party lives. For a complete listing of the court addresses in Ontario, click here.
• If there is both an Ontario Court of Justice and Superior Court of Justice in your jurisdiction, you must start your case in the court that can decide your issues.

• If you live in Canada or the United States, you have up to 30 days (60 days if the application is served [legally delivered] outside of North America) to respond to the application. If you do not agree with the claims set out in the application, or wish to make a claim of your own, you must prepare a response, serve it on the other party and file it with the court. The document that is filed in response is called an answer.
• If you are using a lawyer, you should make an appointment right away to discuss your response. If you do not file an answer within the required time, your spouse can ask the court for an order based on the claims in the application.

• Some Family and Small Claims Court forms can be completed using the Forms Assistant program.
• Guides for court processes are available for cases heard in the Ontario Court of Justice, the Superior Court of Justice and the Family Court branch of the Superior Court of Justice. These guides explain the steps in the court process, as well as the documents that need to be served (legally delivered) and filed with the court at each stage.
• Choose the guide for the court where your case is being heard, or visit the nearest Family Law Information Centre (FLIC). These centres are available in all court districts and provide information about the family justice system and court processes.

• Unless you are filing for divorce only, the Family Law Rules require both sides to attend at least one conference with a judge to discuss the issues in dispute and how they can be resolved.
• The first conference is called a "case conference". Here, the judge and parties discuss ways to resolve the issues in dispute, as well as steps that should be taken for the case to proceed.
• Following the case conference, one or both parties may bring a motion for a temporary court order (e.g. to deal with custody of children). That temporary order would be in effect until it is changed or a final order is made.
• A case conference is usually followed by a settlement conference, where the judge and parties attempt to settle the case. At this point, the judge may be able to provide an opinion of how the issues in dispute could be resolved.
• If the parties still cannot settle the case, a trial may be necessary. A trial management conference would then be held to determine how the trial would proceed.
• Before each court appearance, both parties must serve (legally deliver) certain documents on the other party and file them with the court. For more information about which documents must be filed at each step, see A Guide to Family Procedures for the court where your case is being heard:
  • Ontario Court of Justice
  • Superior Court of Justice
  • Family Court branch of the Superior Court of Justice

• In most cases, you must attend a case conference before you can bring a motion to ask the court for a temporary order.
• However, if your situation is urgent, you can ask the court for an immediate temporary order. The judge hearing the motion will decide whether the order should be made before a case conference has been held.

• A court order is not always required in family disputes. If the parties can come to an agreement then they can enter into a separation agreement that sets out the agreed upon terms. If they can't come to an agreement or if one party is concerned that the other will not comply with an agreement, one of the parties may want to obtain a court order to determine what the arrangements will be (for example what support will be paid) and to enforce those arrangements.

• You should inform your lawyer or the other parties as soon as possible that you can't be there and need to reschedule.
• If you are requesting the court date be moved to a later date (an adjournment), you should file a Form 14B: Motion form. You should note on that form whether or not the other parties agree with your request.
• If you are requesting an adjournment because of an emergency, you should contact the family court office as soon as possible.

• If you believe that the court made the wrong decision, you can file an appeal.
• If you are considering an appeal, you should speak to a lawyer right away about your options for appeal. You should also discuss deadlines for it to be started and whether it is likely to be successful.

• Download the booklet What You Should Know About Family Law in Ontario (available in 9 languages).

• Most families don't need to go to court to settle their family law disputes. Some can agree on the issues themselves and others come to an agreement with the help of mediators or collaborative family lawyers.
• Finding a mediator
• Ontario Association of Family Mediators (map locator)
• The ADR Institute of Ontario also maintains a list of mediators who have been accredited by their organization, and can be searched by location and area of expertise, including family law.
• Collaborative Family Law
• Other families choose to hire an arbitrator to resolve their disputes. An arbitrator is hired to make a decision for the parties, which is called a family arbitration award.
• More...

• Joint custody means that both parents make major decisions about the children together.
• Sole custody means that one parent makes all major decisions about the children.
• Children's living arrangements can vary greatly. In some cases children maintain a primary residence with one parent and visit regularly with the other. In others the children divide their time equally or approximately equally between the parents' homes.
• Shared custody exists when children live with each parent at least 40 per cent of the time. In these circumstances, special provisions apply to the calculation of child support, depending on the amount of time children spend with each parent.

• In order to get a child custody or access order, you will need to start a court application.
• If you and the other parent can agree on who will have custody of the child, you can make a separation agreement. A court application will usually not be necessary.
• Both parties should get independent legal advice before the agreement is finalized to make sure they understand their rights and responsibilities.

• If you and your partner agree what the custody and access arrangements will be for your children, you can file a copy of the agreement with the court. If you do not agree with your partner's request, then you must prepare a document that is called your "answer". It can include your claims for child custody or access.

• Both the Children's Law Reform Act and the Divorce Act say that decisions about child custody and access are based on the best interests of the child. Factors taken into consideration include:
  • The ability of each parent to care for the child
  • The ties between the child and each parent
  • The stability of the child's current living arrangements
  • The strength of each parent's plan to care for the child in the future, and,
  • The child's wishes (in appropriate circumstances).
• The law also states that the judge must consider violence or abuse when assessing a person's ability to parent.

• If a court order for access is not being followed, you can ask the court to enforce the order.
• Where appropriate, the court can require your former spouse to respect the provisions of the order and impose penalties if they don't comply.
• If there are serious problems with the access arrangements, the court can make changes to the existing order if they are in the child's best interests.

• Federal authorities will likely require written confirmation of your former spouse's consent before allowing the children to be removed from Canada.
• Standard consent forms are available from the federal government. If your former spouse will not grant his or her permission, you may need a court order to permit the travel.

• If your order is no longer appropriate due to a significant change in the children's needs or circumstances, you can have it changed with your former spouse's consent.
• If he or she does not agree, you can bring a motion to ask the court to change the order to reflect the new circumstances. This is called a motion to change.

• Unless you have a court order or agreement that specifically allows you to move with the children, you should speak to your lawyer about any steps that should be taken before you finalize your plans.
• In most circumstances, your proposed move will be an issue for the courts to resolve if you and your former spouse cannot come to an agreement.

• If you do not have a court order that sets out the custody of and access to the child, you should speak with a lawyer right away about whether you need one, as well as an order prohibiting your partner from taking the child out of Ontario.
• Keep your child's identification and passport in a safe place.
• If your child is already missing, call your local police, the RCMP and the Consular Affairs Bureau (1-800-267-6788) and speak with your lawyer about what other steps can be taken to have your child returned.
• Child Find Ontario is dedicated to helping missing and exploited children and youth in Ontario. More…
• More information.

• Once the child has been taken from your care, the Children's Aid Society must take the case to court within five days. You should plan to attend court on the day when your case is first being heard.
• You should speak with a lawyer right away. These cases can move quickly and be complicated. Your lawyer will help you prepare for court, including preparing your response to the Children's Aid Society's application. If you are not able to find a lawyer before the first court date, a lawyer called a Duty Counsel is usually at the courthouse to give you basic help on that day.
• If you can't afford a lawyer you can apply for legal aid. You will have to give Legal Aid Ontario information about your income and any property that you own. If you qualify, Legal Aid Ontario will give you a certificate to pay for, or help pay for, a lawyer.
• You can get more information from the following sources:
  • Ministry of Children and Youth Services (MCYS):
    MCYS funds and monitors children's aid societies, develops policy to support the child welfare program and licenses children's group homes and foster homes. More…
  • Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies:
    The Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies is the voice of children's aid societies in Ontario, dedicated to providing leadership in the protection and promotion of children's well being within their families and communities. More…
  • Justice for Children and Youth:
    Justice for Children and Youth provides legal representation to low-income children and youth in Toronto and the vicinity. They may be able to provide information and referrals for child protection cases. More…

• The court can order that the Office of the Children's Lawyer provide you with a lawyer in child protection cases. This lawyer is independent from the Children's Aid Society and your parents. If you are not sure if the Children's Aid Society will be asking the court to appoint a lawyer for you, you can ask your Children's Aid Society social worker to ask the court to appoint a lawyer for you. More…
• Information and referrals for lawyers may also be available from Justice for Children and Youth. More…
• In most cases, if you are 12 years of age or older, you have a right to be served with the court materials and may attend court.

• Family mediation is a voluntary way of resolving disputes where a trained mediator helps parties of relatively equal bargaining positions to resolve disputes about family issues. More…

• Family mediators can help resolve child custody and access, child and spousal support and property issues. Some family mediators can also help with child protection disputes, although they require additional qualifications. At the beginning of the mediation, the parties will discuss which issue(s) will be addressed.
• Private family mediation services may be available where you live. Mediators come from different professions (e.g. social workers, psychologists, lawyers) and their fees vary.
• More information about finding a private mediator.
• Mediation services are also available at certain family court locations. On-site services are available free. Fees are charged for off-site mediation services.
• More information about court-connected mediation services.

• Mediation agreements are not binding until they have been incorporated into a written agreement or a court order.
• Both parties should obtain independent legal advice before the agreement is finalized to ensure they understand their rights and obligations, as well as the effect of the proposed agreement.

• The mediation process is flexible and can take one session or many. If the issues are complex, a number of meetings may be needed in order to come to a resolution.

• Private family mediation services may be available where you live. Mediators come from different professions (e.g. social workers, psychologists, lawyers) and their fees vary.
• Mediation services are available at certain family court locations. On-site services are available free of charge. Fees are charged for off-site mediation services on a sliding scale.

• Family mediators come from different professional backgrounds. They may be lawyers, social workers, psychologists, or financial professionals, like accountants. More…
• The Ontario Association for Family Mediation website offers a list of mediators in areas across Ontario.

• Collaborative family law is a process that helps people resolve disputes without going to court. In collaborative family law, the parties and their lawyers generally hold a series of meetings to negotiate a settlement. In some circumstances, the parties can hire experts jointly to help resolve issues in dispute.

• The Ontario Collaborative Law Federation maintains a list of collaborative law associations in Ontario, that can help you to find qualified collaborative family lawyers.

• Collaborative family law is a process where lawyers helps parties reach their own agreement about issues in dispute without going to court.  It leaves the decision making in the hands of the parties.  It requires a commitment from both parties to resolve the outstanding issues in a principled manner.  With arbitration, decisions are made by arbitrator after reviewing the evidence of the parties.

• Visit the Ontario Collaborative Law Federation’s website or contact the Federation.

• " Both parents have a responsibility to financially support their children. If you do not have custody, the amount of child support you must pay is based on your income and the number of children. More…

• If parents agree on what child support can be paid, they can make a separation agreement that sets out how much support will be paid and for how long. If they don't agree, the parent seeking support can start an application ion court and request an order for child support.

• FRO's goal is to help families in Ontario receive the financial support they are entitled to by enforcing court ordered support responsibilities. More…

• When an Ontario court orders one person to pay support for a child, spouse or parent, the support order is automatically sent to the Family Responsibility Office (FRO) to be enforced. More…

• If you have a separation agreement and would like the Family Responsibility Office (FRO) to enforce the terms of your contract on your behalf, you can file it with the court and then register with the FRO. More…

• The Family Responsibility Office has commonly used forms available. More…

• You can help Ontario children and families by helping the Family Responsibility Office find missing, irresponsible parents who have defaulted on the payments owed to their kids. More…

• The Family Responsibility Office has numerous family support fact sheets available. More…

• Under the Child Support Guidelines, child support is determined based on the annual income of the paying parent and the number of children who are entitled to support.
• The court also has flexibility to order a different amount in certain limited circumstances, such as in cases of shared custody or undue hardship. More…

• Maybe.
• Under Ontario law, children are usually entitled to support up to the age of majority (18), and for a period of time following if the child is attending school full-time.
• Where a child is over 18, the amount of the payment may be adjusted if it is inappropriate in light of the child's needs and/or the parents' financial circumstances.

• Under the Child Support Guidelines, you must provide your income tax returns and notices of assessment for the last three years, as well as documentation of your earnings to date for the current year.
• If you are self-employed or control a company, additional documents are required. If you are involved in a court case, you must file a financial statement as well. More…

• Child support orders from Ontario courts are enforced by the Family Responsibility Office (FRO).
• When support payments are not being made in accordance with a court order or separation agreement that has been filed with the court, FRO, or the support recipient, can take steps to collect money owed, including obtaining payments directly from an employer or filing writs against property. More…

• Support payments can be made directly to your spouse if he or she agrees not to have them made through the Family Responsibility Office (FRO).
• If a support order has been made, both parties must complete and sign a Notice of Withdrawal and send it to the FRO.

• Yes.
• Orders that were made in other provinces or territories under the federal Divorce Act are automatically recognized in Ontario.
• However, in order to have those orders enforced in Ontario, they must be registered with the Family Responsibility Office.
• Orders that have been made under provincial legislation must be registered with the Interjurisdictional Support Orders Unit for enforcement.
• More information on this process.

• To have support payments in a separation agreement enforced, you should file your agreement with the Ontario Court of Justice or the Family Court branch of the Superior Court of Justice.
• After the agreement is filed with the court, you should forward the order to the Family Responsibility Office for enforcement.
• Instructions for this process can be found here.

• To change the amount of child support, you will need to get an order reflecting the new amount.
• You can determine the appropriate amount of child support based on your income by reviewing the Child Support Guidelines.
• If you and your former spouse agree on the new amount, you can bring a motion to change on consent. If not, you can bring a motion to change and a judge will determine what amount of child support should be paid.
• More information on the forms that must be filed to request a change in support.
• If the Family Responsibility Office is enforcing the support order, it will continue to collect the existing amount until the order is changed.

• If a province, territory or country has entered into a formal arrangement with Ontario to enforce each other's support orders, they are known as a `reciprocating jurisdiction'.
• An order from a reciprocating jurisdiction can be changed under the Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act.
• More information about changing a support order from a reciprocating jurisdiction.

• Some support orders or separation agreements set out a specific date or event when support will end (e.g. a child leaving school). This is called a terminating event.
• If you believe that a terminating event has occurred, you should contact the Family Responsibility Office to inquire about stopping support payments.
• If the order or agreement does not contain a terminating event, you need either the consent of your former spouse, or a court order to end your support payments.
• If your former spouse does not agree, you may need to file a motion to change in order to have the support payments stop.

• If both spouses agree on what spousal support will be paid, they can make a separation agreement that sets out how much support will be paid and for how long. If they don't agree, the spouse seeking support can start an application in court and request an order for spousal support.
• More information about when spousal support orders are made and how the amount of spousal support is calculated.

• Spousal support orders from Ontario courts are enforced by the Family Responsibility Office (FRO).
• If support payments are not being made in accordance with a court order or separation agreement that has been filed with the court, the FRO or the support recipient can take steps to collect the money that is owed, which can include obtaining payments directly from an employer or filing writs against property.
• More information on enforcement of support orders.

• Support payments can be made directly to the recipient if he or she agrees not to have them made through the Family Responsibility Office (FRO).
• If a support order has been made, both parties must complete and sign a Notice of Withdrawal and send it to the FRO.

• Yes.
• Orders that were made in other provinces or territories under the federal Divorce Act are automatically recognized in Ontario.
• However, in order to have those orders enforced in Ontario, they must be registered with the Family Responsibility Office. Orders that have been made under provincial legislation must be registered with the Interjurisdictional Support Orders Unit for enforcement.
• More information on this process.

• A separation agreement can be filed with the Ontario Court of Justice or Family Court branch of the Superior Court of Justice for the support payments to be enforced.
• After the agreement is filed with the court, you can forward the order to the Family Responsibility Office for enforcement.
• More information about this process.

• To change the amount of spousal support, you will need to get an order reflecting the new amount.
• If your former spouse agrees, you can bring a motion to change on consent. If not, you can bring a motion to change and a judge will determine whether the support payment should be changed.
• In order to have the payment changed, you will need to show the court that there has been a significant change in circumstances that affects the amount of the payment being made.
• If the Family Responsibility Office is enforcing the support order, they will continue to collect the existing amount until the order has been changed.

• If a province, territory or country has entered into a formal arrangement with Ontario to enforce each other's support orders, they are known as a `reciprocating jurisdiction'.
• An order from a reciprocating jurisdiction can be changed under the Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act.
• More information about changing a support order from a reciprocating jurisdiction.

• Spousal abuse is a tragedy that affects everyone in our society. This website provides advice and assistance to women in abusive situations, their families and friends, and answers questions about spousal abuse. More…

• We all share the responsibility to protect children from harm. But protecting children from harm is more than just a moral responsibility, it's the law. More…

• A Children's Aid Society, also named Family and Children's Services in some communities, is a non-profit corporation with a duty to provide help and support to children who may be in need of protection, and their families. More…

• If you have a reasonable suspicion that a child may need protection, please call your local Children's Aid Society immediately. More…
• The telephone number for your local Children's Aid Society can usually be found in the front of your telephone directory.

• If you fear for your safety, you can call the police. If the police are contacted, certain processes and procedures will follow. More…
• You can also go to your family court and bring an urgent motion for an order for exclusive possession of your home (if you are married) and/or an order restraining your spouse from contacting you. A restraining order can be general or specific. For example, a judge can order that your spouse stay away from you or not come to your home, work or the children's school. If you are fearful for your immediate safety, you can ask for a restraining order on an urgent basis.
• If your spouse disobeys the restraining order, you can call the police and your spouse can be arrested. You will need to make sure you have a copy of the restraining order with you at all times.
• If you are feeling threatened by an abusive partner, ex-partner, co-worker and/or are being stalked, consider creating a safety plan. More…
• Leaving the abuse behind is not a decision to be taken lightly. There are, of course, many factors to be considered. More…
• The Assaulted Women's Helpline is a 24-hour telephone and TTY crisis line for women in the province of Ontario. More…
• FEMAIDE is a 24-hour telephone and TTY crisis line for Francophone women in Ontario. More…

• The Assaulted Women's Helpline is a 24-hour telephone and TTY crisis line for women in the province of Ontario. More…
• Shelternet is a plain language, woman-friendly website that provides information that may help you if you are experiencing violence in an intimate relationship.
• If you are feeling threatened by an abusive partner, ex-partner, co-worker and/or are being stalked, consider creating a safety plan. More…
• Leaving the abuse behind is not a decision to be taken lightly. There are, of course, many factors to be considered. More…
• You can also ask the court for a restraining order to try to prevent your spouse from contacting you. A restraining order can be general or specific. For example, a judge can order that your spouse stay away from you or not come to your home, work or the children's school. If you are fearful for your immediate safety, you can ask for a restraining order on an urgent basis.
• If your spouse disobeys the restraining order, you can call the police and your spouse can be arrested. You will need to make sure you have a copy of the restraining order with you at all times.

• If you are married, you can ask the court to make an order for exclusive possession, which would give you the right to live in your home and require your spouse to leave, even if the home is in your spouse's name. You may have to pay your spouse rent while you live in the home. Before the judge will order your spouse to leave the home, the judge will consider a number of factors, including whether there was any violence in your relationship. It is a good idea to speak to a lawyer before asking for an order for exclusive possession of your home.

• In deciding the custody and access arrangements that are in the best interests of the child, the judge must consider whether a parent has at any time been violent or abusive toward a child, a spouse or the other parent. You should speak with a lawyer before asking for an order for custody and access.

• You can ask the court to make an order for supervised access exchanges and for those exchanges to take place at a supervised access centre. Staff are available at supervised access centres to help to transfer the children between you and your spouse so that you do not have any contact with one another. More…

• Elder abuse takes many different forms; it's as varied and unique as its victims. More…

• The Victim Support Line is a province-wide, multilingual, toll-free information line providing a range of services to victims of crime. More…
• The Ontario Association of Crime Stoppers has partnered with the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services to develop a Seniors Crime Stoppers program. More…

• Elder Abuse
• Empowering Seniors Against Victimization
• Crime Prevention Tips for Seniors
• Seniors Crime Stoppers

• Mental incapacity is when someone cannot understand relevant information or cannot appreciate what may happen as a result of decisions they make - or do not make - about their finances, health or personal care. More…

• The law defines mental incapacity as the inability to understand the information that is relevant to a decision or to appreciate the consequences of a decision. More…

• If you know of an adult who appears to be mentally incapable and at serious risk, contact the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee.
• More…

• " Information on how decisions are made on behalf of a person who has been deemed incapable of making decisions regarding their finances, property, or health. More…

• " The Capacity Assessment Office trains eligible health professionals to be capacity assessors in accordance with the Substitute Decisions Act. More…

• A Power of Attorney is a legal document that gives someone else the right to act on your behalf. More…

• Many people believe their families will be able to step in if something happens and they cannot make decisions for themselves. This isn't always true. More…

• Download the Power of Attorney Kit (PDF) now, or
• Visit your local Public Guardian and Trustee office, or
• Call 416-314-2800 in Toronto, or toll-free 1-800-366-0335.

• Yes. In Ontario there are three kinds of Power of Attorney:
  1. Continuing Power of Attorney for Property
  2. Power of Attorney for Personal Care
  3. Non-continuing Power of Attorney for Property
• More information on the types of power of attorney is available here.

• No one can make you sign a power of attorney if you don't want to. But, if you don't choose one, the government may have to appoint someone to make certain decisions for you.
• It's better if you choose someone you feel you can really trust, who knows your wishes.

• The expression "living will" is sometimes used to refer to a document in which you write down what you want to happen if you become ill and can't communicate your wishes about treatment. More…

• The Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee has created a set of frequently asked questions about powers of attorney and living wills. More…

• The YCJA is federal legislation that deals with young people (under 18) who break the law. More…

• When a young person breaks the law, police use the Youth Criminal Justice Act to decide what action they will take.
• A young person may be dealt with outside of the formal court process, or may be sent to court. More…

• Justice for Children and Youth provides select legal representation to low-income children and youth in Toronto and the vicinity. More…

• Canada's National Tipline for reporting the online sexual exploitation of children. More…

• If your child has been arrested, the first thing you should do is call a lawyer.
• In Ontario, the Ministry of Children and Youth Services provides programs and services for young people who have been dealt with under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, or are at risk of breaking the law. More…

• Yes. Child Victim/Witness programs currently operate in London, Toronto, Waterloo Region, Peel and Ottawa. These programs are being expanded to every region of the province.
• After charges are laid, they provide free services that support and help children through each stage of the court process. This includes accompanying children into the courtroom.
• They work closely with the Victim/Witness Assistance Program staff to provide the best possible assistance to children in the court process.

• Crown Attorney - A lawyer who acts as an agent of the Attorney General in civil lawsuits; a lawyer who prosecutes criminal matters on behalf of the Crown.
• Defence counsel - A lawyer who represents a defendant or accused person in a civil or criminal case.
• Defendant (accused) - A person sued in a civil proceeding or accused in a criminal proceeding.
• Judge - The person authorized to determine legal matters in court.
• Jury - A group of people sworn to deliver a verdict after considering evidence presented to them.
• Justice of the Peace - A judicial officer who has authority to do a variety of things in criminal matters, including, issuing warrants and hearing bail applications and provincial offence trials.
• Witness - Someone who provides evidence in a trial.
• Police - The men and women whose job is to prevent crime, keep order and see that laws are obeyed.

• If you have concerns about a child, please call your local Children's Aid Society immediately. More…

• Family Law involves all legal issues that can be dealt with in a family court. More…
• Booklet: What You Should Know About Family Law in Ontario (available in 9 languages).
• Family Law Information Centres (FLIC) assist in meeting the individual needs of clients, particularly clients who are not represented by a lawyer and are entering the court system for the first time. More…

• In Ontario, family law matters are heard in the Ontario Court of Justice, the Superior Court of Justice, or the Family Court branch of the Superior Court of Justice, depending on the issue in dispute and where you are located in the province. More…

• The Family Court is a branch of the Superior Court of Justice. The Family Court is the only court in Ontario that can hear all family law cases, including divorce, division of property, child and spousal support and child custody/access cases. More…

• The Ontario Court of Justice can hear family law cases involving child and spousal support, child custody and access, child protection and adoption. More…

• The Superior Court of Justice can hear family law cases involving the same types of issues as those in the Family Court, except for adoption and child protection applications. These types of cases can only be heard in the Family Court or Ontario Court of Justice. More…

• There are different procedures for changing a child's name depending on the child's age, whether the child was born in Ontario and who has custody of, or access to the child.
• For more information about these processes, click here.

Links are provided as a service and are not legal advice. For legal advice, please read more about finding a lawyer. Links marked with a globe point to external Web sites that are not maintained by the Government of Ontario. Related comments or inquiries regarding those sites should be directed to the individual organization. If you discover a broken link, please let us know.