Can a party arrange a safety plan or support person for court appearances in a high-conflict, violent case?

Yes. Ontario courthouses generally allow accommodations for someone attending a family court proceeding involving a history of family violence, including bringing a support person to sit with them during appearances, arranging separate waiting areas or staggered arrival and departure times to avoid contact with the other party, and, in some locations, security escorts or other courthouse safety measures. Court staff, including those at a courthouse's Family Law Information Centre, can often help identify what's available at a specific location and how to request it ahead of time.

Beyond the courthouse itself, a broader safety plan — covering things like travel to and from court, communication about scheduling, and what to do if an unplanned encounter happens — is worth preparing with support from a lawyer, community violence-against-women services, or victim support programs. Because arrangements like separate waiting areas usually need to be requested in advance rather than assumed, anyone with safety concerns should raise them with court staff and their lawyer well before the appearance date.