Where to Get Free Family Law Advice in Ontario

Separation is expensive enough without legal fees on top. If you cannot afford a lawyer, you still have options. Some give information, some give actual advice, and some help you draft documents. Knowing which is which saves time.

This article walks through the main free and low-cost routes in Ontario, what each one can and cannot do, and how to combine them. It is general information, and what suits you depends on your facts.

Information versus advice: why the difference matters

Some free services explain the process, and others give legal advice about your own situation. Family Law Information Centres (FLICs) are free services at courthouses. They give information on separation, divorce, family justice services, alternative dispute resolution, community resources and court processes, and they refer people to court-connected mediation. Their information and referral coordinators do not give legal advice.

Duty counsel are different. Legal Aid Ontario duty counsel work at courthouses, in person or virtually, giving family law advice and reviewing court forms. They cannot represent you in court.

Your main free options at a glance

The Superior Court page also links to the ProBono Ontario hotline and JusticeNet.

Lower-cost ways to get a lawyer's help

If you cannot pay for full representation, you may not need it. The Limited Scope Services Project lists family lawyers who offer unbundled services, such as attending certain court events, coaching or drafting. That lets you pay for the help you need and handle the rest yourself.

You can search for a lawyer by name, location, language or area of law, including Family/Matrimonial Law, in the Law Society's Lawyer and Paralegal Directory, which also shows practising status. Paralegals with special training can provide some family legal services, and the Law Society keeps a Find a Family Legal Services Provider list. They are paralegals, not lawyers.

Help with court costs and local support

Court fees can be a barrier. In the Superior Court of Justice and Family Court branch, filing an application costs $214.00 and placing it on the hearing list costs $445.00. The Ontario Court of Justice charges no filing or listing fees in family proceedings. Which court you need depends on your issues, since divorce and property claims must start in the Superior Court.

A fee waiver applies to most fees in your court proceeding from that point forward. You may qualify if your household income comes mainly from a benefit such as Ontario Works or ODSP, or if your gross annual household income is under $33,100 for one person, $49,600 for two, $57,300 for three, $68,700 for four, or $80,200 for five or more, with liquid assets under $2,800 and net worth under $11,100. Applying is free, and a separate waiver is needed for each case.

If you are in the Niagara region, the Superior Court locations in St. Catharines and Welland list family court support workers for abused women. The St. Catharines family scheduling line is 905-988-2834.

What to do next

• Write a short timeline of your relationship, children, income and property.
• Visit or contact the Family Law Information Centre at your courthouse to learn the process.
• Ask duty counsel to review your forms before you file.
• Call the Law Society Referral Service if you want a lawyer's view in an initial meeting.
• Check whether you qualify for a fee waiver before paying court fees.
• If your matter is urgent or you feel unsafe, use the urgent referral line.

Fee amounts and income thresholds change from time to time, so confirm current figures before relying on them.

Frequently asked questions