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#Family summary legal advice

Before you call

Get your documents and facts together before you call. For faster help, have a summary of your family law issue written down.

If you need to change an order or agreement, you must have a copy of the document you are referring to available for the consultation with the lawyer.

Make the call yourself as the representative cannot talk to anyone other than you about your problem.

If you have a family law issue, you may be able to get free summary legal advice over the phone from a Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) lawyer for up to 20 minutes.

To find out if you are eligible for summary legal advice, call LAO toll-free at 1-800-668-8258 from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Who should use family law summary advice?

Family law summary advice can include general information and direction to resources if you:

• have a question regarding separation or divorce that you think a lawyer should answer
• need help with separation and divorce or family law co-parenting issues
• don’t have a lawyer and want information about custody, access, child or spousal support
• need information on the family court process, including mediation and collaborative lawyers
• want to change an existing court order through a motion to change.

Calling for summary legal advice

Here’s what you can expect when you call:

Tell the representative if it’s an emergency such as the abduction of a child or involvement of Children’s Aid Society or if you are experiencing violence so your call can take priority

Have your documents and facts ready. If you need to change an order or agreement, you must have a copy of the documents

Describe your problem so you can be directed to one of LAO’s services such as duty counsel or the certificate program

There is no financial eligibility test for general information and referrals.