If you can`t afford a lawyer, you may be eligible for legal aid from Legal Aid Ontario, which serves low-income Ontarians. For most services, a client must be financially eligible. Legal Aid Ontario offers a range of family law services, including public defenders and counsellors, a family law service centre and, if applicable, a certificate to hire a lawyer. For more information on the services available, call 1-800-668-8258 or online at: When it comes to family law, even if you and your spouse choose to mediate, you should seek independent legal advice. Both parties need to know their legal rights and obligations, and both must understand the legal consequences of any agreement they make. There are two types of mediation. You can decide at the beginning of the process which type you want to use. If you can`t afford a lawyer, there are options. Legal Aid Ontario offers family law certificates, which may include mediation, as well as limited special certificates that cover the negotiation of separation agreements and mediation. Victims of domestic violence have access to legal support through the government`s Family Court Support Program, and Legal Aid provides additional resources for victims of domestic violence. In addition, some organizations that support vulnerable men and women provide legal advice and support.

You and the other person must sign the mediation agreement before starting mediation. Be sure to read the agreement before signing it. You can also review this agreement with a lawyer before signing it. Information on separation and divorce, support, custody, access, family mediation and court proceedings can be found on the Attorney General`s website. Select your preferred language, then click on «Family Justice» for general information and a link to the federal government website and other sources of information: www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca CLEO is an online resource project dedicated to providing legal information designed to help understand legal rights. For more information, see: www.cleo.on.ca or www.stepstojustice.ca You can seek advice from a lawyer about the mediation process, get help preparing for mediation, or better understand your options. The lawyer can also help get a court order or binding agreement to enforce the terms of the mediation agreement. You can get and complete many of the court forms you need in a family law case on the Ontario Court Forms website.

The website contains the Ontario Court Forms Assistant, an online tool that helps you complete six of the most commonly used family forms. Access to all forms and resources can be found at: www.ontariocourtforms.on.ca A financial reporting form (Form 13 or Form 13.1) can be a useful template for gathering the financial information you need for mediation, and you do not need to file it with the court. On-site mediation is a free mediation service offered to parties on the day their case is registered in court. Family mediation is a process in which a mediator helps the disputing parties work together to find workable solutions that focus on the best interests of their children. More and more lawyers are also offering unbundled and fixed fees in family law matters, and in the near future, paralegals may be able to provide limited legal advice and support to parties negotiating settlements in mediation. More information on mediation can be found in our Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) section. The Family Law Education for Women website is a public legal education project funded by the Ontario government to help women understand their family rights. The website offers a variety of online publications addressing the special needs and vulnerabilities of women new to Canada (including immigrant, refugee and non-status women) and is available at: www.onefamilylaw.ca During the session, your mediator can help you and the other person reach an agreement. You will include what you have agreed to in a document. To make it legally binding, you need to seek advice from different lawyers before signing the document. The Canadian Council of Muslim Women provides culturally appropriate advice to Muslim women in Canada on legal information and advice on family law, as well as other issues such as housing, mental health and food banks. It includes referrals to lawyers as well as imams and social organizations such as emergency shelters.

You must send this intake form by email and the service will try to respond to you within 24 hours. When you start mediation, you and the other person meet with the mediator to explain both sides of your problem. The FLICT helps meet the individual needs of clients, particularly clients who are not represented by a lawyer and are entering the family court system for the first time. In the FLIC, there is an Information Coordinator and a Referral Coordinator to help you find and connect with the services you are looking for in your community. Lawyers who provide summary legal advice are also available from the FLIC.