If you are dealing with family violence, you may be trying to make decisions while feeling scared, watched, exhausted, or unsure who to trust. This resource from the Government of Canada explains that family violence is addressed through a mix of criminal law, family law, child protection law, and provincial or territorial laws. In practical terms, that means there are multiple legal pathways that may help protect you, your children, and your safety.

The Justice Canada page on laws on family violence is a government resource that explains how Canadian laws can respond to abuse in families and intimate relationships. It is not a single new law, but a helpful overview of the legal tools that may apply when someone is experiencing violence, coercive control, threats, stalking, harassment, financial abuse, or child-related safety concerns.

For many survivors, the hardest part is not just the abuse itself, but figuring out what kind of help is available. This resource matters because it shows that:

• family violence can involve more than physical harm
• there may be criminal consequences for abusive behavior
• family courts can address parenting, contact, and protection concerns
• child protection systems may become involved when children are at risk
• provinces and territories may offer protective orders, emergency supports, and local services

If you have been told “there’s nothing you can do,” this resource is a reminder that there may be options, even if they look different depending on where you live.

This information may be relevant if you are:

• experiencing abuse from a spouse, partner, ex-partner, family member, or caregiver
• worried about your children’s safety
• trying to leave an unsafe home
• being threatened, stalked, monitored, isolated, or financially controlled
• navigating separation, custody, or parenting arrangements
• supporting a friend, family member, client, or patient who may be unsafe

It may also be useful if you are unsure whether what is happening “counts” as abuse. Many forms of family violence are not obvious to outsiders.

The Justice Canada overview points to several legal areas that can matter in family violence situations:

Some abusive actions may be crimes, such as:

• assault
• sexual assault
• threats
• criminal harassment or stalking
• uttering threats
• unlawful confinement
• property damage
• child-related offences

If you are in immediate danger, call emergency services. If calling is unsafe, consider whether a trusted person can call for you.

Family law can affect:

• separation
• divorce
• parenting time and decision-making
• child support and spousal support
• exclusive possession of the home in some situations
• supervised contact or no-contact arrangements where safety is a concern

If abuse is present, family court decisions may need to account for safety, not just parenting schedules.

If children are being harmed, exposed to violence, or at risk, child protection authorities may become involved. This can feel frightening, but the goal is often to assess safety and support the child’s well-being.

If you are a parent experiencing abuse, it may help to speak with a domestic violence advocate or family lawyer before making major decisions, if it is safe to do so.

Depending on where you live, there may be local laws or court processes for:

• emergency protection orders
• restraining orders
• peace bonds or similar protections
• tenancy and housing protections
• victim services and emergency shelter access

These options vary by province and territory, so local support is important.

You do not need to do everything at once. Small steps can still matter.

• Call emergency services if you can do so safely.
• If speaking is unsafe, try to leave the line open or use a prearranged code word with someone you trust.
• Move toward a safer place if possible: a neighbor, store, lobby, transit station, or public area.

• Pack only if it is safe. Prioritize essentials: ID, keys, medications, bank cards, children’s documents, and any protection orders.
• Keep copies of important documents in a safe place or with someone you trust.
• Consider changing passwords and turning off location sharing if you can do so safely.
• Think about a code word with children, friends, or coworkers.

• Contact a local domestic violence service, legal aid office, or family law clinic.
• Ask about protection orders, emergency orders, or other local legal options.
• Write down incidents, dates, threats, injuries, property damage, and witnesses if it is safe.
• Save texts, emails, voicemails, photos, and screenshots in a secure place.

• Ask a child-focused advocate or lawyer about safety planning for school, daycare, and exchanges.
• Let trusted adults know who is and is not allowed to pick up the children, if appropriate.
• Keep school and childcare records updated with any safety concerns.

• Believe them and avoid pressuring them to leave before they are ready.
• Ask what feels safest right now.
• Offer practical help: transportation, a phone, a place to store documents, or help finding services.
• Respect their privacy and choices.

Because services vary by location, it can help to start with local and national supports:

• Emergency services: if there is immediate danger
• 211: in many areas, this connects people to local social, housing, legal, and crisis services
• Shelters and transition houses: for emergency housing and safety planning
• Legal aid or family law clinics: for legal advice and court support
• Victim services: for information about the criminal justice process and safety supports
• Domestic violence hotlines and local women’s organizations: for confidential support and referrals
• Child protection or child advocacy services: if children are at risk

If you are not sure where to start, a domestic violence shelter or hotline can often help you figure out the next safest step.

• You do not have to prove everything before asking for help.
• Abuse can be emotional, financial, sexual, digital, spiritual, or physical.
• Leaving can increase risk in some situations, so safety planning matters.
• If an abuser monitors your phone, internet, or location, use caution when searching for help.
• If possible, use a safer device, clear browsing history, or ask a trusted person to help you look up resources.

This Justice Canada page is a general overview, not legal advice. It does not replace advice from a lawyer, advocate, or local service provider. Laws and procedures can differ across provinces and territories, and the best option may depend on your specific situation, including whether children are involved, whether there is an immediate threat, and what evidence or documentation you have.

If you are unsure what applies to you, that is okay. You can still reach out for help before you have all the answers.

If you are reading this while scared or overwhelmed, please know this: you deserve safety, dignity, and support. You do not need to handle family violence alone, and you do not need to decide everything today. One small step toward safety is still a step.

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