For women
Family court can be confusing and frightening.
There are many rules and requirements. There are forms to complete, evidence to gather and appointments to attend. Luke’s Place can help you get through the family court process.
For a woman who has left an abusive relationship, this can be a very hard time. Abuse does not always end at separation. Sometimes the abuser uses the family court process to make a woman’s life more difficult and more dangerous.
All our services for abuse survivors are free, including free language interpretation.
Women in Durham Region
We provide both in person and virtual family law support and services to women in Durham Region, which includes the communities of Ajax, Brock, Clarington, Oshawa, Pickering, Scugog, Uxbridge and Whitby.
How we can support you
- Our legal and family court support workers provide legal information, help you safety plan and can go with you to court and lawyer appointments.
- Our Legal Clinic connects you to a family law lawyer for summary legal advice, general legal information, help preparing your court forms and tips on how to prepare for court.
- Our legal information sessions provide general legal information to help you understand your rights and navigate the family law system. These sessions are currently being offered virtually only.
- Our family law resource room is a safe and accessible space with computers, and internet where you can complete family court documents and attend virtual court.
How to access our services
- Call us: at 905-728-0978 ext.235 or toll free at 1-866-516-3116 ext.235.
- Email us: Intake@LukesPlace.ca Please don't provide confidential information in your email.
- Oshawa Courthouse walk-in services:
- Until Friday August 30, 2024: Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am to 4:30pm
- Beginning Tuesday September 3, 2024: Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 4:30pm
- Our office (707 Simcoe Street South, Oshawa) is open to in-person services by appointment only.
Women in other Ontario regions
Luke’s Place offers a Legal Clinic to women across Ontario.
Women dealing with abuse and family law issues can receive free legal advice from a lawyer by video conference or over the phone.
Call 1-866-516-3116 or email Intake@LukesPlace.ca to book an appointment. Please don't provide confidential information in your email.
To find support in your community, visit this listing of Family Court Support Workers.
A family court survival resource
Women everywhere will be interested in Family Court and Beyond, our court survival guide.
This website and workbook includes:
- safety plans
- legal information
- strategies on how to survive family court
- worksheets for collecting evidence
- checklists for preparing for court
- many other tools
Visit FamilyCourtAndBeyond.ca for all this and download the Workbook and Court Organizer for free.
We use the term women to include all women (including two-spirited, cisgender or transgender women) 16 years of age and older.