How does legal aid work for family law in Ontario?
Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) pays a private lawyer to represent you in a serious family case if your family's income and assets are within the eligibility guidelines and your family law issue falls within its scope. It does this through a legal aid certificate, a voucher issued by LAO for a set number of the lawyer's hours. You choose a lawyer who accepts certificates, the lawyer represents you, and LAO pays lawyer’s bills instead of you.
Key points
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For a family law certificate, your family's gross income counts, and the limit rises with the size of your family. LAO lists the current limits on its Family legal issues page.
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Certificates are issued for parenting (decision-making responsibility and parenting time), support, child protection and restraining orders. A divorce on its own is rarely covered.
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Survivors of domestic violence can get two hours of free legal advice whatever their income, and in urgent, high-risk cases LAO may issue a certificate above the usual limits.
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You apply by phone: 416-979-1446 in the GTA or 1-800-668-8258, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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Savings or property above the limits do not always rule you out.
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Mostovoy Family Law accepts Legal Aid Ontario certificates for family law matters.
Have a legal aid certificate in family law? Book a free 15-minute call
Do I qualify for legal aid in a family case?
LAO checks three things: your family's gross income, your family's assets, and whether your legal problem is one it covers. For a certificate you need to meet all three. Your family usually means you, a spouse or partner you live with, and your dependent children.
LAO sets a maximum gross annual income for family law certificates. The limit goes up with the number of people in your family, and it is lower for someone renting a room in a shared home. The limits are modest and LAO updates them from time to time, so check the current figures on LAO's Family legal issues page before you apply.
Assets are savings and other things you own, such as money in the bank, investments and real estate. LAO also applies an asset guideline for family law matters, which depends on family size and is set low. Assets above the threshold do not automatically rule you out. See LAO's page on assets and contribution agreements for the current amounts.
What family law certificates does Legal Aid Ontario issue?
LAO focuses its family certificates on children, safety and support. Each certificate names the legal issue it covers, and the lawyer can bill LAO only for work on that issue.
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Parenting and support. Deciding or changing decision-making responsibility (formerly custody), parenting time or contact (formerly access), and child or spousal support, in or out of court. LAO looks at how complex the case is.
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Child protection, in court. Advice and representation in a case under the Child, Youth and Family Services Act. LAO may go above the income limits in urgent cases.
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Restraining orders. Asking for a restraining order if you are experiencing domestic violence. LAO may go above the income limits in urgent, high-risk cases.
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Settling out of court. It covers drafting and negotiating separation agreements and your lawyer's preparation and attendance at a free LAO settlement conference, or mediation. Both parties must have a lawyer for a settlement conference.
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Two hours of free advice. Immediate advice for domestic violence survivors on family and immigration matters. There is no income test; you get a referral voucher from a shelter or community legal clinic.
What is usually not covered
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A divorce on its own. LAO covers a divorce itself in exceptional or unusual situations. If you have a certificate covering parenting issues or support, a divorce claim can be made as a part of your family law proceeding.
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Property division on its own, such as equalization or selling the family home, is generally not the focus of family certificates.
How do I apply for a legal aid certificate?
Most people apply by phone or online, and it helps to have your papers ready before you call.
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Gather your documents. Bring any papers about your case, such as court documents, orders or letters from a Children's Aid Society, and proof of income, such as recent pay stubs, Ontario Works or ODSP stubs, or Employment Insurance statements.
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Call LAO. In the GTA call 416-979-1446; elsewhere, 1-800-668-8258 (TTY 711). Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, with help in more than 300 languages. If you are experiencing domestic violence, say so at the start; LAO has services for you and keeps what you tell it confidential.
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Or apply online, if you fit the narrow criteria. The Client Portal is open only to people who own no property and either receive Ontario Works or ODSP or have no income and have been in Canada under six months, live in a shelter, or are applying for someone in custody.
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Get LAO's decision. If you qualify, LAO issues a certificate for you. Make sure you have your certificate number (CE) and client number (CLT), these will be asked for by your lawyer.
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Choose your lawyer. Pick a lawyer who accepts family law certificates and give them your certificate details. The lawyer confirms with LAO that they accept the certificate before starting work. Mostovoy Family Law has experience and regularly represents LAO clients in family law disputes.
How we work with legal aid clients
Anton Mostovoy is a member of the Legal Aid Ontario panel. He accepts Legal Aid Ontario family law certificates, and handles each Legal Aid file the same way he handles any other: same preparation, same updates, same attention to your children and your safety. The quality of legal services does not change, whether it’s a legal aid file or private retainer.
What to expect:
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A free 15-minute call first. We check the validity of your certificate and scope of services covered, run a conflict check, and agree on the next step. Have your certificate number (CE) and client number ready (CLT).
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Confirming the certificate with LAO before any billable work starts, so there are no surprises about what is covered.
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A plan for your file. A certificate covers a limited number of hours, so at our first meeting we will explain the process, which steps matter most, and where we will start work.
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Settlement where it is safe. Many parenting and support cases can be resolved through negotiation, an LAO settlement conference or mediation. We will do our best to settle your case if possible.
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Safe contact. We ask for a safe phone number, a safe time to call, and whether voicemail is safe, and we use only the contact methods you approve.
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Meetings that fit your life. By phone or by video conference. Clients across Toronto and the GTA usually work with us remotely.
Frequently asked questions
Can I choose my own legal aid lawyer? Yes. You can take your certificate to any lawyer who accepts legal aid work for your type of case, as long as they agree to take it on.
Can I change lawyers after I get a certificate? Usually, no. LAO has to approve the change, and you would need serious reasons to do so. Raise any concerns with your lawyer first.
Does legal aid pay for a divorce in Ontario? Rarely on its own. LAO may cover the parenting or support issues in a divorce case.
Is what I tell Legal Aid Ontario confidential? LAO says the information it collects is confidential and not shared. What you tell your own lawyer is protected by solicitor-client privilege.
Talk to a family lawyer who accepts Legal Aid
Start with a free 15-minute call. Tell us whether you already have a certificate or are about to apply, and we will check that your issue is covered and explain the next steps.
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A free 15-minute phone call to talk through your situation and the next step
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By phone, by video or in person at 5200 Yonge Street, Suite 200, North York
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Legal Aid Ontario certificates accepted for family law matters
Book a free 15-minute call about your legal aid certificate · Call 416-858-1320
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Anton Mostovoy, lawyer, licensed by the Law Society of Ontario. Last reviewed: October 12, 2026
This page is general information about Ontario and federal law, not legal advice. Reading it or contacting us does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Laws and court fees change; check the date above.