Get legal advice
Before you begin to apply for a protection order, get legal advice about whether or not it's the right choice for you.
This guide explains all the steps for applying and the court process that follows. Read through this guide to understand all the steps before you talk to a lawyer.
Where to find a lawyer
- If you can't afford a lawyer, call legal aid to apply for a lawyer as soon as possible. You may be able to get a legal aid lawyer to help you apply for the protection order. A legal aid lawyer is available if you:
- have a low income, and
- are at risk of being hurt physically by your partner, or
- suffer from emotional abuse and won't be able to represent yourself in court.
604-408-2172 (Greater Vancouver)
1-866-577-2525 (elsewhere in BC)
- You can still get some help from a free family duty counsel lawyer if you don't qualify for a lawyer to take your case.
- If you don't qualify for a lawyer to take your case, you could also call a free (pro bono) legal advice clinic.
- You may be eligible for free legal advice over the telephone from a Family LawLINE lawyer.
- In some areas of BC, a family justice counsellor or a child support officer can refer you to a family advice lawyer.
- If you want to hire a lawyer, you can call the Lawyer Referral Service.
Legal help for Aboriginal people
- In Duncan and Nanaimo, you can meet with an Indigenous community legal worker for legal information and some legal advice.
- Native courtworkers are people who help Aboriginal families go through the court process.
Updated on 4 June 2024