We act for survivors of physical assault, coercive control, financial abuse, and psychological violence. When safety is at stake, we do not wait.
Domestic violence is not a footnote in our practice — it is the centre of it. Persaud Hussain LLP acts for survivors of physical assault, sexual abuse, coercive control, financial abuse, stalking, and psychological intimidation at the hands of an intimate partner or former partner. We treat every case with the urgency and seriousness it demands.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. If you need legal help urgently, call us at (416) 826-1155. We act quickly when safety is at stake.
Ontario's Family Law Act (s. 46) and Children's Law Reform Act (s. 35) allow courts to make interim or final restraining orders to keep an abusive person away from you and your children. (Some provinces call these "emergency protection orders" — in Ontario the order is a restraining order, and in urgent situations it can be sought the same day and, where the delay of giving notice would risk serious consequences, without notice to the other side.) We apply for these orders urgently when necessary. We also seek exclusive possession of the matrimonial home under s. 24, allowing you to remain in your home while the other party is removed.
A restraining order prohibits a person from contacting or coming near you. We seek these orders under the Family Law Act and the Children's Law Reform Act. We also help you coordinate with shelters, police victim services, and community supports so that your legal plan and your safety plan work together.
When domestic violence is present, parenting proceedings take on a different dimension. We bring urgent motions to limit or supervise a violent parent's contact with children. Under the 2021 Divorce Act, courts must consider family violence as a significant factor when determining parenting arrangements. We know how to make that argument effectively.
Many survivors face compounded vulnerabilities — uncertain immigration status, no income, no family network in Canada, language barriers, or a partner who uses those vulnerabilities as weapons. Our landmark case Fahmy v. Ojeda (2023 ONSC 6287) involved exactly these circumstances, and the court kept the children in the mother's care, ordered full support, and awarded costs — reflecting how we fight for clients in the most complex situations.
We can refer you to women's shelters, violence against women legal clinics, Legal Aid Ontario and crisis services.
Domestic violence is not a single form. In Ontario it is spread across the Family Law Act, the Children's Law Reform Act, the Divorce Act, the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017, and the Family Law Rules. The pages below separate those pieces so each one can be read on its own.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. Persaud Hussain LLP practises family law only. We handle the family-court side only. You need separate criminal counsel for a criminal charge, a bail order, or a change to a criminal condition. Consultations are by Google Meet. A signing can also be done by Google Meet. The Markham and Toronto offices are staffed. Book a consultation or call (416) 826-1155. This is general information, not legal advice, and it does not predict what a court will order.
The Assaulted Women's Helpline is a public service at 1-866-863-0511. Ontario's own list of supports is on Ontario.ca. Those services are not this firm.
No. Persaud Hussain LLP practises family law only. We handle the family-court side only. You need separate criminal counsel for a criminal charge, a bail order, or a change to a criminal condition.
Consultations are by Google Meet. A signing can also be done by Google Meet. The Markham and Toronto offices are staffed, at the addresses in the footer. You can book without coming in.
Section 46 of the Family Law Act applies to a spouse, former spouse, or a person who is cohabiting or has cohabited with the applicant. Section 35 of the Children's Law Reform Act is the restraining-order section in a parenting case, including where the parents were not married. A lawyer sorts out which one fits. Neither section promises that an order will be made.
Only if the court is satisfied there is urgency or hardship, or that a conference is not required in the interest of justice. A motion without notice is narrower still. The rules are described on the urgent-motions page. A judge can refuse to hear the motion early.
If you hold a Legal Aid Ontario certificate issued by a domestic violence shelter or transition house, your first consultation of up to two hours is free. Call us to confirm that your certificate qualifies. Book it online below — and if your situation is urgent, the booking page has a "this is urgent" option to request a short-notice appointment, including weekend times, which we confirm personally. You can also tell us there if it is safe to email or call you.
Book the 2-Hour DV ConsultationEvery family law situation is unique. Book a consultation and speak directly with one of our lawyers about your specific circumstances.
Have a Legal Aid certificate from a shelter? Book the Legal Aid consultation here.