Representing Yourself in Family Law Matters

You can contact:

• the local Nova Scotia Legal Aid office at www.nslegalaid.ca/contact 
• law firms in your community that do family law
• your Employee Assistance Program or union, if you have one
• a women’s centre or other trusted help organization
• Lawyers and Legal Help for more ways to find a lawyer.

You can ask a friend, family member or trusted professional to recommend a lawyer.

You may qualify for Nova Scotia Legal Aid. Contact your local Nova Scotia Legal Aid office for information about:

• their services: nslegalaid.ca/legal-aid-offices
• how to apply for Nova Scotia Legal Aid: www.nslegalaid.ca/apply.php
• applying online: nslegalaid.ca/onlineapplication.php.

You can make an appointment with a Nova Scotia Legal Aid summary advice lawyer. You do not have to qualify for legal aid to use this service. Go to nsfamilylaw.ca/legal-advice-information (Question 21) for contact information.

The summary advice lawyer provides family law legal advice to people without a lawyer. They give you basic legal advice free of charge regardless of how much you make or where you work. You can get this service at Family Court locations throughout Nova Scotia.

The summary advice service gives you a better understanding of your legal rights and responsibilities. You can get information about:

• legal terms
• court processes
• legal documents
• how to start or respond to a court application.

They also give family law advice on:

• parenting arrangements
• child support and spousal support
• property division
• divorce.

Your case must be dealt with in a court located near the summary advice lawyer. If you are making a court application in Halifax, book an appointment with a Halifax-based summary advice lawyer. 

Summary advice lawyers do not go to court with you.

The summary advice lawyer does not advise parents involved in child protection or Mi’kmaw Family Services matters. They may advise if you are not directly involved with a child protection issue, for example, if you are applying for decision-making responsibility or contact with the child involved.

For more information about this service, visit here. You can contact your local summary advice lawyer to book an appointment by calling the office nearest you:

Some family lawyers accept special billing arrangements. They may help you with just part of your legal issue, such as preparing an affidavit or cross-examining a witness in court. This is sometimes called providing “unbundled legal services” or a “limited scope retainer.” Find out more about how lawyers charge for their work.

If you have limited funds but you and your spouse own property, such as a home, investments, or RRSPs, some lawyers may agree to be paid at the end of your case. You would pay when you receive your share of the family property.

Going to court on your own without a lawyer is called self-representation. Read the “Going to Court: Self-represented Parties in Family Law Matters” workbook for advice on preparing and presenting your case.

The Going to Court workbook has information on:

• getting legal advice (even if you are representing yourself it is a good idea)
• proving your case
• what the hearing process is like
• what happens at the end of the hearing.

It also has worksheets and checklists to help prepare your case for court.

If you decide to or must represent yourself, it can still be worthwhile to consult a family lawyer about your case. You should always get independent legal advice from your own lawyer before signing a written agreement or getting into a consent court order with someone else.

There is information about family law topics on our website. 

You can also check out nsfamilylaw.ca.

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for, you can contact the Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia by telephone, email or live chat to connect with a legal information counsellor and get free family law information.

• Nova Scotia Legal Aid offers family law information and family law live chat on its website on Tuesdays from 3 p.m. to 5 pm.
• Justice Canada Family Law Information
• The Court Services Division of Nova Scotia's Department of Justice has Family Law Information Centres at the Supreme Court (Family Division) in both Halifax and Sydney. Visit nsfamilylaw.ca or contact the court
• The CANLII website offers free access to Canadian laws and court decisions. Nova Scotia laws are at nslegislature.ca
• Supreme Court (Family Division) information, court forms, procedures, and contact details are on the Nova Scotia Courts website www.courts.ns.ca
• Francophone Nova Scotians can get help from l'Association des juristes d'expression française de la Nouvelle-Écosse or contact the Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia by email anytime, or by telephone on Monday mornings or Friday afternoons.