Restraining Order Ontario

A Restraining Order in Ontario is a civil court order issued under section 46 of the *Family Law Act* or section 35 of the *Children's Law Reform Act*. It prohibits a specified person — usually a current or former spouse, partner, or co-parent — from contacting, approaching, or harassing the applicant or their children.

Unlike a peace bond or a criminal no-contact order, a Restraining Order does not require the respondent to be criminally charged, arrested, or investigated. It is civil. You apply for it yourself in Family Court, supported by your own sworn affidavit and whatever evidence you have — text messages, medical records, witness statements, security footage.

The legal standard is reasonable fear — not proof of serious past violence, not hospitalization, not a police report. Once granted, breaching the order is itself a criminal offence punishable by up to two years in prison.

The articles below explain how Restraining Orders work in practice: who can apply, what evidence you need, how urgent motions (including ex parte applications) proceed, what happens after the order is issued, and the specific considerations that matter for Chinese-Canadian families — immigration concerns, children, financial control, and coercive control without physical violence.

**If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For 24-hour multilingual crisis support, call the Assaulted Women's Helpline at 1-866-863-0511.**

For legal consultation, call Miao He at **647-930-6688**. LSO #83315K. Mandarin and English. Priority scheduling available for urgent matters.