Resources and Links

Handbooks

The Family Law Handbook for Self-Represented Persons, prepared by the Canadian Judicial Council, provides comprehensive information on family law matters. The Court highly recommends consulting this reference if you are self-represented.

“What to Expect Next” Information Sheets

The following information sheets, in addition to the Process Overview here, provide a helpful overview of what to expect after you file your Originating Application with the Supreme Court.

• What to Expect Next After Filing an Originating Application
• Divorce Only – What to Expect Next After Filing an Originating Application – St. John’s
• Child Support Only – What to Expect When Filing-Responding to an OA and OAV

Videos

The Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador has prepared a series of videos to assist Self Represented Litigants. These videos are intended to give people an idea of what to expect when attending court, and to assist with preparation for court. Please click here to view the videos.

Family Case Tip Sheets

The following tip sheets were created to assist Self-Represented Litigants in preparing and presenting their Family Case at trial. Topics include Courtroom behavior, preparing your family case for trial, and the use of witnesses. The information provided is general in nature and should not be taken as legal advice.

Courtroom Behavior 

Preparing Your Case 

Using Witnesses

Helpful Links

Aside from the information on the Supreme Court’s website, you may also wish to consult the following links for more information on the topics listed below.

Getting Legal Information and Advice

There is more information about finding a lawyer and getting legal information on the Court’s website here.

Divorce and Separation

Public Legal Information Association of NL – The Public Legal Information Association of NL is an independent non-profit that provides general information and education about the law to all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, with the intent of increasing access to justice. Its website has resources on separation and divorce for children and parents. The website also has a Family Law Form Generator that can help you complete certain family law forms.

Department of Justice and Public Safety – The Department of Justice and Public Safety (NL) has a number of helpful links on divorce and separation on their website.

Family Justice Services – Family Justice Services (FJS) is a division of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador. It offers services that assist families in resolving parenting and/or child support issues in the context of divorce or separation. FJS focuses on the needs of children and promotes dispute resolution outside of the courtroom. FJS offers free services to residents of Newfoundland and Labrador that are involved in family law matters.

Directory of Government-based Family Justice Services – Justice Canada’s website provides links to resources on:

• Family violence support services
• Information and education services about divorce and separation
• Services to facilitate out-of-court family dispute resolution
• Services that assist with the court process
• Services to calculate or update child support amounts out-of-court
• Services to change existing agreements and orders
• Services that facilitate compliance and enforcement of family support obligations
• Services that facilitate resolution of parenting arrangement issues
• Specialized services for Indigenous peoples

Divorce and Separation: Where to Start? This video guides families going through divorce or separation to a range of free family justice tools and products available on the Justice Canada website at http://www.canada.ca/family-law.

Families Change – NL – Helping kids, teens and parents deal with a family break up.

Voice of the Child of Divorce (Video) – “Dear Mom & Dad” was written by Monica Epperson, founder of The Child of Divorce. Monica experienced five divorces during her childhood and started The Child of Divorce to provide resources to children who are experiencing hurtful ramifications due to divorce.

Children and Divorce (Video) – A 6 year old gives her mom a wake up call after her parents have been divorced.

Successfully Parenting Apart: A Toolkit – A toolkit of some of the best resources available on co-parenting after separation or divorce.

Help Guide – Dealing with a Breakup or Divorce – This page provides tips to help you grieve your loss and move forward after a separation or divorce.

Help Guide – Children and Divorce – This page provides tips to help your kids deal with the changes caused by a separation or divorce.

Tax Matters Toolkit for Clients – This guide is intended to help you navigate the tax issues that arise during separation and divorce. It is published by the Canadian Bar Association.

Tax Matters Toolkit for Lawyers – This guide is intended to help lawyers assist clients navigate the tax issues that arise during separation and divorce. It is published by the Canadian Bar Association.

Legal Health Checks – This resource, developed by the Canadian Bar Association, is intended to encourage people to recognize legal problems early, and to take action when problems are identified.

Information about Child Support and Spousal Support

Federal Child Support Guidelines – The Federal Child Support Guidelines govern how child support will be calculated in divorce proceedings.

Provincial Child Support Guidelines – The Provincial Child Support Guidelines govern how child support will be calculated where unmarried persons are separating or where married persons are separating but are not seeking a divorce.

Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines – These guidelines, which are advisory only, may assist you in determining appropriate ranges of support in a variety of situations.

Family Justice Services – Family Justice Services (FJS) is a division of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador. It offers services that assist families in resolving parenting and/or child support issues in the context of divorce or separation. FJS focuses on the needs of children and promotes dispute resolution outside of the courtroom. FJS offers free services to residents of Newfoundland and Labrador that are involved in family law matters.

Support Enforcement Program – The Support Enforcement Division performs a number of services related to the collection and distribution of court-ordered funds for support, maintenance or alimony. The authority for the establishment of the agency lies under the Support Orders Enforcement Act, 2006.

My Support Calculator – This resource can help you calculate child support and spousal support amounts.

Information about Parenting (Custody and Access)

Family Justice Services – Family Justice Services (FJS) is a division of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador. It offers services that assist families in resolving parenting and/or child support issues in the context of divorce or separation. FJS focuses on the needs of children and promotes dispute resolution outside of the courtroom. FJS offers free services to residents of Newfoundland and Labrador that are involved in family law matters.

Public Legal Information Association of NL – The Public Legal Information Association of NL is an independent non-profit that provides general information and education about the law to all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, with the intent of increasing access to justice. Its website has resources on dealing with parenting issues in the context of separation and divorce. The website also has a Family Law Form Generator that can help you complete certain family law forms.

Family Violence

Emergency Protection Orders – An Emergency Protection Order is a court order that a judge of the Provincial Court can grant in urgent situations to provide immediate protection when family violence has occurred. For more information on the process, visit the Provincial Court’s website.

Provincial Court – Peace Bond Hearings – A person who believes, subjectively, that another person will injure them, or another member of their family, or cause damage to their property may apply for a peace bond. For more information on the process, visit the Provincial Court’s website.

Department of Justice and Public Safety – Victim Services  – Victim Services is a free service offered by the Department of Justice and Public Safety to victims of crime in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Department of Justice and Public Safety – Violence Prevention Initiative

Public Legal Information Association of NL – The Public Legal Information Association of NL is an independent non-profit that provides general information and education about the law to all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, with the intent of increasing access to justice. Its website has resources for victims of family violence.

The Civil Law Handbook for Self-Represented Litigants, prepared by the Canadian Judicial Council, provides information on the civil litigation process. The Court highly recommends consulting this reference if you are self-represented.

Please refer to the Where Do I Start document for instruction on how to complete forms for a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration. If you have been asked to act as the executor for an estate or if you are the executor of an estate, you may find useful information on how to discharge your duties in the Executor’s Guide, a publication produced by the Public Legal Information Association of Newfoundland and Labrador.

This content is being developed. Please check back soon.

The Civil Law Handbook for Self-Represented Litigants, prepared by the Canadian Judicial Council, provides information on the civil litigation process, including the civil appeal process. The Court highly recommends consulting this reference if you are self-represented.

The Criminal Law Handbook for Self-Represented Accused, prepared by the Canadian Judicial Council, provides information on the criminal trial process. The Court highly recommends consulting this reference if you are self-represented.

The Criminal Law Handbook for Self-Represented Accused, prepared by the Canadian Judicial Council, provides information on the criminal appeal process, starting at page 84. The Court highly recommends consulting this reference if you are self-represented.