Restraining Orders Lawyers

If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For free, confidential support around conjugal violence, you can contact SOS violence conjugale.

A restraining order in Quebec is not one single document. The term is used for several different court orders that can forbid a person from contacting someone or going near them: a criminal peace bond, release or bail conditions, and civil protection orders from the Superior Court. A lawyer can tell you which tool fits your situation, whether you are the person seeking protection or the person named in the order. On this page you can compare lawyers who handle these files and book a consultation online.

What a restraining order lawyer does

These files sit where criminal, family and civil law meet. Many of the lawyers who handle them practise criminal law; you can also browse all criminal lawyers.

• For the person seeking protection: explaining which order is available, preparing the application or supporting a request made through the police, and presenting the evidence.
• For the person named: explaining what the order or conditions require, whether to accept or contest them, and how to ask for changes.
• For both: making sense of how an order fits with a criminal case, custody of the children or a shared home.

The different kinds of restraining orders in Quebec

Each tool comes from a different law, goes before a different court and has its own rules. Here is the general picture.

1. The criminal peace bond (section 810)

A peace bond is a promise made before a judge to keep the peace and respect conditions, such as no contact with a named person. It comes from section 810 of the Criminal Code and is often called an "810" or "engagement 810". It can be requested when a person has reasonable grounds to fear that someone will harm them, their spouse or their children, or damage their property. The request usually goes through the police or the prosecutor. A peace bond is not a criminal conviction, but it is a court order.

2. Release or bail conditions

When someone is arrested and charged, they may be released with conditions while the case moves forward. The most common is a no-contact condition with the complainant, often along with staying away from certain places. These conditions are set by the police or a judge in the criminal case. The person protected does not apply for them, but can tell the police or the prosecutor about their concerns.

3. Civil protection orders from the Superior Court

The Superior Court can issue orders forbidding a person from doing certain things, such as contacting someone, approaching their home or harassing them. These orders are often requested in family matters, for example during a separation, along with questions of custody and the family home. They do not depend on a criminal charge. For the family side, you can compare family lawyers.

4. Quebec's newer civil protection order

Quebec recently changed its rules to make civil protection orders easier to obtain for people whose life, health or safety is threatened, especially in situations of conjugal or family violence. The goal is a faster, more accessible process before the Superior Court, with a judge able to act quickly in urgent situations. A lawyer can explain how the current rules apply to your case.

If you need protection

You do not need a lawyer to call for help, and several options can be used at the same time.

• Emergency: call 911 if you are in danger.
• Police: you can report threats or harassment. If charges are laid, release conditions usually forbid contact with you. The police can also help with a peace bond request.
• Superior Court: a lawyer can help you apply for a civil protection order, including in a family case.
• Support: organizations such as SOS violence conjugale offer free listening and referrals. The Government of Québec also has a page on conjugal violence with resources.

If the situation involves a spouse or ex-partner, see also domestic violence lawyers.

If an order has been made against you

Being named in a peace bond, release conditions or a civil order can affect where you live, who you see and your contact with your children. Read the document carefully and follow every condition from the moment it applies. The conditions bind you even if the other person contacts you first or says they agree. Only the court can change them.

Breaching an order or condition is a criminal offence and can lead to arrest. If a condition seems unclear or unworkable, a lawyer can explain what it means and whether a change can be requested.

When to call a lawyer

• You fear for your safety and want to know which order fits your situation.
• You received a summons about a peace bond or were given release conditions.
• An order keeps you away from your home or your children.
• A separation or custody case is linked to the situation.
• You want to ask the court to change or end an order.

Preparing for your consultation

• Any order, conditions, summons or court document you received.
• Messages, emails, voicemails, photos or a dated record of events, kept somewhere safe.
• Names of witnesses, and any police report or file number.
• Family court documents about custody or support, if any.
• Your questions: which option applies, the next steps and how the lawyer charges.

For tips on choosing the right lawyer, read how to choose a lawyer in Quebec.

Compare and book on JustiConnect

Browse the lawyers listed below, filter by location, rates and availability, and book a consultation directly. You can also search all restraining order lawyers or see restraining order lawyers in Laval. For a federal overview of protection options, see the Department of Justice page Get help with family violence.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get a restraining order in Quebec?

It depends on the tool. For a peace bond, you usually start with the police. For a civil protection order, you apply to the Superior Court, alone or with a lawyer. If charges are laid, no-contact conditions are set in the criminal case. A lawyer can tell you which route is realistic.

What are the grounds for a restraining order in Canada?

In general, you must show a real and reasonable fear for your safety or that of your family, based on facts such as threats, harassment or violence. Each type of order has its own test, which a lawyer can explain.

Is a peace bond a criminal record?

A peace bond is not a conviction. It is still a court order, and breaching it is a criminal offence.

Can the protected person agree to lift the order?

No. Even if the protected person wants contact, the order stays in force until a court changes or ends it. Either person can ask a lawyer how to make that request.

What is the difference between a restraining order and a protection order?

In everyday language they mean much the same thing. In Quebec, the civil version is usually called a protection order, while the criminal tools are peace bonds and release conditions.