Family violence can affect multiple legal systems at once. Family proceedings may need to be coordinated with emergency protection, criminal, child-protection or other civil orders. The appropriate route depends on urgency, relationship, safety and the relief required.
Sources checked September 29, 2026.
Emergency Protection Orders
EPOs are short-term orders under Nova Scotia's Domestic Violence Intervention Act for qualifying victims in serious and urgent situations.
- telephone application
- Justice of the Peace
- Supreme Court review
Peace bonds
A peace bond is a criminal-law preventive order processed through Provincial Court and is legally distinct from an EPO.
- fear of harm
- Provincial Court
- conditions
Urgent family applications
Family Division can address urgent issues such as parenting arrangements or occupation of a residence through family-law procedures.
- urgent parenting relief
- exclusive occupation
- without-notice requests
Family violence and parenting
Family violence is relevant to the best-interests analysis and can affect parenting arrangements and relocation procedures.
- safety
- coercive or controlling behaviour
- contact conditions
Overlapping orders
Family courts may need information about criminal, civil protection and child-protection proceedings to reduce conflicting orders and safety risks.
- criminal undertakings
- child protection measures
- civil protection orders
Official sources
- Nova Scotia Family Law — Emergency Protection Orders
- Nova Scotia Family Law — Urgent/Emergency Orders
- Nova Scotia Family Law — Duties for the Court