Do I Stay or Leave?

How safe is it to stay?

Choosing to stay or leave can be difficult. Some people can help you decide what is right for you, your relationship, and your children. It can be helpful to talk with someone who has walked this journey with others.

Call or text the Transition House Association of Nova Scotia’s 24-hour toll-free number to talk to someone: 1-855-225-0220.

The situation may be dangerous if you answer YES to any of these questions:

Has your partner ever threatened to kill you or anyone else?
Does your partner own a weapon?
Has your partner tried to physically prevent you from leaving?
Do you think your partner might hurt you or your children?
Has your partner ever harmed or threatened your pets?
Has your partner ever assaulted you when you were pregnant?
Has your partner been violent toward people outside your family?
Has your partner abused you or someone else when drinking alcohol or taking drugs?

If you answer yes to any of these questions, you may find it useful to talk to someone about how to stay as safe as possible while planning what to do next.

You should NOT tell your partner if you are planning to leave.

Emergency Protection Orders

EPOs are short-term, temporary orders that help protect victims of abuse in a crisis. An EPO can be put in place right away, and can last up to one year.

An EPO can:

Give you the right to be in your home for up to one year, and can keep your partner out of your home for that time
Give you the sole right to use personal property, such as a car
Give you or someone else temporary possession or custody of your children

Peace Bonds

Anyone can apply for a peace bond any time they fear that someone will harm them. A peace bond is a court order the abusive person signs to say that they will not harm you, your family, or your property. Anyone can apply for a peace bond any time they fear that someone will harm them.

It can say that they:

must not have direct or indirect contact or communicate with you, your children, or others.
must not drink alcohol or use non-prescription drugs.
must not have or use firearms.
must stay away from your home, workplace, or other places you go.
must follow any other rules that the judge feels will help to keep you safe.

Assistance with Peace Bonds

Nova Scotia Legal Aid – Where Nova Scotia Legal Aid (NSLA) offices have capacity, staff can assist people applying for peace bond orders. This assistance will be summary advice, such as explaining the steps required to bring an application and providing information about the court process. Applicants seeking summary advice can apply to Legal Aid for this service. The office will advise if it has capacity to help you.
Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia – Those seeking advice on peace bonds can reach out to the Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia (LISNS) online at www.legalinfo.org, by email at questions@legalinfo.org or by telephone at 902-455-3135 or toll-free at l-800-665-9779.
Halifax Regional Police – The Victim Services division of Halifax Regional Police offers a Peace Bond Navigator Program involving trained volunteers who can also attend court with applicants. For more information, call 902-490-5300.
Courts of Nova Scotia Website – If you do not have a lawyer and expect to represent yourself during the peace bond application process, the Courts offer helpful resources to explain the law and court procedures in a clear way. Visit www.courts.ns.ca for more information.

For additional information visit the Nova Scotia Provincial Courts site: https://www.courts.ns.ca/courts/provincial-court/peace-bonds