The following National Spousal Abuse FAQs are provided by the Legal Studies Program.

Funded by the Department of Justice Canada.

Warning: 

The contents of these FAQs are intended as general legal information only. If you have
a personal problem, please consult a lawyer.



** What is spousal abuse?

** What forms can spousal abuse take?

** What would be included as physical abuse?

** What would be included as psychological or emotional abuse?

** What kind of behavior is sexual abuse?

** What kind of behavior is financial abuse?

** How common is husband abuse?

** Does wife abuse happen to one particular kind operson more than another?

** Is there a particular kind of person who is an abuser?

** How might someone tell if abuse is going on in a family?

** Should I stay for the sake of the children?

** Are there any longterm consequences of the children seeing my husband hit me?

** How can I better protect myself at home?

** Who can I talk to about the abuse I suffer at home?

** How can I leave my abusive spouse safely?

** I am determined to get help the next time my spouse abuses me.
What should I do when the next time occurs?

** What can the police do if things have calmed down when they arrive?

** What should I do if the police don't lay charges?

** What kinds of criminal charges might be made against my spouse?

** Where should I go if I have to leave my home because of abuse?

** What can I expect from the emergency shelter?

** Is there anything else I should do immediately after an assault?

** What should I do about legal help after I leave?

** Do I need any other legal assistance if I decide to lay criminal charges against my abusive spouse?

** If I leave will I lose the right to have the children live with me?

** I have been abused by my partner for years. Is there any way I can force my partner to leave?

** Apart from an order for exclusive possession of the home, is there any other way I can restrict
my partner from being near to me?

** I left my spouse after suffering years of abuse, but I cannot seem to get away from them. They find me wherever I am.
They follow me, phone me, and make threats about the children. They have not physically hurt me since I left so I don't 
know if the police can do anything about their behavior. Is there anything that can help me?

** What would be considered harassing behavior within the Criminal Code?

** One of the reasons that I left my spouse was because he was aggressive and sometimes violent. Is this significant
if I make a complaint to the police about him following me?

** When my husband keeps calling me he says that unless I go back to him he will commit suicide. Would this be harassment?

** How can I prove that my husband has been following me?

** My friend says that I will not be able to prove in court that my husband scared me just by standing outside my workplace
every day. Is this right?

** I intend to take some legal steps to protect myself from my ex-husband who continually follows me and makes threats
against me and my children. What are some other things I can do to protect myself when I
am out?

** How can I protect myself at home from harassing behavior?

** How can I protect myself when using my car?

** I have moved several times since I left my husband but he always seems to find me. How can I try and ensure he will not
be able to find me?