What role might the OCL play in my family law case? - The OCL conducts clinical assessments of families (in the context of custody and access disputes, for example) but also provides legal representation (their own lawyer) to children under 18. There may be good reasons why you may want to have the OCL involved in your case and, therefore, they may become involved on consent of both parties. The OCL may also be involved in your case as a result of non-consent court order.
Who pays for the OCL's services? - The services of the OCL are free to parties in a family law proceeding provided the OCL agrees to accept the case. The OCL (and not the court) ultimately decides whether the office will become involved in a particular case or not. This discretion is directly related to the fact that thousands of litigants want to use the free services of the OCL and apply for the OCL's assistance each day. Based on a review of Intake Forms submitted by the parties, the OCL decides which cases qualify.
