Emergency Protection Order (EPO) Lawyer in Canada

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Immediate Help for Emergency Protection Orders (EPOs) and Protective Orders

If you’ve been served with an Emergency Protection Order (EPO), you’re likely feeling overwhelmed, confused, and anxious about what comes next. These orders can have an immediate impact on your life — restricting access to your home, your children, and your freedom. As a criminal defence lawyer with over 15 years of experience, I understand how serious these situations are. I offer strategic, fast legal help to defend against EPOs and other protective orders throughout Alberta and Western Canada.

What is an Emergency Protection Order (EPO) in Canada?

An Emergency Protection Order is a type of civil restraining order typically granted in domestic situations, such as disputes between intimate partners, spouses, or family members. Despite being civil in nature, EPOs can have criminal consequences if breached.

In Alberta, EPOs are issued under the Protection Against Family Violence Act and can be granted without notice to the person accused (ex parte), based on allegations of family violence or risk of harm. These orders can:

  • Prohibit contact with a person

  • Remove you from your home

  • Restrict communication with your children

  • Seize weapons or prevent firearm possession

What Happens After an EPO is Issued?

Once an EPO is granted:

  1. Police will serve the respondent (you) with the order.

  2. You may be forced to leave your home or cease contact immediately.

  3. A mandatory review hearing will be scheduled (usually within 7–14 days) at the Court of King’s Bench.

  4. At this hearing, the judge will decide whether to confirm, amend, or cancel the order.

This is your chance to fight the EPO — but it’s critical to have a knowledgeable criminal defence lawyer by your side.

Types of Protective Orders in Canada

  • Emergency Protection Orders (EPOs)

    Granted quickly, usually in domestic violence cases.

  • Queen’s Bench Protection Orders

    Longer-term protection granted through superior court.

  • Peace Bonds (Section 810 Criminal Code)

    Criminal-based orders that can restrict contact, with breaches resulting in charges.

  • Restraining Orders

    Issued under family law in non-criminal cases, often involving separation or divorce.

What do you do?

Common Scenarios I Help With

  • EPOs filed based on false or exaggerated allegations

  • EPOs used as leverage in custody or family court disputes

  • Defending against EPOs during high-conflict separations

  • Clients who need to regain access to their homes or children

  • Breach of EPO charges stemming from accidental contact or miscommunication

Breaching an Emergency Protection Order is a Criminal Offence

Even though EPOs are civil orders, breaching them is a criminal offence under the Criminal Code. Something as small as sending a text or showing up at the wrong place can lead to arrest and prosecution.

Penalties can include:

  • A criminal record

  • Jail time

  • Future restrictions on contact with children or loved ones

This is why you need immediate legal advice before doing anything — even if you believe the order is unfair or based on lies.

Your Legal Options

If you’ve been served with an EPO or similar order, you don’t have to accept it without a fight. You may be able to:

  • Challenge the EPO at the review hearing

  • Request that the order be varied or vacated

  • Apply for alternative supervised contact or parenting time

  • Defend against any related criminal charges like assault, harassment, or threats

Every case is different — I can help you understand your options and build a strong defence.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Yes. You have the right to challenge an EPO at the Court of King’s Bench review hearing. Legal representation is strongly advised.

  • Breaching an EPO is a criminal offence and may result in arrest, charges, and a criminal record.

  • An EPO is temporary and is reviewed by a judge within 7–14 days. It may be extended or replaced with a longer-term order.

  • This is common. I can help you gather evidence, testify, and demonstrate to the court that the order is unnecessary or being misused.

  • An EPO is a civil order issued quickly, while a peace bond is a criminal court order that requires a full court process and may appear on your record.