Emergency Protection Orders are short term, temporary orders to help protect victims of domestic violence made under the Domestic Violence Intervention Act (DVIA) of Nova Scotia.

EAPs provide services to employees, and sometimes this will include a free or discounted meeting with a lawyer. Check with your Human Resource Department or a supervisor or manager to see if you have an EAP.

Information given to the court by a party or witness, either orally or in writing (for example, in an affidavit), which the judge uses to make their decision.

The right of one party to be the only one to use a residence or other asset, usually a matrimonial home (the family home) or its contents. Exclusive possession can be ordered by the court under the Matrimonial Property Act, or agreed upon by the parties as a term in a separation agreement. 

If the parties are not married and are not in a Registered Domestic Partnership, one of the parties can apply for occupation’of the family residence under the Parenting and Support Act.

A paper, document, or piece of physical evidence provided to the court at a trial or hearing or as part of an affidavit.

A neutral person who assists the court. Experts include doctors, psychologists, social workers, teachers, or other professionals who have been dealing with you or someone important to the case. Expert witnesses can be called to court by a party or appointed by the court. See also 'witnesses.'