legal

How to Get an Emergency Protection Order in the Northwest Territories

A clear explanation of Emergency Protection Orders (EPOs) under the NWT Protection Against Family Violence Act.

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LEGAL SAFETY OPTIONS

Emergency Protection Orders in Canada

Emergency Protection Order basics

An Emergency Protection Order (EPO) is a short-term court order that can place immediate limits on a person’s contact or behaviour when there are safety concerns in a relationship or family situation.

Names and details of these orders vary by province and territory. They may be called Emergency Intervention Orders, Emergency Protection Orders, Restraining Orders, or similar terms.

EPOs are usually designed to respond quickly and focus on urgent safety, rather than long-term arrangements.

In some regions, emergency orders are made under family violence laws. In others, similar protection might be available through family or criminal courts. Local rules and names can differ.

What an EPO can sometimes include

Exact conditions depend on the court and local law, but an EPO may:

Restrict the person from contacting you (in person, phone, text, social media, or through others)
Order the person to stay away from your home, work, school, or other locations
Allow you temporary exclusive occupation of a shared home
Address temporary care of children and contact conditions
Include police assistance to help you collect essential belongings
Set conditions related to weapons, if relevant to safety

An EPO cannot guarantee safety, but it can create legal consequences if the person disobeys the order. Police responses and court processes can vary by community and region.

Application and issuance

How you apply for an EPO depends on your province or territory. In many places, applications can be made:

Through the police, who may contact a judge or justice of the peace
Through crisis or victim-service workers who are authorized to help apply
Directly by you at a designated court or by phone in urgent situations

Emergency or after-hours process

Many regions have an emergency or “after-hours” process where a judge or justice can make an order by phone or video, especially at night, on weekends, or holidays. This is meant to respond quickly to immediate safety concerns.

When deciding whether to issue an EPO, the decision-maker may consider things like:

Recent incidents of harm, threats, or intimidation
Patterns of control, isolation, or monitoring
Access to weapons or threats to use weapons
Safety concerns for children or other family members
Risk that the situation could escalate without an order

You do not need a police report or criminal charges to request many forms of protection orders, but in some locations these factors may affect the process. Local legal clinics or victim services can explain the process in your area.

Service and review process

Serving the order

Once an EPO is granted, it usually has to be “served” on (formally given to) the other person so they know what it says and when it starts applying to them.

In many regions:

Police or a sheriff are responsible for serving the order
There is no fee for service in emergency family-violence situations
You are not expected to serve the order yourself

It can sometimes take time for an order to be served. Until that happens, enforcement can be limited. You can ask police or court staff how you can find out whether service has been completed.

Review or confirmation hearing

Emergency orders are often made without the other person present, to respond quickly. Because of this, many provinces and territories require a follow-up court date to review the order.

At a review or confirmation hearing:

The judge may confirm the order, change its terms, or cancel it
Both people may have a chance to speak or provide information
You may attend by phone or video in some courts, depending on local rules

If the other person disagrees with the order, there may also be a process for them to apply to change or end it. You may receive notice of these court dates.

If you receive any papers about a court review, try to read them carefully, note any dates, and ask a legal clinic, duty counsel, or community worker how to prepare in your region.

Duration and long-term options

How long an EPO lasts

The length of an EPO depends on local law and the judge’s decision. Common approaches include:

A fixed short period (for example, a few weeks or months)
Until a set review or court date
Until it is replaced by a longer-term order from a higher court

The order itself should state when it starts, how long it lasts, and what steps may follow (such as a mandatory review date).

Moving from emergency to longer-term options

If ongoing protection is needed, possible longer-term options may include:

Applying for a longer-term civil protection or restraining order through family or civil court
Asking for no-contact or conditions through criminal court if there are charges
Including safety-related terms in a family law agreement or court order about parenting or property

Community legal clinics, victim services, or settlement services for newcomers can often explain what longer-term options exist in your province or territory, and how they connect with your current EPO.

If you move to another province or territory, orders may still be recognized, but the process can be different. It can help to carry a copy of the order and ask local police or legal services how it is treated in the new location.

Additional support options across Canada, including information on protection orders and safety planning, can be found through resources listed at DV.Support.