80 POLICE ASSOCIATION OF NOVA SCOTIA continued urgent. An Emergency Protection Order may be made under Nova Scotia's Domestic Violence Intervention Act. If you live on reserve, go to nsfamilylaw.ca for specific information about Emergency Protection Orders on reserve. You can apply for an EPO if you are 16 or older, and: • live with, or lived with, your partner as a couple; and/or • you have a child or children together, even if you have never lived with each other. If granted, an EPO: • can order that your partner have no contact with you • can give temporary care of a child to you or to another person • can order your partner not to take, sell or damage property • can give police power to remove your partner from the place where you live (owned or rented), and/or, go with you or your partner to the home to oversee getting personal items • can give you temporary possession of personal property like a car, bank card or other important things you need • is put in place right away and lasts up to 30 days. An EPO gives immediate, shortterm help. It gives you time to look at longerterm options like applying for a peace bond, making a report to the police to see about possible criminal charges, or applying to family court. If your partner disagrees with the EPO, your partner may challenge it at the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia. An EPO is not a parenting order. While care of a child can be granted in an application for an EPO, it is not common. Talk to a family lawyer about parenting arrangements like decisionmaking responsibility and parenting time, and other family law issues like child and spousal support, and dividing family assets and debts. If an EPO that covers the care of a child is put in place, the EPO will temporarily replace any other court order that covers parenting arrangements. When the EPO runs out the other court order will be in place. An EPO can last up to 30 days. It may be extended for up to another 30 days. If you want an extension you must apply to court at least one week before the EPO runs out. Or, if you have new evidence, you could apply for a new EPO. You apply for an EPO over the phone by calling the Justice of the Peace Centre at 9024248888 or 18668166555 or by contacting the nearest transition house or police services for help applying. You can apply any day of the week from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. A police officer or other designated person (such as someone working at a transition house) can apply on your behalf after regular business hours. When you call, a Justice of the Peace will speak with you to decide if an EPO should be made. If you need an interpreter to help you apply for an EPO, you must arrange one. The interpreter cannot be your family member or friend. They must be a professional interpreter. Nova Scotia Victim Services and/or The Association of Translators and Interpreters of Nova Scotia (ATINS) can help you find a professional interprete. Abuse is wrong in any family continued
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