For more information on granting legal aid, please see our guidelines: Since the Court must remain impartial in all cases before it, the Supreme Court cannot provide legal advice; However, we are happy to refer you to resources available on other websites. The links below provide information to help you find a lawyer or paralegal to help you with your case, as well as general information about the court system and various legal issues. If you have a legal problem in Ontario but live outside the province or country, visit our Non-Resident Services page. An amount above this limit is considered available for attorneys` fees. Other assets that can be sold or easily converted into cash can also be identified as liquid assets. While an applicant may own a home while receiving legal aid, LAO may assume a lien on their property. To find out if you qualify for legal aid, to get the most up-to-date information about LAO services, or to find your nearest community legal clinic, visit legalaid.on.ca A contribution agreement outlines the amount you must repay LAO, based on the amount of your gross annual family income that exceeds the income limit. You may have to reimburse some or all of your legal fees. If LAO requires you to reimburse a portion of the legal costs, you are entitled to make monthly payments.
The Law Society of Ontario (LSO) is the professional body that regulates lawyers and paralegals in Ontario. The Law Society`s Referral Service connects lawyers and paralegals with people seeking help with legal matters. This service can be used by phone or by filling out an online application form. Legal Aid Ontario provides legal aid to financially eligible low-income Ontarians. When you apply for our services, you must take a financial aptitude test. This test allows us to determine if a client is qualified to provide our services. If you are a victim of domestic violence, you can call Legal Aid Ontario at 1-800-668-8258 and get a free 2-hour consultation with a lawyer. If you are financially eligible, you may also be eligible for a legal aid certificate. Your gross family income and family size on April 1, 2020 must meet the following requirements: It is important to note that community legal clinics operate independently of LAO and have their own eligibility criteria.
Please see Legal Line`s Community Legal Clinic topic for more information. To qualify for a legal aid certificate, you must have a legal problem that covers LAO and, as of April 1, 2020, your gross annual family income and family size must meet the following requirements: To be eligible for legal aid such as duty counsel (for criminal matters, , family and child protection) and summary legal advice (through the toll-free telephone service), your gross annual family income starting at 1. April 2020 must be: Legal aid is a government program that helps low-income people get legal representation and advice. Although Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) is publicly funded, it is an independent, not-for-profit organization that provides legal aid services in Ontario. The size of the family unit determines who needs to be assessed in the context of the client`s application for legal aid. All allowances are measured by family size. On January 1, 2014, we introduced the first of several six per cent annual increases in financial eligibility for all mandatory certificates and counselling services. Legal clinics funded by Legal Aid Ontario also saw their licensing policies increase on November 1, 2014. These increases have allowed us to expand access to our services in areas such as family, immigration, refugees, mental health, criminal law and poverty law. Your Legal Rights is a website created by CLEO that provides legal information to the people of Ontario.
The website provides information on various legal services in Ontario, as well as information and advice on a variety of legal topics, including: LAO can provide legal aid to applicants who exceed various measures of income and wealth. They would then need a contribution. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis. LAO can provide amounts for unavoidable but necessary expenses, such as prescriptions, medical supplies and costs related to access to legal aid. If your income is above the allowable limits, you may still be eligible for the certificate program if: You have the right to file a formal complaint with LAO if you have a problem with one of LAO`s services, a community law clinic or legal counsel. Contact LAO and its complaints department for more information. For more information on this service, please contact your local animal shelter or community law clinic. You can get a referral voucher for two hours of free legal advice from a lawyer who has experience in domestic violence issues.
A person`s financial eligibility is based on three components: the family unit, the income of the family unit, and the assets of the family unit. If the person tested has income above the limits and/or assets that exceed the exemption limit, no legal services can be provided. If you are leaving an abusive family situation and need immediate help, you can get up to two hours of free legal advice (up to five two-hour permits per year – one per legal case) in family law and migration and refugee law. There is no financial eligibility requirement for this service. If you have income or property, you may be eligible for a certificate with a contribution agreement. This means that you will have to reimburse LAO some or all of your legal fees depending on your income level. Visit the Find a Lawyer page on LAO`s website to find a lawyer in your area who can provide legal help. An LAO office will also have a list of lawyers who can work on your case.
To find a LAO office near you, visit Legal Aid Ontario. Pro Bono Law Ontario is a not-for-profit organization that promotes access to justice in Ontario by creating opportunities for lawyers to provide pro bono (free) legal services to low-income individuals and not-for-profit organizations. The organization`s main goal is to help low-income people with civil (non-family) legal issues that are not covered by Legal Aid Ontario. Pro Bono offers a free legal helpline for up to 30 minutes of legal advice and support. The toll-free number is 1-855-255-7256. For more information, see www.probonoontario.org/hotline/. When you apply for legal aid, you should have as much information as possible about your legal case. If you apply over the phone, a representative may refer you to another LAO service, such as duty counsel, or they may refer you to a second representative if it is determined that you need to apply to the certificate program (in which case, LAO will pay a lawyer to represent you). Some local legal aid offices and courthouses may also accept applications. If you are at LAO`s office, you will need to complete an application for legal aid. The office staff will help you with this and may be able to tell you right away if you qualify for legal aid.
It is important that you inform the staff if your situation is an emergency so that they can help you immediately. Staff at a community legal clinic may also be able to help you with your application. Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO) is a not-for-profit organization funded by Legal Aid Ontario, the Ministry of Justice and the Law Foundation of Ontario that develops and distributes legal information. CLEO offers resources and publications on a variety of topics, many of which are available in other languages. To qualify for legal aid in Ontario, you have little or no money left after paying for basic needs such as food and shelter. Recipients of social assistance are almost always entitled to legal aid. You may be eligible for legal aid even if you have money in the bank or even if you own a house. Depending on the type of support you need, as well as your financial situation, all or only part of your legal fees may be covered.
LAO has adopted financial eligibility guidelines, which apply depending on the level of legal assistance required. It is important to note that legal aid may also consider a person associated with the applicant who is not a family member, but who may be considered another source of legal fees. However, this is at the discretion of the Area Manager. These may be people who contribute to the needs of the applicant, for example, a roommate renting. If you are a victim of domestic violence and are financially eligible, LAO provides coverage for all contentious family matters and changes to family court orders. Although legal aid is most often available for more serious criminal cases, for example where there is a high probability that a person will go to prison, as well as for charges under the Juvenile Justice Act, it also covers many other legal issues. Eligibility for legal aid in Ontario is determined by provincial regulations. In the past, eligibility criteria were linked to provincial social benefits. The financial eligibility level was last changed in 1995, when changes were made to provincial social benefit rates.