Successful applicants may obtain a legal aid certificate or be funded through a project funding agreement. 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. 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. LAO can only help people who don`t have a lot of money or possessions. Please refer to their information on eligibility to receive mandatory defence assistance, summary consultation or legal aid certificate to retain a lawyer (scroll down for income eligibility). To be eligible for legal aid such as duty counsel (for criminal, family protection and child protection matters) and summary legal advice (through the toll-free telephone service), as of April 1, 2020, your gross annual family income must: Ask your lawyer if you are not in custody and apply for legal aid in a criminal case If you have an income or own 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. LAO can provide legal aid to claimants who go beyond various measures of income and assets. 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. About two weeks after you file your application, Legal Aid will inform you in writing of its decision. If your application is accepted, you will receive either a legal aid certificate or a legal aid certificate provided you sign a contribution agreement in which you agree to repay part or all of your legal aid. If you are financially qualified and have a legal issue that we cover, we will help you pay for a lawyer to represent you. If the assets correspond to the estimated costs of the lawyer`s fees, the applicant will be denied any form of legal aid. If the assets are less than the estimated cost of legal aid, the client is offered legal aid, but must make a contribution determined on the basis of solvency. 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. A contribution agreement sets out how much 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. To be eligible for a legal aid certificate, you must have a legal problem that covers LAO and, as of April 1, 2020, your annual gross family income and family size must meet the following requirements: In family law, the following issues may be addressed: The mandatory defence program provides legal services in criminal matters, in family law and child protection courts for low-income Ontarians who do not have a Lawyer Request. They have to live on a low income to qualify for their services and have the kind of legal problems they are helping them with. What they can help changes from time to time. Check with their staff to make sure you get the help you need. Legal aid is only available for people with specific legal problems. Depending on your situation, LAO may cover all or part of your legal costs. If you have a legal problem in Ontario but live outside the province or country, visit our Non-Resident Services page.
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/. 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 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. 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. Financial eligibility is determined through a “needs test”. It takes into account the revenues, but also the expenses and liabilities of the applicants. Non-contributory legal aid is granted on the basis of an assessment of the maximum amounts, including basic aid, debt and housing assistance. Applicants may obtain legal aid if they do not exceed the allowances. There is an “income exemption element” in the application determination process that “accelerates” applicants with very low incomes by valuing assets. The shortfall is not a minimum income, but a tool or measure to determine whether a more detailed assessment is needed.
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