Ask a lawyer if you are in prison or detention center 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 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: Community legal clinics have some discretion in applying these eligibility guidelines in certain circumstances. Legal clinics and student legal aid societies may be able to help you if you qualify. Legal Aid Ontario covers a number of legal issues. If a person is financially eligible, the following types of legal aid cases may be covered: specific criminal charges, family law matters (including domestic violence), immigration and refugee matters, landlord and tenant matters, and some civil and final appeals. 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. 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. People who have also received legal aid include: Ask your lawyer if you are not in custody and are applying for legal aid in a criminal matter. To apply for legal aid, you must first contact Legal Aid Ontario.
Applications can be submitted by telephone or in person at a legal aid office. Once you receive your certificate, you can present it to any lawyer who accepts legal aid and agrees to represent you. Not all lawyers accept legal aid certificates. You can either ask if the lawyer accepts legal aid certificates during or before a consultation, or use the “Find a Lawyer” tool on the Legal Aid website to search for a lawyer. 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. Most social assistance recipients are automatically entitled to free legal aid (provided that it does not go beyond the property test). To be eligible for legal aid such as duty counsel (for criminal, family protection and child protection matters) and summary legal advice (via the toll-free telephone service), your gross annual family income must be as of April 1, 2020: 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. 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. 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 your income exceeds the allowable limits, you may still be eligible for the certificate program if: The size of the family unit determines who needs to be assessed in the context of the client`s legal aid application. All allowances are measured by family size. 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 covered by a legal aid certificate: It is important to note that community legal clinics operate independently of LAO and have their own eligibility criteria. have. Please see Legal Line`s Community Legal Clinic topic for more information. For more information on legal aid eligibility, please see our policies: Legal Aid Ontario also funds 72 community clinics and seven teaching hospitals (student legal aid businesses) across the province. These organizations employ lawyers, legal staff, paralegals, volunteer law students and administrative staff to provide information, legal advice and representation. 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. Some local legal aid offices and courthouses may also accept applications. Legal aid is available to those who cannot afford their own legal fees. You must be entitled to legal aid. 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. If you are applying over the phone, you should have documents related to your legal status (such as court orders, separation agreements or a copy of the Crown Criminal Examination Form) nearby. in case you need to refer to it. You may also be asked to send three or four copies of your most recent pay stubs while working. If you are receiving assistance from the Ontario Disability Support Program or Ontario Works, your social assistance status will be verified over the phone.