Legal Information/ Legal Briefs
Legal Briefs
Until 2010, these legal briefs provide examples of judgments pertaining to everyday situations. Beginning in 2012, they deal with various topics of general interest, such as rental issues, family law, human rights, civil liability, insurance, dealings between spouses and social aid. They are intended to inform and to prevent undesirable situations.
Legal Briefs 2012
December
Help! I signed something ... and now I regret it!
You’ve just purchased goods from an itinerant merchant (often referred to as a travelling salesman) who interrupted you at home while you were watching your favourite TV show. You regret making the purchase and would like to cancel it. You should know that, under the Consumer Protection Act,<
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November
He wants to sponsor his cuban princess
The Facts
Jean-Claude, a youthful and divorced 60-year-old retiree, is fascinated by Cuban culture, particularly its performing artists. During his first trip to Cuba, three years ago, he met his soul mate, Maria, an outstanding dancer who was 25 years old and sing
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November
Employment insurance and quitting: Are they incompatible?
Employment insurance legislation stipulates that a person cannot receive benefits if they are without a job due to their misconduct or if they voluntarily leave their job without just cause.
If you quit your job, you may still be able to receive benefits if you can prove that, under the circu
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October
The role of the child's lawyer
For a number of years, children have had the right to be represented by a lawyer in youth protection hearings involving them before the Court of Québec, Youth Division.
A lawyer who represents a child in these circumstances cannot simply do as he pleases. There are three situations to conside
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October
The importance of having a will
Having a will is important, because without one, it is the Civil Code of Québec that will determine who receives your property. You can read about the rules for the transmission of property when someone dies without a will on the Justice Québec website, in the section entitled “Successions”.<
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September
Young persons: Arrest and the right to a lawyer
Like all citizens, young persons between the ages of 12 and 17 who are arrested or held in custody by the police in connection with an offence have the right to be informed of the reasons for their arrest, their right to remain silent and their right to obtain immediate assistance from a lawyer, and they must be given the opportunity to retain the services of a lawyer. These are fundamental rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Additional special rights are also granted to young persons under the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA).
The obligation to inform young persons, from the moment they are arrested or placed in custody, about their right to obtain immediate assistance from a lawyer requires that police officers use language tailored to the young person’s age and ability to understand. Even if the officers have already explained those rights to the young person, they must repeat those rights before interrogating him and ensure he has properly understood them.
Young persons must also be informed about access to legal aid and the way in which they can contact a lawyer. They must therefore be given access to a phone and must be provided with phone numbers for the various duty counsel services, including legal aid.
As soon as a young person who is under arrest or is being held in custody indicates an intention to consult a lawyer, the police officers must refrain from interrogating him about the facts in question or stop the interrogation, until the young person has reasonably been able to exercise his right to consult a lawyer.
Moreover, any communication between the young person and his lawyer must be confidential. The young person can also require that his lawyer be present during the interrogation.
In addition to being informed of his right to a lawyer, a young person must be informed, before his interrogation, about his right to also consult his father or mother or any other person he chooses. He can require the presence of that parent or other person during his interrogation.
It is important to remember that there is never an obligation to give the police a statement about the facts in question, whether or not one is under arrest. Police must respect a person’s choice to remain silent.
In case of doubt during an arrest, or if the police want to meet for any reason whatsoever, do not hesitate to contact a legal aid lawyer for sound advice.
Legal brief *
September
2012
Number
07
Text prepared by Me Michel Loranger, avocat au bureau d’aide juridique de Roberval
* The information set out in this document is not a legal interpretation.
The masculine is used to designate persons solely in order to simplify the text.
June
Can the DYP place my child for a long time?
The Youth Protection Act (YPA) requires the Director of Youth Protection (DYP) to carry out an investigation when a credible report is made that a child has been abandoned, neglected or psychologically, sexually or physically abused, or if a child has serious behavioural problems that the par
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June
You have received a notice of rent increase: what should you do?
A notice of rent increase must not be an indirect means to evict a tenant. You have the right to remain in your premises and have your lease renewed automatically.
When a lease is being renewed, the landlord can modify the amount of the rent. In a twelve-month lease, the landlord must give a
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May
I just found out that I am not my child's father
Mario and Joanie have been living together for several years and have a child together. The birth certificate of the child, whose name is Vincent, indicates Mario and Joanie as his parents. The couple separates when Vincent is seven years old. Despite the separation, Mario continues to take care of
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May
Deprivation of parental authority and adoption
The Civil Code of Québec confirms that fathers and mothers have the rights and duties of custody, supervision and education of their children; this is a core natural principle.
This parental authority allows parents to look after their children by exercising these rights and duties, wh
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April
Can my spouse adopt my child
The reality of today’s families and the fact that many parents will be part of more than one couple during their lifetime is not without its repercussions on their children. These children will have several parental figures during their childhood. Family law lawyers have noted a new upsurge in the n
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