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For more information on the Commission des services juridiques, members of the media should contact Mr Nadine Koussa, Communications responsible at 514-873-3562 ext: 5249.
Press Releases
Press Releases 2010
Montreal, December 29, 2010. - The 2011 indexation will increase the eligibility threshold for gratuitous legal aid to $13,007 and the maximum eligibility threshold for the contributory scheme to $18,535 for single individuals. It bears reminding that single individuals represent 73% of the legal aid clientele. In 2005, single individuals were limited to a maximum annual income of $8,870 in order to be eligible for gratuitous legal aid. Over the past five years, the legal aid eligibility thresholds were increased and indexed in order to adjust the scale in a move to put an end to a freeze of more than 20 years in the eligibility scale for single individuals and 10 years for the other classes of beneficiaries.
Me Denis Roy, Chairman of the Commission des services juridiques, reminds the public that it is to the advantage of persons who require legal assistance and may be eligible for legal aid to contact the legal aid office closest to their residence in order to confirm such eligibility. “Given the terms and conditions prescribed by the act and the regulations, only legal aid staff can determine your eligibility; it is therefore important to make an appointment with a legal aid lawyer,” stated Me Roy.
The Commission des services juridiques is the agency charged with applying the Legal Aid Act in Québec. Legal aid may be granted to anyone who is financially eligible, in order to cover various legal services involving civil, family, administrative or criminal matters or matters relating to youth law.
The new eligibility scale for services at no cost is as follows:
Category of Applicant : Maximum Annual Income
- For a single person : $13,007
For an applicant whose family is comprised of:
- one adult and one child : $15,912
- one adult and 2 children or + : $16,987
- spouses without children : $18,101
- spouses with 1 child : $20,252
- spouses with 2 children or + : $21,328
According to Me Roy, the contributory scheme offers a unique formula that allows individuals to be represented by a lawyer before the courts while knowing, in advance, the maximum amount of the legal fees and costs. The contributory scheme allows an individual to receive legal services if his or her income, assets and liquidities match the eligibility scales in effect and if the individual pays a contribution ranging from $100 to $800, depending on the person’s situation. The eligibility scale for legal aid under the contributory scheme is as follows:
Category of Applicant : Maximum Annual Income
- For a single person : $18,535
For an applicant whose family is comprised of:
- one adult and one child : $22,674
- one adult and 2 children or + : $24,206
- spouses without children : $25,795
- spouses with 1 child : $28,859
- spouses with 2 children or + : $30,393
For more information, please contact your local legal aid office or visit the Web site of the Commission des services juridiques at: http://www.csj.qc.ca .
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Source :
Me Monique Jarry
Director, Communications Department
(514) 873-3562, extension 261