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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 2016
Montreal, May 31, 2016 – As of today, the legal aid eligibility thresholds will increase by 1.90%, which is equal to the percentage by which the minimum wage increased on May 1, 2016. On January 1, 2016, the legal aid eligibility thresholds were increased, with the minimum wage as a reference point.
The current indexation therefore maintains the eligibility thresholds at this level.
As a result, a single person with an annual income of $19,565 will have access to a lawyer, at no cost, within the framework of the legal aid system. Moreover, legal aid services will be free to a family of two adults and two children whose income is less than $32,081.
The Québec legal aid plan includes a component for individuals whose income falls between the eligibility thresholds for free legal aid and the maximum thresholds requiring a contribution (contributory legal aid). According to Me Denis Roy, Chairman of the Commission des services juridiques, the contributory scheme offers a unique formula that allows individuals to be represented in court by a lawyer while knowing, in advance, the maximum amount of their 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 scale 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 will also increase by 1.90%.
The new eligibility scale for services at no cost is as follows:
Class of Applicant: Maximum Annual Income
- For a single person : $19,565
For an applicant whose family is comprised of:
- one adult and one child : $23,936
- one adult and 2 children or + : $25,553
- spouses without children : $27,227
- spouses with 1 child : $30,464
- spouses with 2 children or + : $32,081 2
The new eligibility scale for legal aid under the contributory scheme is as follows:
Class of Applicant : Maximum Annual Income
- For a single person : $27,327
For an applicant whose family is comprised of:
- one adult and one child : $33,429
- one adult and 2 children or + : $35,688
- spouses without children : $38,032
- spouses with 1 child : $42,549
- spouses with 2 children or + : $44,809
About the Commission des services juridiques
The Commission des services juridiques is the agency charged with applying the Act respecting legal aid and the provision of certain other legal services in Québec. Legal aid may be granted to anyone who is financially eligible, in order to cover various legal services involving civil, family, administrative, criminal, health, immigration or youth law matters. It is also the agency charged with offering the services provided for in the Act to promote access to justice in family matters, namely, the Homologation Assistance Service (HAS), which has been in effect since October, 10, 2013, and the Service administratif de rajustement des pensions alimentaires pour enfants (SARPA), a child support recalculation service which has been in effect since April, 1st, 2014.
For more information, please visit the Web site of the Commission des services juridiques at: http://www.csj.qc.ca.
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Source:
Me Richard La Charité, rlacharite@csj.qc.ca
Director, Communications Department
(514) 873-3562, extension 261