Content updated on June 6, 2023.
In May 2023, the thresholds for legal aid eligibility were increased. Free access was also extended to include all children.
What is legal aid?
Québec’s legal aid system provides access to legal instruments so you can assert your rights. The services (either free or low-cost) are dispensed by attorneys or, less often, by notaries. The attorneys and notaries are mandated to advise their clients or to represent them in court, to, among other things:
- Contest a decision concerning benefits (automobile insurance, work-related accident, employment insurance, etc.);
- Contest an eviction;
- Obtain child support or custody;
- Defend the rights of children for whom an intervention by the Directeur de la protection de la jeunesse (DPJ) occurred;
- File for divorce;
- Defend someone accused of a crime;
- Institute a tutorship for an incapacitated person;
- File for asylum (immigration).
Who qualifies for legal aid?
Free access to legal aid services is offered to:
- All children, regardless of their financial situation;
- Adults with a low income.
For an independent adult, the maximum income allowed is equivalent to 35 minimum-wage hours. Maximum revenue varies depending on the family situation. Eligibility thresholds are adjusted every time the minimum wage changes.
There is also a contributory component for people whose income is slightly higher. They can receive legal services by paying $100 to $800 out of pocket.
Maximum gross annual income for access to legal aid
| Family situation | Free | Contributory |
|---|---|---|
| Independent adult: | $27,755 | $38,771 |
| Adult with a child: | $33,960 | $47,425 |
| Adult with more than one child: | $36,253 | $50,628 |
| Spouses without children: | $38,628 | $53,954 |
| Spouses with one child: | $43,220 | $60,365 |
| Spouses with more than one child: | $45,515 | $63,572 |
Note: the value of your assets, investments and property may be factored in. To see whether you qualify, use the online tool for that purpose.
Questions or problems?
You can consult the website of the Commission des services juridiques, the body that manages Québec’s legal aid system.
The Québec Ombudsman handles complaints concerning Québec government departments and agencies, including the Ministère de la Justice. However, it does not have jurisdiction regarding the Commission des services juridiques (CSJ). If you are dissatisfied with the CSJ, complete its complaint form instead.
Complaints about the DPJ must first be taken to the service quality and complaints commissioner. If you are dissatisfied with how your complaint was handled administratively, the Québec Ombudsman can intervene at the second level of recourse.
