Legal Aid BC has increased the amount someone can earn to receive legal aid.
The income guidelines for representation and advice services have increased by 3.9 percent. Legal Aid BC regularly applies an annual cost of living adjustment to the income guidelines.
Legal Aid BC has also expanded the financial eligibility for its family limited representation service with new funding from the provincial government (see Attorney General news release). To receive what’s known as a family limited representation service, the financial eligibility cut-off is now up to $1000 per month higher than what is required for family standard representation services. When a lawyer is contracted to provide limited representation in family law, they can provide clients with assistance to mediate or negotiate a settlement, or when clients’ legal problems cannot be resolved, they can provide advice for self representation.
To qualify for all legal aid representation services, a person must have a legal problem that meets Legal Aid BC coverage guidelines, as well as satisfy the financial eligibility guidelines, which include an assessment of a person’s income and assets. To receive family legal advice services, a person must have a legal problem that meets Legal Aid BC advice coverage guidelines, as well as satisfy the financial eligibility guidelines, which include an income assessment only.